· June, 2012

Stories about Peru from June, 2012

Peru: Amazonian Indigenous Communities Protest Against Oil Pollution

The announcement that hydrocarbon reserves currently used for oil drilling will be put up for auction has put the people of the indigenous communities of the Pastaza river, in the Peruvian Amazon, on alert. For years, these indigenous communities have been condemning the effects of pollution on their ancestral lands and on themselves.

23 June 2012

Peru: Conflict in Espinar Creates Rift in Ruling Party

On June 4, the conflict between the Espinar community and the mining company Xstrata Copper took a toll on Peru's ruling party with the resignation of officialist congresswoman Veronika Mendoza, followed by two other congressmen. This brought to light wide differences that were already brewing within the ruling party.

11 June 2012

Peru: March for Peace and the Strike in Cajamarca

After learning about the government’s report for the Environmental Impact Assessment of the Conja mining project in Cajamarca, and the presidential decision that the Conga project is viable, though with better environmental conditions, Cajamarcan leaders have agreed to give more time to the Executive to declare the impossibility of the Conga mining project; otherwise, they will go on an indefinite regional strike.

5 June 2012

Peru: Mayor of Espinar Arrested Amid Mining Conflict

Amid a heavy police deployment, the mayor of the province of Espinar, Oscar Mollohuanca, was arrested on May 30 at midday. The mayor had been in hiding after a state of emergency was declared in the area because of the conflict between the community of Espinar and the mining company Xstrata Tintaya, and especially after learning there was an arrest warrant out for him.

3 June 2012