by Emilee Gaebler
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

LIMA, Peru – Last week miners throughout Peru began to protest the increased penalties for informal and illegal mining of gold.  Yesterday, early in the morning, miners in the Madre de Dios region escalated those protests in an attempt to capture control of the airport, markets and government buildings in the city of Puerto Maldonado.

One man was killed from a gunshot wound during the uprising and roughly 30 others were injured.  The 700 police officers called to the area used rubber bullets and buckshot to stop the protestors.  It is reported that 11 police officers were injured from stones thrown by the protestors.

Close to 10,000 miners took part in the uprising on Wednesday.  They were protesting the new laws that will push many un-licensed gold miners in Peru out of work.  The BBC states that an estimated 50,000 miners in Peru operate without the proper licenses and permits.  The new laws enforce stricter penalties for those caught illegally mining.  Some of the proposals make it a crime punishable by imprisonment for up to 10 years.

Peruvian officials defend the stricter penalties by pointing to the environmental concerns raised by illegal mining.  The rate of deforestation is increased by the mining.  As well, the rivers in the southeastern regions, where the illegal mining predominates, have concerning levels of mercury in them.  The mercury is used by miners in the process of extracting gold from the waters.

Officials further noted that they were not targeting the smaller organizations or individuals but instead focusing on breaking up the larger mafia-style groups that exploit economically disadvantaged people, like women and children, for their labor.

The President of Peru’s National Mining, Oil and Energy Society (SNMPE), Pedro Martinez, says that illegal mining is an important issue to tackle because of the dangers it poses.  Martinez estimates that the illegal gold mining brings in more than $2 billion per year.

“We cannot cede one centimeter in the fight against illegal mineral extraction because it puts in danger biodiversity and the health of Peruvians,” was Martinez’s statement.

The illegal mining has increased in recent years with the jump in gold prices.  A previous effort was made by the government to stop the mining when they destroyed the dredges used by the miners.  The miners believe that the government’s actions are motivated by a desire to garner a profit by selling all mining concessions to large multinational companies.  The government says they simply want the miners to obtain the correct permits so that their actions can be monitored and environmental repercussions can be limited.

 

For more information, please see;

Latin American Herald Tribune – Peru “Restoring Order” After Deadly Clashes with Miners – 15 March 2012

BBC – Peru Mining Protests Turn Deadly in Puerto Maldonado – 14 March 2012

NTN24 News – One Killed in Peru Miners Protest – 14 March 2012

The Wall Street Journal – Peru’s Informal Mining Protests Turn Deadly – 14 March 2012