Right now a court case is going on the the UK to try and get to the bottom of the Majaz/Rio Blanco torture case that we've featured on this humble corner of cyberspace quite a lot. Here's my very favourite quote from proceedings so far, part of the depositions made by witnesses late last week:
The engineers José Saavedra and Darwin Palacios as well as workers Eugenio Castro and Román Tirado Villar, confirmed that the company (Monterrico Metals) coordinated the reprisal operation against the protestors.
Román Tirado, administrator of the Rio Blanco camp, kept in constant contact with Andrew Bristow Bevege, Director and General Manager of the company, who ordered the security company 'Forza' and the police to abuse and torture the protestors.
José Saavedra affirmed that "Román Tirado gave instructions to the police, the workers and to Forza about the villagers, said that they were terrorists and they had to be treated as such. He also was in charge of taking the photographs".
Here's Reuters with thenews of more deaths at the Rio Blanco/Majaz copper project in northern Peru. There's more to this story than meets the eye.
LIMA, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Two people were killed and eight were injured on Wednesday as Peruvian police sought to apprehend a suspect in the November attack on a controversial mining camp owned by Chinese miner Zijin, police said on Thursday.
Authorities said they arrested two suspects for the assault last month that killed three workers at the Rio Blanco copper project, which has locked local communities and foreign investors in an environmental dispute marred by violenceCONTINUES HERE.
What part of "This will never, ever be a mine" do you not understand?
For some reason, this copper project is on the list of those that the government of Peru expects to be operational by 2015. Just goes to show how much BS is thrown at the market by politicos.
Saldy, after the deaths and torture suffered by locals protesting the mining project of Rio Blanco (ex-Majaz) that came to light earlier this year in a series of photos, we have more deaths to report. And unsurprisingly, after the total inaction of authorities over the case it's the locals that have taken the law into their own hands and done the deeds.
According to reports starting to appear, it seems that some 20 local people approached the mining camp at Rio Blanco last night armed with molotov cocktails and torched the campsite. Two people working at the site, namely Joel Severino Zapata of the security firm Visur and Luis Gómez Vilchez, an employee of the mining company, were killed. Reports on how they died are contradictory at this moment, with some claiming both weren't able to get out of the buildings in time and others claiming that one was accidentally shot to death by one of his own colleagues while trying to defend the area
Previously, the owners of this project were Monterrico Metals. It's now owned by China's Zijin, but the nameplate on the door means absolutely nothing. At some point the Chinese will begin to udnerstand what a foolish idea it was to buy this trainwreck and sell it to some other bunch of suckers. If you know the area you'll also know that it's impossible to get anything done without the assistance of the local people. The same local people that have made it crystal clear how much they don't want the project to move ahead on their land. The behind-the-back dealing of the Twobreakfasts government have again tried to ignore the desires of the people of Peru. Once again those people have lost patience. It's all so sad, so predictable. Furthermore, it's likely to happen in the same way at the Hunt Oil project in the South of Peru soon, too.
Your private placement dollars in junior mining companies at work
Remember the story of the tortures and death at the Monterrico Metals Majaz (now called Rio Blanco) copper project in northern Peru? Yeah, sure you do, cos IKN ran this post with the scandalous photos when the story hit in January and followed it up with a dozen or so reports about the aftermath, including how diplo douchebag Richard Ralph was profiting from the threats and torture tactics used by the mining world and in cahoots with the Toledo government of the time.
So today The UK Guardian reports that the company is getting its ass sued in a British court of law for multimillions. Here's the link (got a video embedded) and here's an extract:
Richard Meeran, of Leigh Day, the London law firm bringing the high court case, said the evidence of torture was incontrovertible and that it was inconceivable the company could have been unaware of what was happening on its site.
"The company must have been aware of the inhuman treatment of the victims during their three-day ordeal at the Rio Blanco mine," he said. "Yet there is no evidence of it taking any steps to prevent the harm. On the contrary, it would appear that the company was working in cahoots with the police. It is vital that multinationals are held legally accountable for human rights violations occurring at their overseas operations."
