Peru: 4 Seriously injured and 1 dead during strike against mine near Conococha Lake

[Derechos]

President Garcia's unrelenting quest to privatize every last sub-surface resource in Peru no matter the cost has yet again led to violence that as of yesterday (December 6th) has resulted in one person dead and four seriously injured. The violence stemmed from a government ordered police crack-down of a major protest near the Andean city of Huaraz, the capital of the Ancash department. The 48 hour protest was called in November after it became apparent that Peru's Ministry of the Interior would proceed with plans to approve the mining concession of la Minera Chancadora Centauro, a gold mining project that many fear will either lead to the contamination or disappearance of Lake Conococha, the source of the Santa River which is the main water artery for the entire region. According to local press accounts, the government did not conduct the necessary environmental impact study before authorizing the concession nor did the company receive the required 2/3 vote from the Assembly of Huambo Campesino community whose lands will be impacted by the mining project. The project will also be developed inside the borders of the Huascaran national park which according to Peruvian law, is protected from mining development. Predictably, the propaganda campaign is already underway to connect the protesters with terrorists hell bent on stopping Peru's economic development.

Protest leaders are already calling for the protest to be extended to 72 hours. Many human rights activists in the region fear there will be more violence.

For local press accounts in Spanish see the following:

http://www.diariolaprimeraperu.com/online/chimbote/noticia.php?IDnoticia=13967

http://malcolmallison.lamula.pe/2010/11/20/otra-victima-de-la-mineria-la-laguna-de-conococha/

http://www.rpp.com.pe/2010-12-06-unos-500-vehiculos-varados-en-via-pativilca-huaraz-en-dia-de-paro-audio_316586.html

http://www.diario-ya.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2193:un-muerto-cinco-heridos-y-quince-policias-en-el-hospital-deja-enfrentamiento-de-comuneros-y-pnp&catid=51:locales&Itemid=118

http://www.huaraznoticias.com/titulares/paro-dejo-un-muerto-y-varios-heridos

[Judi Lynn]

1. Horrid learning another good citizen has been slaughtered by Alan Garcia through his cops.

Garcia used his attack forces on the indigenous of the Amazon a couple of years ago at Bagua, and now they are murdering Peruvian people trying to save their precious water and land in the mountains.

What earthly good is a piece of crap President like this? He already created a hideous history for himself during his first bloody time at the wheel, in the 1980's.

Firing directly into a group of unarmed people on a bridge. How noble.

http://mw2.google.com.nyud.net:8090/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/1705476.jpg

Laguna de Conococha

Here is the Conococha water they are so determined, and rightfully so, to protect. It's irreplaceable, it's everything to all life in the area.

More photos of this region:
http://images.google.com/images?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&aq=&oq=&rlz=1T4SNYI_enUS308US308&q=Conococha&biw=1208&bih=547

This madness has to stop, but self-discipline is far beyond the ability range of this unprincipled ass, Alan Garcia.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Recommended.

:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[Derechos]

3. Update

At least 14 police have been injured and another comunero has died. The communities are demanding a commision with high-ranking officials who can make decisions to resolvee the conflict. If the commission is not formed, the strike will continue indefinitely.

http://www.huaraznoticias.com/titulares/comision-de-alto-nivel-o-se-viene-paro-indefinido

[Judi Lynn]

4. The people are right that the ministers don't have the honesty, and courage

to meet with them personally, and hide while sending out hundreds of heavily armed police to shoot down unarmed people.

Not a condition which could ever be acceptable to decent people. Of course, Garcia's only interest is gaining control of THEIR land, anyway.

A lot of global focus is important for this situation. Will it be shielded and covered up for the power structure, as well?

Thanks for the update.

[Derechos]

The stike continues into its 4th day

The Communities say they will not accept anything less than a complete repeal of Ministry of Energy and Mining resolution authorizing the mining project - resolution found here http://intranet2.minem.gob.pe/web/archivos/dgaam/certificado/CA_068_201
0_MEM_AAM.PDF

140 members of Peru's National Police special forces - DINOES - have been sent to the area from the coastal cities of Chimbote and Trujillo - http://www.huaraznoticias.com/nacionales/policia-de-la-dinoes-esperando-ordenes

Local hospital in Recuay is on alert for casualties from confrontations between police and protesters. http://www.huaraznoticias.com/regionales/hospital-recuaino-en-alerta-verde

[Derechos]

5. The stike continues into its 4th day

The Communities say they will not accept anything less than a complete repeal of Ministry of Energy and Mining resolution authorizing the mining project - resolution found here http://intranet2.minem.gob.pe/web/archivos/dgaam/certificado/CA_068_201
0_MEM_AAM.PDF

140 members of Peru's National Police special forces - DINOES - have been sent to the area from the coastal cities of Chimbote and Trujillo - http://www.huaraznoticias.com/nacionales/policia-de-la-dinoes-esperando-ordenes

Local hospital in Recuay is on alert for casualties from confrontations between police and protesters. http://www.huaraznoticias.com/regionales/hospital-recuaino-en-alerta-verde

[Derechos]

6. Day 5 of strike

The roads into Huaraz, the capital city of the Department of Ancash have been blocked prohibiting all transit into and out of the city. Local reports are calling the situation a ticking time bomb. The schools in the region are closed in order to protect the students, although many will likely join in today's protests. Again the Garcia administration demonsrates its arrogant disregard for the lives and safety of that country's citizens by pushing through the administration's development policies no matter the costs.


http://www.diariolaprimeraperu.com/online/chimbote/noticia.php?IDnoticia=13035

http://www.diariolaprimeraperu.com/online/nacional/bloquean-via-pativilca-conococha_75863.html

http://www.huaraznoticias.com/titulares/ancash-sierra-es-una-bomba-de-tiempo

http://www.huaraznoticias.com/titulares/labores-educativas-suspendidas-en-huaraz

http://www.huaraznoticias.com/nacionales/ministros-exigen-suspension-de-paralizacion

http://www.huaraznoticias.com/Politica/gobernador-y-director-en-la-mira

http://www.huaraznoticias.com/locales/construccion-civil-se-suma-al-paro

http://www.huaraznoticias.com/locales/universitarios-heridos-en-enfrentamiento-policial

[Derechos]

7. Video of paro to protect Laguna Conococha - Spanish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sD0nZ0Cf34&feature=player_embedded#!