Iván Mendoza: “Southern Peru has to pay for the 50 years of destruction on the community’s lands”

On February 11 of this year, 475 community members from the areas surrounding the Cuajone mine (Moquegua) initiated a forceful measure in the Cocotea ravine. According to the mine workers, this protest has ended with the paralysis of the activities of the mine. mining.

The community members declare themselves owners of the land where the mining unit operated by Southern Peru operates. The Republic spoke with Iván Mendoza, representative of the communities, who denounces that more than 50 years ago the company “came to the Moquegua region and never asked for permission to occupy the land of the peasant community.”

What are they demanding from the mining company?

Southern Peru has to pay for the 50 years of destruction, contamination, and impact that it has created on the community’s lands. It is 50 years that it has destroyed more than 3,900 hectares of land.

Do you consider yourself the owner of some land that the mining company uses in any of its infrastructures?

That’s right, we have blueprints, we have scripts older than Southern. We own the property, so Southern never asked us for permission.

What are they demanding for the land?

We are demanding US$ 5,000 million.

What will happen if the mining company does not agree to pay this amount?

We have presented the proposal (See minutes), we want the counter proposal, it is a matter of negotiation. We are not going to say that the 5,000 million. Indeed, the owner sets the price, but we can reach an agreement, but so far the mining company has not responded.

How long do you plan to take the measure of force?

Let’s go 32 days. It depends on Southern and the Peruvian State, it is in their field. We ask for a high-level commission, we want the premier, the minister of Energy and Mines, the Environment and Agriculture to form this commission and enter into a dialogue.

Do you have any conditions for dialogue?

There are 18 community members who have been denounced. We have said that in order to dialogue, the complaints must be withdrawn, otherwise there will not be a dialogue process. That is our condition. We are a fair claim.

Southern workers denounced that their water supply was cut off, will they continue with this measure?

Look so that it is very clear, the conduction line for human consumption for the little population that they have there is another line and that one is not blocked. The workers’ claim that the water supply has been blocked is totally false. Viña Blanca water is only for processing by the processor. Southern has turned off the faucet for some workers to say we’ve turned off their water.

Some sectors call them anti-mining, are they?

For claiming a fair right, we are not anti-mining. We are in favor of companies coming, not like Southern. We want socially responsible mining companies. That they do not impact the waters or the environment. We even have children with arsenic.