Public relations Monterrico Metals style, coming to an Andean nation near you soon
Once upon a time when Aurelian was top of the agenda, Otto got quite a lot of useful info out of Ecuador's mining ministry via his own little garganta profunda. All has been kinda quiet on that front recently, but then suddenly in the last couple of days the weirdest message appeared over the World-Wide-Ottoscope.
Apparently, the thugs and human rights tramplers at Monterrico Metals (MNA.L), including the odious liar Andrew Bristow (gives kiwis a bad name) aren't satisfied with torturing and beating up Peruvian locals (see all the coverage on Majaz for full details) and want to expand their bullyboy activities into the nascent Ecuadorian mining industry, too. Word is that MNA.L has put out feelers in the Mining Ministry and wants to know if there are any good copper projects going on their side of the border.
IKN's advice to Studmuffin: Don't do it, Rafa....these dudes bring seriously nasty baggage with them and will screw up your metallic plans bigtime. Just say no to Bristow, Ecuador.
This week CNR Peru reports that the fiscal (public prosecutor) that was present and was an eyewitness to the events, even taking part himself, has had all charges against him dropped by the Peruvian judiciary (in the parlance, his case has been 'archived'). It all happened very quietly two weeks ago and has only come to light this week. The reason given by the putrid, corrupt judge in charge is that there "is not sufficient evidence that he was aware of the torture suffered by the members of the community".
So please note that the corrupt judge in charge, Sofia Milla of Piura, recognizes that the 29 people were in fact tortured. However she refuses to recognize that the fiscal present, Felix Toledo Leiva, knew about the torture even though;
all 29 victims testified he was there
all 29 victims said he was an eyewitness to the brutality
there is photographic evidence that shows, without a shadow of a doubt, that he saw what was going on
the photos show him in the presence of injured and tortured individuals
various of the tortured individuals, including the women victims, testify that he shouted insults, made physical threats and even violently pulled the hair of one of the women
So due to the bribed judge Sofia Milla and the corrupt, money-at-all-costs APRA government of Twobreakfasts, a man who should rot in jail as an example to all walks away without a care in the world. This is the Peru that those blind morons at Fitch think is worthy of your money as investment grade.
Check out the following, kindly sent along earlier by reader MH. Straight pastes of the two reports about how Sweden's Securitas are investigating the torture of locals in Peru. They're coming at you from all sides now, Bristow. Run and hide and don't tell anyone! Great PR tactics so far, idiot!
The Peruvian company Forza, owned by Swedish Securitas, is accused of having tied and beaten demonstrators – one to death. The abuses are said to have occurred at a demonstration against a mining operation in Rio Blanco, in Peru, 2005. According to Reuters, photographs representing the alleged incident have been published by a Peruvian human rights association.
- If this is true we have to take action, says Gisela Lindstrand, [Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications] at Securitas AB to Expressen.se.
The photographs, distributed by an anonymous source, show men covered in blood with their hands tied behind their backs and plastic bags over their heads. One of the men is later seen dead in another photograph. In the photographs one can also see men wearing vests with the text Forza.
The photos clearly show that personnel of Forza played an active role in the repression and torture, said Javier Jahncke at the human rights organisation Fedepaz to Reuters.
The tortured men are said to be demonstrators against the mining operation which was about to start in Rio Blanco in 2005.
Local police accused
The company Forza was responsible for the mining venture’s security.
Also local police are accused of having helped put down the demonstration.
After receiving the allegations, Peru’s congress is initiating an investigation of the incident.
-We have contacted our subsidiary and we are investigating this in peace and quiet, says Gisela Lindstrand [Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications] at the international section of Securitas AB.
According to her, Securitas bought Forza in 2007, two years after the alleged events.
-If this is true and these persons remain at the company we have to take action.
Distancing itself
Gisela Lindstrand explains that Securitas asked Forza if they comply with laws and regulations when it bought the company.
Securitas distances itself from the behavior shown in the photographs.
-It is not conceivable that we would act this way. We are a serious security company, says Gisela Lindstrand.
Reuters have been in touch with Forza, but they decline to comment.
A company which is today owned by the Swedish security group Securitas will be investigated in Peru concerning suspected torture and abuse of the local population in relation to surveillance of mines in the country.
