North American Observers Needed In Peru

Observers are needed to witness and monitor a Referendum that is being held in Piura, Peru on September 16, 2007. The referendum is being organized by
3 separate communities as a means to voice whether or not they would like a large scale mining exploit to take place in their communities.

The contingent of North American observers will be led by Ulises Garcia. Mr.
Garcia is the son of assassinated leader (Godofredo Garcia Baca) in Peru’s Tambogrande Case, and he was also a key activist in Tambogrande’s successful struggle to hold Peru’s 1st Referendum and expel Canadian Mining company, Manhattan Minerals.

Ulises Garcia toured the 3 affected communities this past year to encourage them to hold their own referendum. He also visited the community of Sipacapa in Guatemala that later held their own referendum as well. Mr.
Garcia has extensive experience in promoting peaceful alternatives and with organizing referendums. Mr. Garcia is now a Canadian Citizen.

INTERESTED: contact Ulises Garcia as soon as possible: ugarpe@yahoo.com, 1-905-201-7161.

BACKGROUND:

This September 16, 2007 will be a crucially important day for all those that have been struggling with mining issues in Latinamerica. A simultaneous Referendum will be held by 3 separate communities; Ayabaca, Pacaipampa and Carmen de la Frontera, located in the northern highlands of Piura, Peru (near the border of Ecuador). The referendum will be held to allow the directly affected communities to vote on whether or not they want the “Rio Blanco Mining Project” (owned by Minera Majaz which is a subsidiary of the British-Chinese company “Monterrico Metals.”)

Additional mining companies in nearby areas also include: Plexmar INC from Quebec, Canada (www.plexmar.com), Candente Resource Corporation from Vancouver, Canada (www.candente.com/s/Peru.asp) and Buenaventura Company (the largest Peruvian mining company.)

This is the 2nd Referendum to be held in Peru, following the success of Tambogrande. The community of Tambogrande courageously organized a referendum back in 2002, to vocalize whether or not they wanted a mining project by Manhattan Minerals in their community. The results were that an overwhelming 98% of voters voted against the project. Canadian observers played a crucial role in legitimizing the referendum process especially since it went under attack by the Federal government. Later it proved to be an important and crucial political tool in expelling the mining company from their community. The case of Tambogrande gained international media attention and stimulated the same response in other communities in Latinamerica such as in Esquel, Argentina, and Sipicapa, Guatemala. Since then many more communities in Guatemala have followed suit.

The presence of international observers is partly why these referendums have had such a success. It is vital we continue to support such communities at the most important stage in their struggle.

Just adjacent to the 6,000 hectares that has been conceded to Monterrico Metals, American Mining conglomerate Newmont Mining also has an additional 10,000 hectares of concessions. All of this area is in the middle of a Conservation area, which contains moors and a cloud forest. This area has important water reserves and complex underground aquifers. Essentially all of Piura’s regions get their water supply from this area. This region’s people and agriculture are totally dependent on this water source.

All of these companies are currently encountering major social conflict with the local communities. Furthermore, the communities affected by these mining companies are relying on the outcome of the referendum that is to be held on September 16th. Once the referendum takes place, they too are expecting to follow suit.

Monterrico Metals estimates it will be among Peru’s top two copper mines, and possibly one of the very largest in South America. Throughout all of these mining concessions, there has been considerable unrest in the region.
Two campesinos lives were taken, and many more have been injured, arrested and / or are facing lawsuits.

The conflict between these various actors gained the attention of the national press and television, as well as international visibility. One British organization called “The Peru Support Group”
(www.perusupportgroup.org) presented a report before the House of Parliament in March 2007. It has also gained the attention of the Peruvian Ombudsman’s office, which opened an investigation into the status of human and citizen’s rights in the zone. The Ombudsman determined that the Monterrico Metals didn’t get authority of the local communities.

As of April 2007, Monterrico Metals / Majaz Mining Company are facing a lawsuit against 2 of the 3 communities affected for the illegal possession of their land.

Despite many attempts to have their voices heard, the government seems to be at the very best unresponsive. A referendum is the last hope to voice their opinions. The right to hold a referendum is supported by Peruvian municipal law, the Peruvian Constitution, and the International Labour Organization Law 169. These communities have the right to free and prior consent.

On September 16th, the people have firmly made the decision to exercise
their constitutional right to vote by holding a referendum. They will use
this right to demonstrate that what they want is a sustainable development model based on agriculture rather than a purely economic development model based on mining. The people of these three communities; Ayabaca, Pacaipampa and Carmen de la Frontera are determined and are prepared to fight to the end to defend their biodiverse environment that have taken generations to build.

***

INTERESTED: contact Ulises Garcia as soon as possible: ugarpe@yahoo.com, 1-905-201-7161.

COSTS: Observers will pay their own costs. People would fly in and out of Lima, Peru. There would be a national flight from Lima to Piura ($200).
There are local costs of room, board and transportation.