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30 June 2011 | News | Extractive industries
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On Wednesday, after protesting for 45 days, peasants and indigenous people from Puno department, located to the south of Peru, lifted their strike against mining and oil concessions.
The population had blocked important highways, such as the one that connects Peru to Bolivia and occupied the Juliaca airport as part of their protests against mining and oil operations for being polluting activities.
On Friday, in confrontations with police and military officers, several people died, according to different national and international media outlets between three and five people. In addition, over 15 people were injured and shot in these confrontations caused by the repression of the protests by police and military officers.
In solidarity with the people injured and killed on June 24th, the regional government of Puno decided that the 25th, 26th and 27th of June would be declared Days of Regional Mourning. Subsequently, the Peruvian Executive repealed Decree Nº 083-2007 in order to abandon the controversial Santa Ana mining project and ensure the implementation of the Prior Consultation principle in terms of mining and oil activities in Puno.
This contributed with an end to the conflict, that ended when the demonstrators agreed on several issues with Alan Garcia administration, which has been characterized by the violent repression of social demands in the past.
While the protest measures stopped, social leader Walter Aduviri pointed out that they will discuss with president elect Ollanta Humala the review of all mining concessions granted in Puno department, according to the DPA agency.
“We will wait until August 30th for the government to pass a consultation law”, said Aduviri, according to this agency.
Photo: http://www.cnr.org.pe/
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