-We are trying to find out what has happened. It will take a while to investigate, says Gisela Lindstrand, Securitas Group [Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications], to TT [Tidningarnas Telegrambyrå].
Peru’s congress has said that suspected crimes by police and private security firms in 2005 will be investigated. Prosecutors are allegedly already working on it.
Last month, a human rights organization published photographs of men and women protesting against mining in Rio Blanco, in Peru.
The victims bled heavily and some had their hands tied behind their backs and plastic bags over their heads. One photograph shows a man bleeding heavily from his neck, and another photograph shows the same man dead one day later, according to Reuters.
“Want to investigate”
In one photograph, an armed guard from the company Forza, can be seen. Forza was bought by the multinational Securitas in 2007.
The photos clearly show that personnel of Forza played an active role in the repression and torture, said Javier Jahncke at the human rights organization to Reuters.
Lindstrand reports that she contacted Peru on Tuesday.
-I have spoken with our country manager and said that I want an investigation into what happened.
In Rio Blanco, Forza is working for the mining company Moterrico, which was bought by the Chinese Group Zijin in 2007. The mining company states that the allegations are one in a sequence of “resistance activities” against mining activity.
The police force in Peru is under-funded. Security at the country’s remote mines is contracted out to private security companies, which in turn hire former policemen and soldiers. They often face local protests against the social and environmental downsides of mining.
Trained security guards
According to human rights organizations, private companies often go way beyond the limits of the law in their assignments.
Lindstrand points out that the company [Forza] was bought after the suspected abuse, and that all Securitas Group’s security guards are trained in human rights.
-If this has happened, it is something which could never happen today, because now Securitas’ rules apply.
-TT: Can you guarantee that even in remote locations in Peru?
As mentioned in this post last Sunday, Julio Vásquez Calle has been receiving continued death threats via anonymous phone calls (to his home telephone and private cellular number). He is the journalist who went public with the now infamous photos that showed the extent of the torture suffered by himself and 28 others at the Monterrico (MNA.L) mining camp at Majaz, now re-named Rio Blanco. Anyone that has basic knowledge of Peru's modern history understands that death threats there are no joke at all.
The good news is that now there's a mail-writing and petition campaign that is making people aware of the threats suffered by Vásquez, and you can join in (in either Spanish or English, as you prefer). Lillie over at Memory In Latin America has all the necessary details in this post right here, so please go over, spend five minutes of your time and write a mail that will promote free speech in Peru, protect a brave reporter and help put another nail into the coffin of the sordid junior mining company that gives the industry such a bad name.
Thank you in advance.
Update Cool, the excellent UK blog Ten Percent has picked up the baton and is running with it. Great to get support for this issue in MNA.L's homeland. Thanks RB
Surprise surprise. Thugs is as thugs do and all that stuff, the guy who dared to tell the truth about the torture suffered at the hands of Monterrico Metals is now getting death threats on his private cellular phone. Thanks to a headsup from the nice people at the Peruvian National Coordinator for Human Rights (gracias chicos), here below is their story put through the Ottotrans™, the original of which you can find here.
This story is not going away, Andrew Bristow, Richard Ralph and all the other corporate liars attached to MNA.L: You guys give the mining industry a bad name and thanks to the efforts of people like Julio Vasquez who are not cowed by threats you'll never mine an ounce of Peru's soil. The sooner you're out of business the better.
The journalist from Radio Cutivalú, Julio Vásquez Calle, reports having receivec constant death threats via anonymous phone calls made to his cellular phone. This is due to him being one of the victims who made public photos that testify to the kidnapping and torture he suffered along with 28 other villagers from the provinces of Ayabaca and Huancabamba (Piura) and Jaén and San Ignacio (Cajamarca) in the installations of the mining company Majaz (now Rio Blanco Copper S.A. in 2005. The incident involved high-ranking officers of the Peru National Police Force, the security firm Forza and functionaries of the Majaz Mining.
Due to this serious allegation made by Vásquez Calle, the Ecumenical Foundation for Development and Peace (FEDEPAZ) manifests its concern for the risk that the life of said journalist faces.
Because of this, FEDEPAZ, the legal advisor of the journalist, has reported to diverse international organisms concerned with the protection of Human Rights in order that they intercede with the current national administration to offer necessary protection in light of the constant threats that put his life in danger.
