NATIONALIZATION & MINING PROTESTS
Conga mine talks break down again
LIMA (Reuters) -
A new round of talks to end a bitter dispute over Newmont Mining's $4.8 billion Conga gold project in Peru appeared to break down on Monday after the prime minister excluded environmental activists from the mediation effort.
Mayors and the governor of the region of Cajamarca criticized Prime Minister Oscar Valdes for refusing to let Wilfredo Saavedra and other leaders of the Environment Defense Front of Cajamarca participate in the talks.
"What happened is that Valdes wouldn't tolerate more participation," said Gregorio Santos, governor of the region of Cajamarca. "He doesn't want to listen to anybody."
Valdes, a former military officer, was promoted a week ago in a Cabinet shakeup by President Ollanta Humala that critics said would lead to crackdowns on protesters and less willingness to use dialogue to solve hundreds of environmental disputes nationwide.
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What is taking place in Peru is typical in South America. The local farmers don't want the mines and the pollution it leaves behind. I thought in time we would see more nationalization of mines in these countries, but I believe the locals don't want the mines altogether. They rather have their simple life, good food and clean water than small payoffs and trinkets.
There is a great deal of evidence that these major miners have left a trail of pollution behind them. This is why we see more royalty agreements and increased taxes. The governments are starting to figure out that it is their responsibility to clean up the mine and not the mining corporation.
Regardless, we are going to see more of this sort of activity going forward.
