Residents of Santa Rosa fight for their identity amid Colombia-Peru dispute
- Santa Rosa, a remote Amazon island, has no running water or sewage systems, forcing residents to rely on rainwater.
- Residents often seek medical attention in neighboring Colombia or Brazil due to inadequate local health care facilities.
- The ongoing territorial dispute has ignited a sense of pride among locals, who fiercely identify as Peruvians and demand recognition from their government.
In the remote Amazon island of Santa Rosa, located in Peru, around 3,000 residents are facing challenges concerning their living conditions as the island is at the center of a territorial dispute between Peru and Colombia. The area lacks essential services like running water and a sewage system, with the residents often collecting rainwater for drinking. Health emergencies lead them to cross the river into Colombia or Brazil for proper medical care, as the local health center is insufficient to meet their needs. Recently, tensions escalated when Colombian President Gustavo Petro publicly denied Peruvian jurisdiction over Santa Rosa, claiming the island was not recognized at the time treaties were formed about a century ago. This urban area has a single main street with primarily nightclubs and churches, illustrating its unique socio-cultural situation amid border disputes. This announcement caused unrest among the residents, who identify as Peruvians and expressed determination to defend their rights to the island. They welcomed Boluarte's visit, hoping for government attention to their prolonged neglect while also showing gratitude toward Petro for bringing national attention to their plight. The residents maintain a mixed cultural relationship with the neighboring countries despite the territorial tensions, often engaging in cordial exchanges with inhabitants from Colombia and Brazil. This complex identity of shared cultures is juxtaposed with their current struggle to secure basic infrastructures such as health services and clean water. The clashes surrounding the island not only underline the fragility of territorial claims in the Amazon Region but also spotlight the severe needs of the border populations who have felt overlooked for too long. While the political dimensions of this conflict unfold, the hope remains that increased visibility will lead to improved conditions for Santa Rosa's residents, who aim to safeguard their community and cultural identity amidst these external pressures.