At the same time, reports are being presented to the National Fiscal Office to demand an exhaustive investigation and to the Defender of the People's Office (ombudsman) so that they, in compliance with their function, intercede with the relevant organisms in order to protect and safeguard his personal intergrity.
Finally, it should be mentioned that the Vásquez case is a repeated one, as local Piura authorities as well as the Defenders of Human Rights and Environment that have taken up the defence of the communities of Ayabaca and Huancabamba, amongst then members of FEDEPAZ, have also been victims of threats, surveillance, phone-tapping and unfounded accusations.
Ooh, lordy! Dana Ford at Reuters Lima has just filed a great note about the Monterrico torture case, and you can read it below. If, as seems to be the case, the blame is being settled on the heads of the privately contracted security company (now owned by Swiss group Securitas) by the Peruvian Congressional enquiry, this mean Monterrico (MNA.L) is well and truly on the hook for the things that took place inside its grounds in August 2005. As contractor, it is directly responsible for their actions, y'see.
Last time I looked MNA.L stock was trading at 44p or so in London. Take 40p or so away from that price in the very near future. Hey Bristow, you and your disgusting company are toast, you pig.
LIMA, Feb 5 (Reuters) - A Peruvian security company that works for some major international mining firms faces a congressional investigation after human rights groups accused it of beating and abusing protesters in 2005 at a site it guarded.
Recently published photos of alleged beatings of protesters caused an uproar in Peru, a leading metals exporter, where remote mines guarded by private security firms are often targets for demonstrations over the social and environmental impacts of mining.
Last month, the National Coordinating Committee for Human Rights, a leading non-governmental rights group, published photographs of men and women allegedly beaten by guards and police after a 2005 protest at the Rio Blanco mining project.
The $1.4 billion development was protected by Forza, one of Peru's largest security companies.
"The photos clearly show that personnel of Forza played an active role in the repression and torture," said Javier Jahncke at Fedepaz, another rights group that joined the National Coordinating Committee in filing a complaint on the case.
The National Coordinating Committee said the photos were sent by an anonymous whistleblower. One shows a man bleeding from his neck and another shows the same man a day later, dead.
Peru's Congress said it would open an inquiry into whether crimes were committed by police and private security forces in response to a protest. Public prosecutors are already conducting their own investigation.
Forza's press office referred Reuters to Switzerland's Securitas which bought the Peruvian company in 2007, but an official there said Forza was in charge of handling inquiries. Reuters again contacted Forza, which declined to comment.
The images show protesters caked in blood, with hands tied behind their backs and plastic bags over their heads. A man in an orange vest with "Forza" printed on it poses in one shot, holding a gun and staring at the camera.
The mining project is owned by Monterrico Metals , which was bought by China's Zijin in 2007.
Monterrico's investor relations manager, Andrew Bristow, was not available for comment. But when the photographs first emerged, he said the allegations were the latest in a long list of "opposition activity" meant to derail the project.
Forza, whose clients also include major energy firms, has been investigated on a similar complaint once before, but the government dropped the case due to a lack of evidence.
Police work is underfunded in Peru and nearly nonexistent in remote areas where foreign mining companies work.
Private firms fill the void, often hiring current or former police and military personnel. Rights groups say they go beyond the law in enforcing security.
"Where there are no police, private security companies act like the police," said Jahncke "In many cases, they push past the limit of what is legal."
Peru has 92,000 police officers and 100,000 people who work in private security, according to a 2008 United Nations study.
Ricardo Ganiku Furugen, who heads the government agency that oversees private security firms, said he is waiting for public prosecutors to finish their investigation before deciding on whether to revoke Forza's work permit.
"The final report will come to us and we will see then if the situation demands cancellation of the contract," he said. (Editing by Fiona Ortiz and Kieran Murray)
There ain't no fat lady singing yet, but check out this news report that hit the evening of Monday 26th January. Seems as though the bad publicity has finally brought the Peruvian government to its senses and they're trying to find a way of kicking Monterrico out. YAY!
