Internewscast Journal
  • Home
  • US News
  • Local News
  • Health
  • People
  • Guest Post
  • Support Our Cause
Internewscast Journal
  • Home
  • US News
  • Local News
  • Health
  • People
  • Guest Post
  • Support Our Cause
Home Local news Islanders on a Contested Territory between Colombia and Peru Seek Assurance from Their Government
  • Local news

Islanders on a Contested Territory between Colombia and Peru Seek Assurance from Their Government

    Residents of a remote island disputed by Colombia hope their Peruvian government won't forget them
    Up next
    Scaling Without Systems? You're Setting Your Business Up to Fail
    Growing Without a Plan? Your Business Might Be Headed for Trouble
    Published on 19 August 2025
    Author
    Internewscast
    Tags
    • Colombia,
    • Dina Boluarte,
    • disputed,
    • forget,
    • Government,
    • Gustavo Petro,
    • HOPE,
    • island,
    • José Morales,
    • Marcos Mera,
    • Peruvian,
    • remote,
    • residents,
    • Rudy Ahuanari,
    • their,
    • them,
    • won039t,
    • world news
    Share this @internewscast.com
    FacebookXRedditPinterest

    SANTA ROSA – Situated on a remote island in the Amazon River, Santa Rosa is now in the midst of a territorial disagreement between Peru and Colombia. This single paved road serves as the main street, lined more with nightclubs and evangelical churches than any other establishments.

    Named after a saint from the 16th century, Santa Rosa lacks essential amenities like running water and a sewage system for its 3,000 inhabitants. To protect their homes from annual floods, residents build their one-story dwellings on stilts. Although they are Peruvian, they frequently cross the river to nearby Colombian or Brazilian cities for medical assistance, due to the inability of the outdated local health center to manage even basic healthcare needs.

    “Our island suffers from many needs,” stated Marcos Mera, who owns a restaurant and dance venue in Santa Rosa. He expressed this as he wiped sweat from his face while arranging tables.

    Even though Mera and his fellow residents have long faced these challenges, sudden interest from the Peruvian government has brought Santa Rosa into the limelight. This surge in attention, which even prompted a presidential visit, came after Colombian President Gustavo Petro recently raised questions about Peru’s claim over Santa Rosa.

    Peru asserts its ownership of Santa Rosa Island based on century-old treaties, while Colombia challenges this claim, arguing that the island had not formed when those treaties were established.

    The locals proudly identify as Peruvians, despite their dependence on surrounding countries for essential services. They now wish their government will continue to acknowledge their plight, a hope President Dina Boluarte addressed during her recent visit.

    “It’s true that, for too long, our border populations have not received the attention they deserve,” Boluarte said Friday during her first-ever visit to the island.

    Recent tensions between Peru and Colombia have escalated into a series of incidents, including the arrest of three Colombian men who were on the island doing land surveying work. The arrests, described by Petro as “kidnapping,” prompted a dispute over the workers’ rights to be in Santa Rosa. They marked the third binational incident in the area since Petro denied Peru’s jurisdiction over Santa Rosa Island in early August.

    “We are Peruvians, and if necessary, we will defend our island with pride,” said José Morales outside his currency-exchange house where he trades Peruvian soles, Colombian pesos and U.S. dollars. Residents often carry all three currencies, plus Brazilian reals, at once.

    Most residents of Santa Rosa collect rainwater, which they filter through a white cloth and then boil, often using wood-burning stoves. Reaching the island takes a two-hour flight from Colombia’s capital, Bogota, followed by a five-minute boat ride. In contrast, the trip from Peru’s capital, Lima, involves a two-hour flight followed by a 15-hour boat journey.

    The parents, children and grandchildren of many Santa Rosa residents live in Leticia, Colombia, or Tabatinga, Brazil. Some have also buried their loved ones in those cities, too, as Santa Rosa does not have a cemetery. Several residents said they have a cordial relationship with people in Colombia and Brazil.

    “We live peacefully, sharing culture, gastronomy and good ideas,” Mera said before criticizing Colombian politicians saying he thinks they “have made a mistake.”

    Some, however, are going as far as thanking Colombia’s president for drawing interest to Santa Rosa.

    “I have to thank Petro for speaking out like that,” nurse Rudy Ahuanari said. “In all these blessed years, no minister had ever shown interest in us, but now he has. We were truly forgotten — not even God remembered.”

