But the Conga project is not Peru’s only environmental conflict. A few days ago, the Espinar province in Cusco erupted in protest against the Xstrata mine, resulting in two deaths and numerous injuries due to public confrontation with the police.
The mayor was arrested and later released as a result of public pressure. The latest report from the Ombudsman’s Office shows that the number of social conflicts in Peru totals 245, 60% of which are motivated by socio-environmental factors.
The Conga project has become the first major dilemma for Ollanta Humala’s government, which must decide whether or not to give the green light to a gold mining project stretching throughout the Conga. Former president Alan GarcĂa’s government approved the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
No comments:
Post a Comment