It's all a bit stuffy bureauspeak, but what it boils down to is that Rio Blanco Copper (the subsidiary of Monterrico Metals (MNA.L) that holds the Peru concessions) has failed to get its Environmental Study done on time and the Gov't has just refused it extra time to get it done. So unless MNA.L has pulled a fast one with some legalese, it means that they have lapsed on the terms. That means no more soup for you and bye bye scumbags, hasta nunca,out of Peru and out of business. Now wouldn't that be sad?
LIMA: The General Directorate of Mining Environmental Affairs (DGAAM) of the Ministry of Energy and Mines has denied, via the autodirectoral 0032-2009/MEMAAM, the prolonging of an extra 70 working days that was requested by the mining Company Río Blanco Cooper S.A. to comply with the 45 observations made in connection with its Semi-Detailed Environmental Impact Study (EIAsd) for the exploration enlargement project until 2010.
As is public knowledge, the observations made by the DGAAM of MINEM, the municipalities of the Piura region and diverse social organizations were to have been addressed in the lapse of 15 working days as established under the current regulations, or in the contrary, according to the ministry's own report, the EIAsd of Río Blanco Copper S.A (previously Majaz) would not be approved.
This deadline passed last Friday 23rd January. If until then the company did not present its reply or if the reply was insufficient, it is the duty of the DGAAM to disallow the EIAsd, although it is possible that the mining company present an administrative procedure desist (as it has done before) to avoid disapproval.
Well, it only took three and a half years for the Peruvian gov't to start caring about the case, but now at long last wheels are in motion. The power of photography, no?
Last night RPP radio reported that the Majaz torture case would be officially investigated by Peru's Congress. This is the full-on public enquiry method in Peru and although it might not move very fast it will cover all the ground and dig out all the details as it goes along, including the names and addresses of the National Police and Monterrico Metals security guards and bosses.
Intriguingly, the congresswoman in charge of the case, Marisol Espinoza, also mentioned last night that if necessary the case would eventually be forwarded to the International Commission for Human Rights. Oh, my, I'd love to see that arrogant prig Bristow up before the serious world beaks answering difficult questions, wouldn't you?
And as for you traders who care more about making a buck, a short in MNA.L would help your wallet and the greater good of humanity. The quicker this company goes bankrupt the better. Stick a fork in this pig cos she's done to a turn.
Amazilia asked how to get in touch with the company. Find below the necessary addresses, telephone numbers and e-mails, but maybe you'd be more interested in contacting Monterrico's IR man Andrew Bristow directlyas seems he is the likely source of the orders to torture the locals in the first place. His mail is
abristow@monterrico.com
As for the official contact info, here you are. Enjoy.
Corporate Head Office
Suite 1601, 16/F., Sino Plaza 255-257 Gloucester Road Causeway Bay Hong Kong
Two developments to report, with thanks due to regular reader Matt for the headsup.
1. On Peru's CNR radio this morning, Andrew Bristow (Monterrico Metal's IR person and glorious piece of shit) said the following:
"I am not going to go into this situation (story), it doesn't seem appropriate to me. Anybody can make accusations of any type and I'm not going to get into some kind of media debate about it..... I'm not going to participate. I repeat, the company Río Blanco Copper will have to make a decision (first)."
All this was connected with the clear case of torture we've covered here over the last week (see below for previous posts). It was also connected with declarations made by the journalist Julio Vásquez who was kidnapped along with the 28 indigenous locals. Vásquez said on the program that while being held and tortured at Majaz (now called Río Blanco) for the three days, he heard one of the Majaz people say that they were tortured "on orders from Bristow", who was at the time operations manager at the mine.
2. Today Otto received the following e-mail(via the kind Matt) from the Human Rights National Coordinator of Peru (CNDDHH). It also came with a very interesting attachment that you can access yourself by clicking right here.
The good news is that CNDDHH (who is the bigboy Peru national body...this is not some scrawny NGO people, these people are the real deal) is sending a representative over to London next week to spread the word about the disgusting Monterrico Metals and their torture tactics in Peru. This story is not going away, Bristow (and I already know you read the blog, you fat slob. Otto got good spies).
Here's the mail in full; feel free to contact Baraybar on the mail address provided.