    ____

    Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

    Share this @internewscast.com
    FacebookXRedditPinterest
    You May Also Like
    How immigration enforcement turned sleepy Broadview into a chaotic, militarized town
    • Local news

    How Immigration Crackdowns Transformed Quiet Broadview into a Turbulent, Militarized Hub

    Prior to recent events, Broadview, a village with a population of just…
    • Internewscast
    • October 13, 2025
    Brooks Brown with alien costume behind him
    • Local news

    ICE Protests Take an Unusual Turn with Inflatable Costumes

    Some protesters outside Immigration and Customs Enforcement buildings in Portland, Oregon, and…
    • Internewscast
    • October 13, 2025

    Johnson County Murder Suspect’s Charge and Bond Lowered

    JOHNSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) — A man previously accused of first-degree murder…
    • Internewscast
    • October 14, 2025
    IDF fires tear gas at boys throwing rocks in West Bank
    • Local news

    IDF Uses Tear Gas on Rock-Throwing Boys in West Bank

    IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site…
    • Internewscast
    • October 13, 2025
    Migrants charged for shooting guns in crowded national park
    • Local news

    Migrants Arrested for Discharging Firearms in Popular National Park

    EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – Two Mexican nationals face charges after…
    • Internewscast
    • October 14, 2025
    GALLERY: Loop it Up Cup Golf Tournament
    • Local news

    PHOTO GALLERY: Loop it Up Cup Golf Tournament

    SAVANNAH, Ga. () — Take a look at the gallery below! United…
    • Internewscast
    • October 13, 2025
    Thousands turn out for 'Tucker's Parade' celebrating brave 3-year-old boy
    • Local news

    Masses Gather for ‘Tucker’s Parade’ Honoring Courageous 3-Year-Old Boy

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Sometimes the smallest heroes have the biggest hearts.…
    • Internewscast
    • October 13, 2025
    World leaders surround Trump at Egypt peace summit
    • Local news

    Global Leaders Gather Around Trump at Egypt Peace Summit

    IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site…
    • Internewscast
    • October 14, 2025
    Trump says peace deal marks 'a new Middle East'
    • Local news

    Trump Declares Peace Deal as the Start of ‘A New Middle East’

    IE 11 is not compatible. For a better experience, please visit our…
    • Internewscast
    • October 13, 2025
    Mark Sanchez defense will be 'very difficult': Ex-prosecutor
    • Local news

    Former Prosecutor: Defending Mark Sanchez Will Be ‘Highly Challenging’

    Former federal prosecutor Neama Rehmani asserts that defending Mark Sanchez will be…
    • Internewscast
    • October 14, 2025
    Red Cross transports remaining 13 Israeli hostages
    • Local news

    Red Cross Assists in Safe Transfer of Last 13 Israeli Hostages

    IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site…
    • Internewscast
    • October 13, 2025
    Israeli and Mideast leaders celebrate Trump’s historic peace deal
    • Local news

    Middle East and Israeli Leaders Commemorate Trump’s Landmark Peace Agreement

    IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site…
    • Internewscast
    • October 14, 2025
    Sophie Winkleman returns to screens in 'provocative' BBC drama exploring the impact of social media on mother-daughter relationships - after revealing how she limits her children's technology usage
    • Royals

    Sophie Winkleman Makes a Comeback in ‘Provocative’ BBC Drama on Social Media’s Effect on Mother-Daughter Bonds – Following Her Insights on Managing Her Kids’ Tech Use

    Sophie Winkleman, whose half-sister is hosting Celebrity Traitors, is slated to return…
    • Internewscast
    • October 14, 2025
    Georgia Man Shoots 19-Year-Old Girlfriend in Head While ‘Playing’ With Gun
    • Crime

    Georgia Man Accidentally Shoots Girlfriend in Head While Handling Gun

    A 19-year-old Georgia woman is dead after her boyfriend shot her in…
    • Internewscast
    • October 14, 2025
    Crowds cheer for helicopters carrying freed hostages
    • Local news

    Helicopters Deliver Freed Hostages to the Cheers of Excited Crowds

    IE 11 is not supported. For the best experience, please visit our…
    • Internewscast
    • October 14, 2025
    'She's been dead for a while': Man wailed to triple-zero after allegedly killing ex-partner
    • Crime

    Man Reportedly Calls Emergency Services Crying After Ex-Partner’s Death

    A man who denies killing his former partner during a violent argument…
    • Internewscast
    • October 14, 2025
    Internewscast Journal
    • Home
    • Privacy Policy
    • DMCA Notice
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Guest Post
    • Support Our Cause
    Copyright 2023. All Right Reserverd.