Illegal Mining: Wampís denounce the invasion of 30 dredges in the Santiago River and demand coordinated interdiction operation
This article was originally published in Spanish on the website of the Autonomous Territorial Government of the Wampís Nation.
Through an open letter to various national authorities, the Autonomous Territorial Government of the Wampís Nation (GTANW) denounced the presence of 30 dredges in the lower part of the Santiago River (Condorcanqui, Amazonas), in the communities of San Juan, Belén and Fortaleza, as well as along the Pastacillo stream. The GTANW has asked the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and other relevant institutions to hold a joint meeting to coordinate an interdiction operation as soon as possible.
Illegal mining is one of the constant threats that the Wampís Nation continuously faces. After having successfully carried out interdictions in the Santiago River in 2016 and 2017 in coordination with the State, the activity seemed to have stopped. However, new platforms and dredges were installed in recent months in the lower Santiago River, in full view and with the full knowledge of local authorities, taking advantage of the political and social crisis that the country has been suffering since December 2022.
The community of San Rafael, through a memorandum dated 12/02 addressed to the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Interior, Public Ministry (Specialized Environmental Prosecutor's Office), the GTANW and the Regional Governments, denounces that the presence of illegal mining is causing conflicts in the communities, and asks the authorities to "assume and arrange interdiction actions against this problem before the communal measures of force". In this communication, they warn of possible collusion between authorities in different areas, especially police officers in Nieva, whom they accuse of receiving bribes from the miners in exchange for allowing them to pass the minerals extracted from the area for trade in other places.
Therefore, in addition to convening a meeting between the GTANW and the relevant State institutions, the GTANW has requested that "an urgent investigation be carried out to find these bad police officers and that they be removed from their posts and sanctioned". It will also be necessary to identify the powerful groups that finance and protect this activity of illegal gold extraction and trade. In its letter, which has been copied to the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxic Substances and Human Rights and the IACHR Special Rapporteurs on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Rights of the Child, the GTANW demands that priority be given to this issue given that mercury contamination affects fish and other food sources in the area, the consumption of which causes irreparable health damage and cognitive problems for children and the general population. In addition, the Santiago River flows into the Marañon, so it is possible that this tragedy will affect hundreds more communities that depend on the river. Finally, in the letter they point out the worrying fact that illegal mining "leaves our children and youth, especially girls, at the mercy of criminals who engage in kidnapping and trafficking for the sex trade".
The GTANW has made it clear in its "Nature in Perpetuity Socio-Political Pact" that it will not allow any extractive activity, legal or illegal, that harms nature, which is the source of life of the Wampís Nation. Therefore, in the framework of exercising their right to self-determination, their authorities are determined to take the necessary actions to stop illegal mining in the face of the threat to their lives, even if State institutions do not assume their responsibility. The GTANW is awaiting a favorable response from the relevant institutions to coordinate with your authorities, taking into account the Protocol of Relationship, Agreement and Dialogue of Mutual Respect of the Wampís Nation with the Peruvian State.
Below, you can read and download the open letter in English and Spanish.
FPP is grateful for Size of Wales’ continuing support for this work with the Wampis Nation.
Overview
- Resource Type:
- News
- Publication date:
- 23 February 2023
- Region:
- Peru
- Programmes:
- Supply Chains and Trade Law and Policy Reform Territorial Governance Culture and Knowledge Conservation and Human Rights
- Partners:
- Gobierno Territorial Autónomo de la Nación Wampís (GTANW)