I am writing you from the Human Rights National Coordinator of Peru; a non profit organization who works on the protection of the human rights in our country. I’m writing in regard of the latest event’s in the “Majaz Case”, where some security officers of the Majaz Mine and a group of Peruvian police officers tortured a group of peaseants.
Please, find enclosed the letter that the Executive Secretary of our organization are sending to many internationals institutions in the effort of showing to the International comunitee this emblematic case.
Also, we hope you can express your concern about the problem of the torture, and the importance of an in-depth investigation in the case we have made reference in the letter enclosed, to the Peruvian authorities.
One of our collegues, Mr. Juan Pablo Baraybar from the Peruvian Equipment of Forensic Anthropology (EPAF)will be in London during next days. For further information you can contact him at baraybar(AT)epafperu.org
Yours Sincerely,
Carmela Chávez Irigoyen Responsible of International Affairs Human Rights National Coordinator of Peru Phone: 00511 419 1111 extension 111 / 00511 9 9995 3745 (cel phone)
Fax: 0051 1 419 1112 Address: Pezet y Monel (antes Tupac Amaru) 2467 Lince Lima – Perú www.dhperu.org
A large w00t and shoutout for Reuters, the first large English language news organization to pick up on the story of the Monterrico Metals (MNA.L) torture and the revealing photos. Here's the link, so go read it yourself.
And finally someone has managed to get a squeak out of the company, so full kudos goes to the reporter, Dana Ford. And the quote might be short, but it's a real beauty. Monterrico's IR dude Andrew Bristow said it was: "One of an enormous number of things that have happened in terms of opposition activity to the project."
LOL!!! You mean this is only one of the tactics MNA.L has used over the years to beat peaceful protestors into submission? Priceless! File this under "can't-make-this-shit-up-of-the-week". A report out today said that 5,500 jobs have been lost in Peru's mining and metallurgy sector due to the world downturn. Let's make that 5,501 because when Bristow's bosses find out what kind of shitstorm he's just unleashed you can guarantee a pinkslip in his mailbox.
So anyway, nice job Reuters for getting there first. The more people know about the disgusting actions of this company the better for everyone. Except Bristow. Hah!
That there was torture committed against 29 Peruvian nationals at the mining camp of Monterrico Metals (MNA.L) at Majaz (now named Rio Blanco) is now beyond dispute. But one of the issues is whether the protagonists were the personnel of Monterrico Metals or the officers of the National Police Force present that day. We know that both took part in the three days of torture against peaceful demonstrators who were lured into the trap under false pretences, but who gave the orders?
Today, light was shed on this part of the crime. Julio Vásquez, the reporter on the scene who was tortured along with the rest, spoke to Peru's state-run CNR radio station. Here is an extract from what he said:
"The police had orders to torture us from the people in charge of the mining camp......"
As clear as clear can be, Vásquez states for the record that Monterrico Metals was the brains behind the torture. How long will the company remain silent? Criminal charges need to be brought against this shameful company and damages should be paid to its victims. Is there a lawyer in the house?
UPDATE: Thanks to this post in the blog 'Huanca York Times'(a finalist for Peru's best regional blog this year) you can see a report on Peru TV about the Majaz torture with an in-studio interview with Julio Vásquez. Recommended viewing for Spanish speakers, as it does a good job. Salu2 HuancaYork
On Saturday IKN ran this story that includes the full translation of what happened in the Majaz (now named Rio Blanco) mining camp concession run by Monterrico Metals. Included is the photographic evidence that shows without a shadow of a doubt the three days of torture suffered by locals in the company's mining camp, something that Monterrico (MDA.L) has tried to cover up for the last three years.
Today, at long last, we get some reaction from the government of Peru. This is what Prime Minister Yehude Simon said just a few minutes ago (via Ottotrans™):
I am horrified by what I have seen. Of course this is something I didn't know about, and nobody can be permitted to torture anybody. As the (Peruvian) State, we cannot permit that anybody abuses anyone else. The police force, companies, workers or anybody else cannot use force to impose their ideas or impose what one thinks."
"I deplore this as a Peruvian, I deplore this as a person and it seems to us that force doesn't make anybody right. What I say is that those that have done this have comiited a big mistake, they have violated human rights and have left their victims a terrible image of themselves and of their institutions.
