One Dead in New Mining Conflict in Peru

Posted: 5 August 2005

Oxfam participates in high-level commission to calm situation.

The latest in a series of conflicts around mining projects in Peru has resulted in violence at an exploration camp in the northern province of Piura. Protests led by farmer organizations that clashed with police on Tuesday resulted in one death, 20 injured, and 37 detained.

Some 2,000 people from Huancabamba and Ayabaca, near the border with Ecuador, marched on the Rio Blanco mining camp, intending to stop exploration of a copper deposit, estimated by mining specialists to be one of the largest in the country.

Protestors are demanding that the mining company Majaz, a subsidiary of the British Monterrico Minerals company, leave the area being explored. They allege the exploration activities were undertaken without consultation with local communities, and will pollute nearby rivers in the Huancabamba valley. The valley is rich in biodiversity and home to 120,000 people who rely mainly on agriculture (80 percent) and tourism.

To resolve the dispute, Peru’s Ministry of Energy and Mines invited representatives from Oxfam America to participate in a high-level commission to establish dialogue between protestors and authorities at the Rio Blanco mining camp. The commission also includes representative of the local Catholic church and Oxfam’s partner, the National Organization of Communities Affected by Mining (CONACAMI).

While Oxfam does not fund any projects in the area near Rio Blanco, it has ample experience working with communities affected by mining in other parts of Peru.

In all cases Oxfam encourages dialogue and non-violent solutions to conflicts, and respect for the rights of all parties involved.

In order to overcome the nearly constant mining disputes in Peru, and improve relations between communities and mining companies, Oxfam recommends:

Government and corporations should promote more responsible mining practices.
Companies should listen to community concerns and disclose information freely.
Communities need opportunities to express their concerns about mining projects, and put forward their own proposals about economic development.
Communities need to improve their ability to engage in constructive dialogue about mining and development.