MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Peruvian peasants clash with police to protest against gold mine in the Andes
Peruvian police fired tear gas on Friday to break up a protest at Newmont Mining Corp's proposed 4.8 billion dollars Conga gold mine as the government tried to mediate a bitter environmental dispute over the project. Several protesters were injured. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesThe company and the government have done the exhaustive environmental assessment which both claim to be robust.
Nov 27th, 2011 - 09:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The locals have doubts following an adjacent mercury spill into a watercourse some 11 years ago.
Locals NEED the confidence that they will not be poisoned and will have sufficient irrigation and drinking water. This is done by education, publicity and the state involvement.
The other argument is that they come, they exploit/despoil, then go leaving no permanent advantage to the regional society. This should be written it to the whole contract at the outset, and it almost certainly is. There needs to be an arbitration to determine if, today, the advantage accorded to the region is sufficient and that the checks and balances are in place to ensure that all that is promised comes to pass.
At the moment it is 'just' tear gas, but it could get worse - especially if it is 'stoked' by politics.
Time for Humala to 'get his hands dirty' and get personally involved.
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