Tensions in Moquegua, Puno and Apurimac: Water shortages and eviction problems

New scandal in Las Bambas. Approximately 200 community members from Fuerabamba, from the Challhuahuacho district in the Apurimac region, invaded land belonging to the MMG Las Bambas company and set up tents 200 meters from the sites. For two days now, protesters have been demanding an alleged breach of commitments by the mining company.

Edilberto Pinares, Deputy Prefect of Challhuahuacho, reported that there have been no clashes, but that these strikers remain in the property of Las Bambas.

Through a letter, the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (PCM) invited the community members to a meeting on April 20, but they decided to continue their action until a high - level committee of the Government and the Vice President of Corporate Affairs of Las Bambas, Carlos Castro, arrives.

In 2014, the community of Fuerabamba sold its land (land) to Las Bambas in exchange for economic consideration and the purchase of land elsewhere. As commented by the Comuneros, this last aspect would not have been fulfilled in its entirety, which gave rise to this measure of force.

WATER SHORTAGE

This social conflict, which is about to be two months old, in Moquegua, has as protagonists the peasant community of Tumilaca-Pocata-Coscore-Tala and the Southern company. 5000 inhabitants of the Cuajone mining camp were left without water when the Viña Blanca reservoir was taken over by the community members.

A meeting was held on April 12, where a minutes were left announcing the publication of a resolution by the PCM Secretariat for Social Management and Dialogue for the installation of an upcoming dialogue table. However, the people affected remain without water and do not have access to health until agreements are reached at that table.

The PCM, through the Deputy Ministry of Territorial Governance, issued a statement in which it emphasized that the Executive has sought understanding between the parties involved since the problem began. He mentioned that the resolution for the formation of a team to solve the conflict is being built jointly between the State, the community and the company.

In addition, he called the Southern workers' unions to calm down, because, on Thursday, a group of miners tried to retake the reservoir, but they withdrew upon learning of a new meeting to resolve this situation.

By the morning of this morning, a new date would be set for the dialogue table that had already been scheduled at which a solution should be reached to put an end to this problem. However, Cinthia Zevallos, a nurse at Cuajone hospital and member of a Southern workers' union, said they will peacefully await Sunday's decision.

PUNO IN TROUBLE

For its part, in Puno, on 21 April, it would be five months since a group of inhabitants of the Saqui Totora community, Sina district, San Antonio de Putina province, threw 96 workers out of the Argos company and appropriated the gold deposit. The eviction was recorded on November 21, 2021. This eventually culminated in the burning of the camp where they were.

According to the police, the community members closed the road in the Apacheta sector. People and journalists who want to reach the archaeological site are not allowed to move freely.

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