So, what happens now? Simon has ordered a report on the events, so at the very least there are some official wheels turning. Whether or not the whole thing gets buried under the putrid mass of this government remains to be seen. Personally speaking, I think it's about time that Monterrico Metals made themselves heard on the issue else the company's silence may become deafening.
One piece of good news; the story is now top headline in Peru's most serious daily, El Comercio.
UPDATE: Reuters has managed to get a quote out of Monterrico Metals, but it's pretty disappointing and makes no reference to the torture the company carried out at the mining camp. Here's the Reuters Lima story that concentrates on the totally obvious fact that the project will be delayed. What it doesn't say is that there's no chance the project will be built in my lifetime. But you can't expect a company with the track record of Monterrico to be honest.
Monterrico Metals (MNA.L), which is controlled by China's second-largest gold miner, Zijin Mining Group Co Ltd (2899.HK), previously said it would start production in 2011.
But like many global miners, hit by the collapse in commodity prices and a tough financing environment, it is reevaluating its plans.
"Essentially that's under review and a revised chronogram for investment and development will be published in due course -- fairly shortly. I suggest this quarter," said Andrew Bristow, investor relations manager at Monterrico.
The $1.4 billion copper-molybdenum project, which is located in the northern district of Piura, is expected to produce some 200,000 tonnes of copper concentrate a year.
Many community members near Rio Blanco oppose the project. They worry the mine will wreck the environment and damage agricultural lands.
In a 2007 popular vote, nearby communities overwhelmingly said they did not want Rio Blanco developed. (Reporting by Dana Ford; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
In early 2007 Monterrico Metals was taken over by Chinese metals company Zijin Mining Group. I want to say that first and foremost because this story is not about some dastardley story of Chinese suppression. In fact the Chinese of Zijin are fair corporate citizens that have suffered under the weight of the previous owners of Monterrico, the British. It's also the story of how the Peruvian government betrays and lies to its own people in order to continue with its "growth at all costs" policies.
"The Brits, Otto?", I hear you asking. Yep, the Brits. To prove that the British aren't all the sporting fair play they're cracked up to be, here comes a report on how they, along with Peru's loving and caring National Police in cahoots with the Mining Ministry, treated Peruvian locals who protested against their mining development of Majaz (now re-named Rio Blanco) in 2005. These Brits also include the then British Ambassador to Peru, an ungodly shit named Richard Ralph who was later caught insider-trading Monterrico stock in 2007 and fined £117,691. In the press release about the insider deals there is this passage about Ralph;
"The fact that a British Ambassador working in Peru finishes by being a high executive in a mining company and using all his contacts demonstrates the low moral character of these people and is evidence as to how this type of company is managed."
So read on, people. Remember that since being taken over by the Chinese, Monterrico has basically been a good corporate citizen in Peru. What you're going to read is how a British mining company that includes a crooked ambassador to the country in question enjoys treating their South American hosts. And remember the whole trap was set up by the Peruvian Ministry of Energy and Mines that lied about a high level commission being set up for the locals and then set their police force attack dogs on the group.
Since 2003 the mining company Majaz, today named Rio Blanco, operated in an irregular manner in the territory of the rural communities Segunda y Cajas and Yanta, in the northern frontier of Peru. The presence of the mining company is irregular as it did not have the consent of the two thirds majority of communal assembly as required by the law 26505, as noted by the People's Defence ombudsman (report 001-2006/ASPMA-MA). For two years the communities affected tried to use channels of dialogue with the State to demand the respect of their territorial rights, without any success.
At the end of July 2005 the communities began a peaceful march towards the mining camp where, according to an offer from the Ministry of Energy and Mines, they were to meet with a high level multisectoral commission. The communities have noted on many occasions that it was a very difficult march, because it implied walking for several days through dense vegetation in extreme climatic conditions.
On arriving at the mining camp on August 1st 2005, the group was not received by the anticipated commission for dialogue, but instead a large police contingent that brutally repressed them, throwing tear gas canisters from helicopters and firing live rounds at the people, even when they were fleeing.
