The farmers of Cocachacra, Bonbon Tip and other districts of Tambo Valleyin Arequipathey demand from the president José Jerí order to stop the company’s operations Southern mining in her Tía María project. The protesters point out that the firm would have started its work without a social license and expired environmental impact studies, as well as other irregularities.
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Along these lines, rural workers stated that, for more than 15 years, they have been seeking dialogue with the authorities and representatives of the mining company; However, their voices have not been heard.
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“The people in Arequipa are honest, hard-working and do not have time to protest; we are dedicated to agriculture, we grow rice and other products. However, the mining company stigmatizes us and calls us ‘anti-miners’ when in reality we prefer to be recognized as farmers. We make a repeated call to President Jerí, the council of ministers and the minister of Energy and Mines to listen to us. We have always been honest and we want to dialogue,” said Miguel Meza, spokesperson and farmer of Cocachacra.
Strike announced for December 16 and 17
After the abandonment of the authorities, the farmers and the population of the Tambo Valley have called for a 48-hour preventive strike for December 16 and 17 in Cocachacra, Punta de Bombón, Mollendo, El Fiscal and other districts of Islay. The measure will be peaceful; some will close their businesses and others will stop transportation as a form of protest.
Likewise, the residents denounced that they do not receive support from the regional government of Arequipa and ask Governor Rohel Sánchez to invite the president of the Republic, José Jerí to convene a dialogue table and address their demands.
They will continue to defend their territory
On the other hand, they reaffirmed that they have legal support to continue confronting the Southern mining company, for more than 15 years, with a resounding “No” to the operations of Aunt Mary and The Tapada. They also expressed their concern for the ecosystem of “Las Lomas Cachendo” in Islay, a fragile area that, according to spokespersons, would be irreversibly damaged by mining activities, affecting fig trees, olive trees and more than 18 species of birds, such as hummingbirds and owls.
It is worth remembering that, for more than 15 years, farmers in the Tambo Valley have expressed their rejection of Southern mining. In 2011, protests intensified due to the authorities’ refusal to listen to their demands and facilitate effective dialogue. The repression of these protests left a number of dead, injured and arrested, mostly farmers. Some leaders and protesters have been jailed, and others still face legal proceedings.
“Until now, we have requested the accounts of the letters of exhortation. There are eight dead whose relatives demand justice, 34 prosecuted and 14 police and State security investigations. A farmer lives with a bullet in his body as a result of the repression; if that bullet were extracted, he would be paralyzed. What evidence do they use to prosecute us? Only minutes and statements. They could even make a record of this conference,” denounced Miguel Meza, a resident and farmer in the area. affected.
