Peru has imposed a curfew and deployed military forces in the wake of the massacre of 13 miners at the Poderosa gold mine, amid rising violence linked to illegal mining. The Confederation of Private Business Institutions condemned the situation, comparing it to past national atrocities. Interior Minister Díaz Zulueta provided contradicting information about the incident, while the mining company blamed the government for inaction. The illegal mining crisis is costing Peru substantially and poses significant security and environmental risks.
In response to the tragic murder of 13 security workers at the Poderosa gold mine, the Peruvian government has activated a nighttime curfew and authorized military oversight in the Andean district of Pataz. President Dina Boluarte announced this tough measure following an escalating wave of violence tied to illegal mining operations that has sparked outrage across the nation.
This recent massacre has sent a shock through the country. The Confederation of Private Business Institutions (Confiep), Peru’s leading business organization, issued a statement condemning the violence, saying it clearly indicates that the government has lost security control not just in Pataz, but across much of the nation. They drew dark parallels between the incident and the violent period of Peru’s internal conflict, which lasted from 1980 until 2000 and claimed around 69,000 lives.
The statement from Confiep asserted, “This spiral of violence is a reflection of systematic disorder,” and highlighted the brutality of these killings resembling the atrocities of past guerrilla warfare in Peru, specifically referring to Sendero Luminoso and the MRTA groups.
Interior Minister Julio Díaz Zulueta confirmed in a visit to the La Libertad region that the authorities had initially been searching for the workers for five days before they discovered their bodies on a Sunday. He provided a timeline rather at odds with earlier statements by Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzén, who had been skeptical about whether the workers had been kidnapped in the first place, stating there were no formal complaints made.
Díaz disclosed that police had dismantled 20 out of 30 identified illegal mine shafts in the region, but many still operate under criminal control. He expressed optimism about future efforts, saying, “We will have good news from Pataz in the coming days.” His upcoming appearance before Congress is expected, as lawmakers are aiming to censure Boluarte’s cabinet over the alarming situation, which has already led to 39 deaths in Pataz this year, according to reports from Poderosa.
Meanwhile, the mining company Compañía Minera Poderosa held the government accountable for the massacre, blaming organized crime linked to illegal mining. They described Pataz as increasingly becoming “a lawless territory where violence reigns with impunity.” The company particularly criticized the government’s failure to act against known illegal mining tunnels, many of which have already been geolocated but remain intact.
Poderosa also accused the Ministry of Energy and Mines of ignoring requests to prevent illegal miners from operating within their concessions. They voiced frustration with Congress for continually extending a temporary licensing system, which they see as ineffective at curbing illegal mining activity. In a related incident, a weekend ambush in the province injured eight individuals, including two police officers, as they were attacked while heading to a mining camp.
Illegal mining operations span across the country, impacting areas along the coast, in the highlands, and the jungle. The National Society of Mining, Petroleum and Energy (SNMPE) estimates this activity costs Peru about $7 billion annually. Regions such as Puno and Madre de Dios have felt this impact acutely, with rampant mining leading to vast environmental destruction and problems such as human trafficking and drug smuggling going unaddressed.
In summary, Peru’s government is responding to a disturbing surge in violence connected to illegal mining by enforcing a curfew and deploying military forces in Pataz. The killings of the miners have drawn severe criticism from various sectors and have reignited discussions about the inadequacies in security measures against organized crime. The situation continues to evolve, with calls for increased cooperation between government, business, and civil organizations to tackle the crisis before it escalates further.
Original Source: efe.com
