41 implementation of constant police patrolling of Fiscal Lots 14 and 55, in order to prevent logging activities.130 144. In December 2006, some members of the Lhaka Honhat Association made a field verification of the continuity of illegal logging and the establishment of new cattle-raising posts within the area of traditional indigenous occupation of Fiscal Lots 14 and 55. In their report they concluded that “in the last years, illegal extraction of wood from Fiscal Lots 14 and 55 has increased. The trucks and tractors come in weekly in pursuit of wood loads, and when they leave there is no type of control by the competent authorities. Afterwards in order to circulate they use authorized permits for forestry exploitation, issued for properties that are far away from where they logged the wood.” This report was accompanied by several photos of piles of wood posts, ready to be transported, or of trucks loaded with illegally cut wood, taken in December 2006 at different points of the Fiscal Lots; and it denounced the inaction of the competent State authorities to control this irregular extraction. Tending of fences in the territory by the non-indigenous population 145. Since the start of their territorial claims, and consistently throughout the proceedings before the IACHR, the petitioners have reported the tending of wire fences within the territory of Fiscal Lots 14 and 55 by the creole inhabitants, viewing them as illegal appropriations of the lands which suppress indigenous mobility and obstruct their hunting and gathering activities. 146. On January 17, 2002, petitioners reported to the IACHR that in spite of the Salta Government’s commitment of December 15, 2000, to stop the tending of wire fences by the creole or other inhabitants of the area, the fences were still being installed. 131 147. In the course of the friendly settlement process before the IACHR, the Government of Salta – Minister of Production and Employment adopted Resolution No. 295 of August 2, 2002, prohibiting the tending of any new fences until a resolution of the case had been reached. After that, the Commission has not received any conclusive information on whether or not the tending of fences has been in fact suspended. Oil exploration activities 148. On July 19, 2001, the petitioners informed the IACHR that “without any prior State notice and in an absolutely unexpected manner, the General Fuel Company (Compañía General de Combustibles – CGC) began to conduct hydrocarbon exploration activities, in the framework of “Seismic Prospection 2D Program’, in Fiscal Lots 14 and 55 (Department of Rivadavia, Province of Salta). The Company’s activities are a product of the concession granted by the National State – Secretariat of Energy and Mining of the Nation, Ministry of Economy.” These prospecting activities were initiated without consulting with the indigenous communities. 149. The representatives of the Lhaka Honhat Association resorted unsuccessfully to different State authorities in order to halt these prospecting activities. On March 22, 2001, they sent a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, copied to the Government of Salta; in response, Foreign Affairs sent notes to the National Institute of Indigenous Affairs, requesting information on the facts, and to the Ministry of Economy. The representatives of the Association also resorted to the Secretariat of Energy and Mining of the Nation, requesting a hearing to address the matter; “finally a meeting was held with the Sub-Secretary 130 Communication by the Secretary General of the Governor’s Office of the Province of Salta to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, February 21, 2005, copied to the IACHR. 131 Communication by the petitioners to the IACHR, received on January 17, 2002. Reiterated in the communication by the Lhaka Honhat Association to the IACHR of December 26, 2001, transmitted to the State on March 21, 2002.