No To The Stability Of The Abuses Of Majaz Mines
Published by MAC on 2007-08-09Source: see problems, source name doesnt fit
No to the Stability of the Abuses of Majaz Mines
Press statement, Peru
9th August 2007
The undersigned institutions and persons declare to public opinion the following:
The government is about to sign an agreement of legal stability with Majaz Mines, the company carrying out the Rio Blanco project. This pact will:
- impede the State from raising taxes, as they can do with the Peruvian people
- award these [tax] breaks without urging the minimum of $2 million [tax on] exports established by law, nor requiring effective investments in Perú
- if the State lowers taxes, the corporation can enjoy a rebate because they can renounce the contract at any time
The use of these agreements has been criticised by many international organizations, even the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The Rio Blanco project of Majaz:
- has not been approved by the public
- has been observed by the Public Ombudsperson and by the Public Registry to be a case of a company illegally occupying lands that are the property of the Campesino Communities of Yanta (Ayabaca) and Segunda y Cajas (Huancabamba). In this respect there are penal complaints for the crime of illegal possession of lands currently submitted to the Public Ministry
- This project has a high risk of affecting the environment, which will be aggravated that the company is intending to develop a large mining district without controls, in areas of paramos and rainforests - fragile ecosystems where the waters of the Chinchipe (Cajamarca) and Quiróz (Piura) river basins emerge
- The intentions of the mining firms to create a mining district has been amply demonstrated, since the concessions adjacent to those of Majaz belong to Mayari Mines, a company that belongs to the same economic group and has the same owners
Faced by this, in the Piura districts of Carmen de la Frontera, Pacaipampa and Ayabaca, a popular consultation will be carried out this coming September 16, so the people can manifest their position publicly over this mining project.
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD RESPECT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE AS EXPRESSED THROUGH UNIVERSAL BALLOTING
Technical Roundtable of Support to the Majaz Case – RED MUQUI – CooperAccion - Fedepaz – Piura Collective for Life and Agriculture "Godofredo Garcia Baca" – Pedro Francke