Peru Enforces Curfew and Military Control After Massacre of 13 Miners
Following the massacre of 13 miners, Peru’s government imposed a nighttime curfew and military control in Pataz. National outrage has grown regarding violence linked to illegal mining, with major business groups condemning the state’s failure to ensure security. Interior Minister Julio Díaz Zulueta reported ongoing police operations as lawmakers consider censure motions against the cabinet over rising fatalities in the region.
Peru’s government has taken urgent measures to address a grave situation following the abduction and murder of 13 security workers at the Poderosa gold mine in the Andean district of Pataz. A nighttime curfew has been imposed and military control authorized in the area. President Dina Boluarte’s decision, announced on Monday, reflects deepening national concerns about violence stemming from illegal mining activities.
Reactions have been swift. The Confederation of Private Business Institutions (Confiep), Peru’s leading business group, condemned the massacre, labeling it evidence of the government’s failure to maintain security. The group remarked that the violence in Pataz mirrors the horrific violence experienced during Peru’s internal armed conflict, which took a staggering 69,000 lives between 1980 and 2000. They stated, “This spiral of violence is a reflection of systematic disorder.”
Interior Minister Julio Díaz Zulueta traveled to the La Libertad region to oversee police operations. He confirmed that authorities had been searching for the miners for five days before their bodies were discovered on Sunday. According to him, the victims were abducted from a mine entrance on April 25. In contrast, Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzén had earlier expressed skepticism about the occurrence of a kidnapping, citing a lack of formal complaints. It is worth noting that relatives of the victims had raised alarms before the discovery.
Díaz reported that police had dismantled 20 of the 30 illegal mine shafts identified in the region, although many still remain under the control of criminals. He expressed optimism for further breakthroughs, stating, “We will have good news from Pataz in the coming days.” This announcement comes as lawmakers have moved to censure members of Boluarte’s cabinet due to escalating violence. The situation in Pataz has reportedly claimed at least 39 lives this year, according to the mine operator Poderosa.
In a statement, Compañía Minera Poderosa confirmed the killing of the miners, accusing organized crime groups associated with illegal mining for the atrocity. The company characterized Pataz as a “lawless territory” plagued by violence. Poderosa urged the government to revisit its security strategy and criticized the authorities for their inaction regarding known illegal mining operations which remain untouched despite being geolocated.
Additionally, the company accused the Ministry of Energy and Mines of neglecting requests to exclude illegal miners from concessions, while claiming Congress is prolonging the issues by repeatedly extending the formalization registry, which they describe as a “total failure.” Over the weekend, violence continued with an ambush that wounded eight individuals, including two police officers, at another mining facility. The victims were attacked while traveling to the Caravelí processing plant in Jucusbamba, Tayabamba district.
Poderosa’s statement stressed a need for collective action to address these issues, emphasizing that, “Faced with this destructive spiral, the government, private sector, and civil society must join forces to confront and defeat it before it’s too late.” Illegal mining activities pose a significant challenge across Peru, impacting coastal, highland, and jungle regions. Estimates suggest that this sector generates annual losses of about 7 billion dollars to the country.
In summary, Peru’s government has imposed a curfew and enlisted military assistance in response to the brutal murders of 13 miners, highlighting a severe security crisis rooted in illegal mining. The incident has drawn condemnation from leading business organizations, while accusations fly regarding the administration’s failure to curb the violence in this lawless region. As the violence continues, various stakeholders are now calling for urgent reforms and a unified stance against organized crime in illegal mining operations.
Original Source: efe.com
