See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11408&l=1.

Among investors in Newmont are UK-based Blackrock World Mining Trust and AXA Investment Managers UK. See http://moneytometal.org/index.php?title=Special%3ASearch&button=&search=newmont.

See also: Conga to set the course for future mining development, expert says – http://www.bnamericas.com/news/mining/conga-to-set-the-course-for-future-mining-development-expert-says/283459482.

Given the entrenchment of opposition to mine, including by thousands of subsistence farmers who have said they are ready to die to prevent this mine, there appears to be a real risk of large scale violence.

LMN member group LAMMP co-ordinated the preparation of an open letter of protest to the President of Peru, and produced a video. The letter was co-signed by LMN, a number of its member groups, and many others. See http://lammp.org/2011/12/10/1750/.

Among investors in Newmont are UK-based Blackrock World Mining Trust and AXA Investment Managers UK. See http://moneytometal.org/index.php?title=Special%3ASearch&button=&search=newmont.

See http://www.bnamericas.com/news/mining/govt-agrees-to-resume-talks-with-cajamarca-representatives/278934660.

For earlier reports, see:

Humala does the Conga in Peru: “Leftist” president shifts violently to the right. More militarization to come?
http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11357

Dancing the Conga in Peru: Jose de Echave resigns as vice-minister of the Environment
http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11342

Among investors in Newmont are UK-based Blackrock World Mining Trust and AXA Investment Managers UK. See http://moneytometal.org/index.php?title=Special%3ASearch&button=&search=newmont.

Why is the UK coalition government proposing a bill that will make it harder for people from poorer countries to get legal redress for human rights violations?

See http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2011/oct/28/uk-bill-threatens-global-human-rights?newsfeed=true.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11203.

The Brazilian government is reforming royalty rates, and this will affect, among others, Anglo American.

Meanwhile, although newly-elected Peruvian president, Humala, has been criticised by some indigenous leaders for failing to grant their communities a veto over new mining projects, others are praising a recently-promulgated law, requiring extractive companies to “consult”  about them with their communities. London-listed companies with operations in Peru include Anglo American, Monterrico Metals, Rio Tinto and Xstrata.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/11170.

Although broadly welcomed as an “historic moment” (the enabling act was passed unanimously) a key question has yet to be answered: will communities be able to enforce the principle of “Free, Prior Informed Consent” (FPIC) when confronted with proposals they reject? Is it likely that mining companies will respect not just “how” – but also “if”-  there should be operations on indigenous and campesino lands and in their territories?

Already some in Peru’s media have leaped to assure members of Peru’s business sector – especially mining and oil companies – that the new law will not grant a right to veto projects.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11129&l=1.

Among London-listed companies active in Peru are Anglo American, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Xstrata. London-registered Monterrico Metals, now owned by China’s Zijin Mining, has been mired in controversy in the north of the country for years.

Numerous London-listed mining companies will be affected by changes in mining taxation in Latin America.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11134&l=1.

See http://www.bnamericas.com/news/mining/anglo-american-pushes-back-quellaveco-approval-to-2012/256118753.

CAFOD’s senior analyst on the extractives industry, Karen Luyckx said: “Monterrico cannot hide behind gagging orders and out of court settlements. They must not simply buy their way out of this case; they must change the way they operate in future. The truth is that – welcome as it is for the farmers – this settlement does not address the fact that the criminalisation of protest, and threats and violence against activists are on the increase around the world, and that in more and more cases, we are seeing collusion between the police and military authorities and the multinational mining companies. For every case like this, there are dozens more examples of abuse and violence which are going unnoticed and unpunished, and hundreds more communities whose livelihoods hang in the balance. Even in this case, despite the settlement, Monterrico’s mine is still going ahead without adequate
consultation with the community.”

See http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=18644.

20 July 2011

Legal proceedings by 33 Peruvians against UK-based Monterrico Metals PLC have been settled by compensation payments, without admitting liability. The London High Court trial was scheduled for 10 weeks from October with about 80 claimant witnesses. Claimants alleged torture by the Peruvian Police after protesting at Monterrico’s Rio Blanco copper mine (near Ecuador) in August 05.  The mine is owned by Monterrico Peruvian subsidiary, Rio Blanco Copper SA (“RBC”). RBC is owned (through two Cayman companies) by Monterrico.

See http://www.leighday.co.uk/news/news-archive-2011/peruvian-torture-victims-compensated-by-uk-miner.

See http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303795304576453700144531560.html.

See http://www.bnamericas.com/news/mining/xstrata-halts-activities-at-las-bambas-due-to-protests/243852053.

Peruvian NGO CooperAccion presented a set of observations to the study, when it was still under evaluation, and some of the issues included:
- Has Xstrata fully identified the impacts of their operation on third party rights? What was the criteria for establishing the socioeconomic baseline that identified 18 communities in the area of influence of the project?
- How does Xstrata plan to address the water management of the Fuerabamba River basin? It should be noted that the company will occupy about 70% of the river basin and will take water from a lake system located on the higher area of operations. Additionally, some facilities such as tailings dams, the open pits and waste rock dumps will be built on the headwaters that feed the Fuerabamba river.
- How is the relocation of Fuerabamba community being resolved?

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=10780.

The diplomats – from the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, Switzerland and South Africa – specifically targeted activists from Bolivia, Peru and Venezuela, but also included several European solidarity and support NGOs.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=10740.