Almost a month after the incursion of hundreds of Apurimeño community members into the properties of MMG Las Bambas, the solution to their demands and the mining company’s request for them to leave has not arrived. Last Tuesday, representatives of the residents, the mine and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (PCM) met, without reaching a solution to this conflict; the demonstrators closed in their position, with a State of Emergency they are not going to start any dialogue table.
In the peasant community of Pumamarca, belonging to the district of Tambobamba, province of Cotabambas – Apurímac, the main actors of this problem met, however the meeting ended abruptly after the participation of the legal advisors of the protesting communities, who mentioned that they will not talk any more until the State of Emergency is lifted.
The same position was held by Edison Vargas, president of the Fuerabamba peasant community, who mentioned: “We cannot negotiate our rights, we cannot accept from the State that it put a condition for us to dialogue, while the State of Emergency lasts there will be nothing.”
As a way out of this decision, the PCM Secretariat for Social Management and Dialogue and the Vice-Ministry of Territorial Governance offered to draw up a document regarding the community members’ requests, a document that would be submitted to the Council of Ministers this Wednesday to see if it is approved or not the request to repeal the State of Emergency in the area.
Meanwhile, visibly mortified, Edgardo Orderique, representative of MMG Las Bambas mentioned that they would like to join the request of the residents, but they still have the incursion of community members in properties adjacent to the mine, “we have access blocked, the only way to enter to the camp is via helicopter (…) Four million soles are lost daily due to income tax and 1.2 million soles in royalties due to this strike,” he said.
Meanwhile, more than 200 community members from the town of Huancuire continue stationed on the land of MMG Las Bambas, they could not be evicted in the operation carried out by the Police on April 27, they mention that they will stay in the place until they find a solution. to your demands.
The main request of Fuerabamba is the purchase and sanitation of 180 hectares of land for grazing, that they indicate they do not have in Nueva Fuerabamba. From the mine they assure that the population should organize and establish a purchase commission, something that would not have happened.
FACT:
– Almost at the same time as this meeting, President Pedro Castillo visited Apurímac, and the regional governor Baltazar Lantarón rebuked him for the absence of the Prime Minister, Aníbal Torres, at the meeting agreed in the community of Pumamarca to address the conflict over Las Bambas.
