The Peruvian region of Madre de Dios has gone on an indefinite
strike to protest
the Peruvian government’s fight against illegal mining. Led by Madre de Dios
governor Luis Otsuka, the protesters are demanding the repeal of two laws
designed to combat illegal mining in Peru. According to the protestors, the
laws have not achieved their objective and have only resulted in deaths and
more violence.
The Madre de Dios region has been a hotbed of illicit
activity. In addition to illegal mining and logging, Governor Ostuka has built
public roads in the protected Manu national Park. In addition, the woodworker
and anti-illegal mining activist Alfredo Vracko was murdered
in his own home last week. The Peruvian police suspect that illegal gold miners
are behind the murder, as Vracko had been spoken out loudly against their
activities.
However, the Peruvian Ministry of the Environment rejected
the strike in Madre de Dios, arguing that illegal mining has resulted in the
destruction of 50,000 hectares of Peruvian forest and brings human trafficking
and sex workers to Madre de Dios. Minister Manuel Pulgar-Vidal insisted that
the government will not negotiate with the illegal miners, stressing, “With
illegality there is no dialogue, and one should never give in to blackmail, no
power of the State should ever do that when confronted with the high levels of
degradation, violence, and unmet basic needs created by this illegal activity.”
Minister Pulgar-Vidal warned that if Madre de Dios continues
down this path of conflict with the central government, it would plunge the
region into chaos. He called on all of Peru to unite against illegal mining.
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