Under these circumstances 29 people, including two women and the journalist Julio Vázquez Calle, were apprehended and taken inside the mining camp. They were held there for three days and were submitted to various forms of psychological and physical torture. As well as being savagely beaten, in those three days they were kept blindfolded by bags sprinkled with tear-inducing powder and with their eyes bandaged. They were also deprived of warm clothing despite the low temperatures.
According to the testimonies of the group, from time to time a toxic powder was put on their faces under the bags and bandages that made them vomit and did not let them breathe properly. The women were subjected to diverse sexual assaults. Also, they were all inflicted with diverse verbal humiliations and threats.
In October 2007 the US institute 'Physicians For Human Rights' (recipients of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize) performed examinations on eight of the tortured people and confirmed the abuses they had suffered during their illegal detention.
The responsibles The responsibility for these occurances lies with various members of the Peruvian National Police Force that directly participated in the illegal actions and also the security personnel of the company Minera Majaz that directly intervened in the occurances. The tortures happened in the interior of the mining camp.
The denouncement In July 2008 the National Coordinator of Human Rights in Peru (Coordinadora Nacional de Derechos Humanos (CNDDHH)) and the Ecumenic Foundation for Development and Peace (Fundación Ecuménica para el Desarrollo y la Paz (Fedepaz)) presented a denouncement of the occurances to the Penal Authorities of Piura (Quinta Fiscalía Provincial Penal de Piura) (North Peru).
The report contained the charges of aggravated sequestration, tortures and crimes against the person. Among the methods of torture included in the report were aggression with tear gas, exposure to toxic substances, beatings, asphyxia, being kept bound in forced position for long periods of time, prolonged exposure to cold, denial of water and food, death threats etc.
Additionally, the procurator fiscal who was present during the group's detention, Félix Toledo Leiva, has been charged with the crime of omission of exercise of penal action, as he was fully aware of the abuses committed and far from promoting penal action against the perpetrators he denounced the victims for their part in the peaceful march.
The doctor who examined the tortured people has also been charged with the crime of expedition of false medcal certificates, as he did not affirm the evidence of tortures presented to him. This report is the origin of investigation 214-2008 of the Penal Authorities of Piura (Quinta Fiscalía Provincial Penal de Piura). To date, the Public Ministry has been taking declarations from the victims.
The Photographs of the Horror A few days ago, the National Coordinator of Human Rights in Peru was given access to a group of photographs, handed in anonymously, that corroborate the allegations of torture reported by the community group.
The photos shows diverse moments in the occurances in the Majaz mining camp. In the photos the belongings confiscated by the police including clothing, food and cooking equipment can be seen. Of course there are no armaments which accredits the peaceful character of the community's march.
The images reveal, without a shadow of doubt, different signs of ill-treatment to the group that participated in the difficult march. Bloodied faces with contusions and haematomas product of repressive actions. People with no shoes and bare backs, herded together, bound and blindfolded in the interior of the mining camp.
The images also show how the group was kept with their heads covered by plastic bags that contained tear-inducing powder that as well as producing severe burns did not allow them to breathe (according to the testimony of the victims held under these conditions). In such circumstances they were transferred to different points inside the mining camp installations where they were held hostage.
The National Coordinator of Human Rights in Peru strongly condemns the acts of torture and abuse against the communities of Ayabaca and Huancabamba who appear undoubtedly accredited in the published photos. We invoke the authorities to rigorously sanction according to law the responsibles for these terrible acts.
The Death of Melanio
The march against the Majaz mining company also had by way of tragic result the death of the community member Melanio García. In these exclusive photos we see Melanio García after being shot but still alive on August 1st in plain day. The photo shows a bandage that covers the region of the wound and the expression of pain of the community member.
The circumstances of the death of the community member must be seriously investigated. Above all because the autopsy examination reported the death of Melanio García on August 2nd, product of a hemorrage cause by the bullet wound. And also becasue the photos taken on August 2nd register the body of Melanio, who on this date was in police custody, in another place and in a distinct position (lying back down on a sack).
UPDATE: For more information on Majaz 2005 and the report from the medical team in 2008, click here and open the English language Word document second from the top.
Andrew Bristow, prize shit
