[DOC] Occidental Colombia response

…On March 9, 2014, a group of approximately 40 people illegally entered the Territorial Reserve, exposing themselves to safety risks because of the proximity of this area to oil and gas installations.  These individuals have also caused adverse environmental impacts by clearing and burning trees and vegetation in the reserve.  As part of its commitment to social responsibility and human rights, Oxy Colombia has on several occasions sought to reach a negotiated agreement with the illegal squatters, thereby avoiding an eviction process (please find Oxy´s Human Rights Policy in the following link http://oxy.com/sr/HumanRights/Pages/HumanRightsPolicy.aspx). The Defensoría del Pueblo (Office of the Public Ombudsman) has sponsored a dialogue in which Oxy Colombia has offered two properties owned by the company and located in the Municipality of Arauquita where these individuals would be free to settle in safe and dignified manner, pending action by the INCODER necessary to comply with its resettlement obligations. However, leaders of the group have expressed that they have no interest in reaching an agreement.  Hence, Oxy expects the court-ordered resettlement to be carried out as soon as possible by INCODER, aiming for the individuals settled at the field to peacefully abandon the area for their safety and the secure operations of the field.