State of emergency declared due to protests in Peruvian mining area | News
Peru declared a state of emergency in the territory of the Las Bambas mine (in the department of Apurímac) this Wednesday, after the protest of community members who demand that the agreements reached with the Chinese company, China Minmetals Corporation (MMG), be respected.
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Said resolution, which will remain in force for a period of 30 days, was published by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, and covers the districts of Challhuahuacho and Coyllurqui, in the province of Cotabambas.
Residents and miners of the community of the Fuerabamba district, near the mining settlement, permanently occupied land where the company is located on April 14 and demand compliance with the agreements signed when said community sold the land to the Chinese company in order to of copper extraction.
�� #MINEM attended the scheduled meeting in the community of Chila – Apurímac.
The Minister of Energy and Mines, Carlos Palacios, stated that the Government maintains its desire for dialogue to meet the demands of the residents of the community. ➡️ https://t.co/zhECL399Om pic.twitter.com/CBbbtZTZK0
— Ministry of Energy and Mines (@MinemPeru)
April 27, 2022
Local media highlight that the return of the communal lands is demanded after the Chinese company failed to fulfill the promises of more than ten years ago when extractive operations began.
The large Las Bambas mine, producer of 2 percent of the world’s copper, in the southern Andean region of Apurímac, ceased its activities precisely due to the strike and claim of the miners on April 20.
⚠️ Alert
Beyond any other consideration, the integrity and life of people must be protected.
Repression is never the solution. It only exacerbates the conflict. https://t.co/4J3U663hvr– Veronika Mendoza (@Vero_Mendoza_F)
April 27, 2022
Similarly, information platforms reported clashes between the police forces of Peru and residents of the Fuerabamba community, where the latter faced tear gas and insisted that until the demand is met, the protest will continue to take place.
During the state of exception, in the territory, “the constitutional rights related to the inviolability of the home, freedom of movement within the national territory, freedom of assembly, and personal freedom and security are suspended.”
