Peru: Maxima Acuña and Partner Attacked by Mining Firm's Guards

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Telesur

Peru: Maxima Acuña and Partner Attacked by Mining Firm's Guards





A subsistence farmer in Peru’s northern highlands, Maxima Acuña de Chaupe stood up for
her right to peacefully live off her own land. | Photo: 2016 Goldman Environmental Prize


Published 18 September 2016



. . .

Peru's internationally-renowned environmentalist Maxima Acuña and her partner were severely hurt Sunday morning in an attack by alleged hitmen hired by the mining company they are fighting against, reported Acuña's daughter.

At around 9.30 a.m. local time, “people hired by mining firm Yanacocha illegally broke into the property and started damaging the lot with various tools,” said Ysidora Chaupe, daughter of Acuña and Jaime Chaupe.

“When Maxima and Jaime approached them and demanded they stop invading the property, the mining firm's security staff violently attacked Maxima and Jaime, hitting Maxima in the head and body with a weapon, leaving her seriously hurt,” she added.

. . .

Acuña won the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize for stopping Yanococha, a subsidiary of U.S.-based mining giant Newmont, from constructing an open-pit gold mine that threatened to contaminate the water supply and cause water shortages for thousands of people living in this agricultural and cattle-rearing region.


Read more: http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Peru-Maxima-Acuna-and-Partner-Attacked-by-Mining-Firms-Guards-20160918-0018.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. Excerpt describing US Newmont Mining Corporation history in Peru:

Yanacocha, Peru[edit]

The properties of Minera Yanacocha S.R.L. (“Yanacocha”) are located approximately 375 miles (604 kilometers) north of Lima and 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Cajamarca, in Peru. Yanacocha began production in 1993. Newmont holds a 51.35% interest in Yanacocha with the remaining interest held by Compañia de Minas Buenaventura, S.A. (43.65%) and the International Finance Corporation (5%).

Yanacocha’s mining rights consist of concessions granted by the Peruvian government to Yanacocha and a related entity. Yanacocha currently has three active open pit mines: Cerro Yanacocha, La Quinua and Chaquicocha. In addition, reclamation and/or backfilling activities at Carachugo, San Jose and Maqui Maqui are currently underway.

Yanacocha’s gold production for 2010 was 1.5 million ounces (750,000 attributable ounces). As of December 31, 2010, Newmont reported 5.0 million ounces of gold reserves.

In 2011, Newmont’s board of directors granted approval to develop the Conga Project, located in the provinces of Celendín, and Sorochuco Huasmín districts and Cajamarca district of Encañada. Newmont’s ownership interest is identical to Yanacocha. If all permits are secured, the commencement of production is expected in late 2014 or early 2015.[10]

In 2015, agents acting on behalf of Newmont Mining Corporation attacked and beat a woman who refused to move from her home to allow for the development of a mine.

Indigenous Peruvian farmworker Maxima Acuña de Chaupe withstood violent eviction attempts, beatings, and a legal battle to protect her land from being turned into an open-pit gold mine[11]

Police officials of mining company destroy home of Máxima Acuña Chaupe

February 4, 2015

By Hillary Ojeda

The Cajamarca home was destroyed by officials of the Special Operations Division (DINOES). [12]

150,000 Stand With Peruvian Woman in Fight Against World’s Largest Gold Mine Erik Hoffner | April 23, 2015 10:42 am |[13]

Peruvian farmer harassed after lawsuit win against Newmont - By Shreema Mehta February 4, 2015[14]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newmont_Mining_Corporation