Latin America Update

Latin America update

25th August 2007

While farmers from the district of Pacaipampa in Ayabaca (Piura, Peru.) mobilised on the streets against Rio Blanco mining project, Monterrico Metals received two stability agreements from the Government of Peru. The company says that this provides it important guarantees for its investments. Some days later, the National Confederation of Communities Affected by Mining (CONACAMI) declared that an attack against the Mayor of San Ignacio province was related to his opposition to the mining project. Mayors from three municipalities of Piura have threatened to go to "international bodies" if the national government "fails to respect" the outcome of the referendum to be held on September 16th.

Colombian small scale mining and farming communities, affected by the exploration activities of AngloGold Ashanti subsidiary's Kedahda, have made clear their objections to the company's presence/ They are to organise a 'caravan'. with representatives of organisations from Britain, Canada, Italy and the USA. which will visit these communities between 17 August and 4 September.

A Rights Action report from the municipality of El Estor, eastern Guatemala, comments on the indigenous Q'eqchi' community of Barrio Revolucion and its long fight against Canada's Skye Resources.

In Mexico, one man was killed during a battle between hundreds of miners at the La Caridad copper mine, close to the US border. The operating company, Grupo Mexico, also asked for government permission to fire 2,200 striking workers at La Caridad's sister mine, Cananea - Mexico's largest copper mine.