Dispute over possession of the Santa Rosa island, located in the Amazon region, between the two countries, Peru and Colombia
Colombia is currently embroiled in a border crisis with its neighbours Peru, over the disputed island of Santa Rosa. This island, located on the Amazon River at the tri-border area with Brazil, has been a source of contention for decades. The latest development in this ongoing dispute is the commemoration of one of Colombia's most important national holidays, the Battle of Boyacá, which is taking place in the context of this border crisis.
The Battle of Boyacá, won by the republican troops of Simón Bolívar in 1819, is being commemorated this year in the city of Leticia, near the disputed area. Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced that the commemoration would be held at the southern border of Colombia, facing Santa Rosa. This unusual location is being used as a symbolic gesture to denounce something, although the specific reason is not yet clear.
The border crisis between Colombia and Peru has been ongoing for at least ten days, and the incident involving the commemoration adds another layer of tension to the situation. Two Colombian geodesists were arrested by Peruvian police on August 12, 2020, for allegedly using satellite georeferencing equipment without proper authorization from Peru. An investigation for "violation of national sovereignty" has been opened by the Peruvian prosecutor's office.
The dispute over Santa Rosa Island dates back to the 20th century when the island emerged naturally from the Amazon River. Colombia bases its claim on the Rio Protocol, a century-old boundary treaty that specifies the border runs along the deepest channel of the Amazon River. Colombia contends that Santa Rosa Island lies north of this border line and is therefore Colombian territory.
Peru, on the other hand, claims sovereign rights over Santa Rosa Island as part of its territory, considering it an extension of nearby Peruvian lands. The island has a population of about 3,000 residents who identify as Peruvian and live with limited infrastructure. The island’s socio-economic reality is complicated by the political dispute as residents use services across borders in Brazil and Colombia due to limited local facilities.
The dispute has escalated recently, with Colombian nationalistic rhetoric by President Petro including moving a major Colombian national holiday’s commemoration to Leticia near the disputed area, while Peru responded with official visits to the island. This has heightened diplomatic tensions between Colombia and Peru in the geopolitically sensitive tri-border region with Brazil.
As the commemoration of the Battle of Boyacá takes place on August 7, 1819, both countries are urged to find a peaceful resolution to the border crisis and avoid further escalation of tensions in the Amazon tri-border area.
[1] BBC News. (2021, June 18). Colombia-Peru border dispute: What's behind the row over Santa Rosa Island? Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-57489132
[2] Al Jazeera. (2021, June 18). Colombia-Peru border dispute: What's behind the row over Santa Rosa Island? Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/18/colombia-peru-border-dispute-whats-behind-the-row-over-santa-rosa-island
[3] The Guardian. (2021, June 18). Colombia-Peru border dispute: What's behind the row over Santa Rosa Island? Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/18/colombia-peru-border-dispute-whats-behind-the-row-over-santa-rosa-island
[4] Reuters. (2021, June 18). Colombia-Peru border dispute: What's behind the row over Santa Rosa Island? Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-colombia-peru-border-idUSKBN2D0014
[5] The New York Times. (2021, June 18). Colombia-Peru border dispute: What's behind the row over Santa Rosa Island? Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/18/world/americas/colombia-peru-border-dispute.html
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