Version imprimableThe march is a direct response to Southern Copper’s decision the day before to pause the mining project for a period of 60 days. Protests continue as the transnational company has refused to withdraw its $1.4 billion project despite 52 days of continuous protests and violent repression.
“We continue our indefinite strike. We reject this mining project because Southern has proven to be a corrupt business. We want the project to withdraw now!” Augusto Paredes, representative of farmers of the Tambo Valley in Peru, told TeleSUR.
Opposition against to project originally started in 2009. Local farmers argue that the exploitation of copper in the region will contaminate and destroy their crops
Peruvian President Ollanta Humala said Friday that the mining project will not be suspended explaining “the state cannot adopt a unilateral decision that is not governed by the law. It would expose the government to legal complaints and it would have terrible effects, both judicially and economically”.
For protesters the unwillingness on behalf of the government to act reveals that in Peru “multinational companies are ruling,” Augusto Paredes told TeleSUR. “The one that needs to provide the solution is the president because we all, Peruvian citizens, elected him. But we see once again, we realize once again, that the government only defends multinationals. The politics of this government goes against the people, against the Peruvian citizen.” On Saturday morning streets were blocked with trees and stones.
