[Translated by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

"Peruvian community sees "progress" in resolving Las Bambas mine conflict" - 25 May 2022

The leader of a Peruvian indigenous community whose protest led MMG's Las Bambas copper mine to suspend operations more than a month ago said on Tuesday that "progress" has been made towards a solution to the crisis... "We are moving forward thinking of the country in general, for the sake of the mining project that is paralysed," Edison Vargas, leader of the Fuerabamba community, told reporters after a meeting with President Pedro Castillo in Lima.... The tone is the most conciliatory yet from Fuerabamba, a community that was displaced to make way for the construction of Las Bambas, a Chinese-owned mine that accounts for 2% of the world's copper supply...A new meeting has been set for today (Wednesday 25), according to Vargas and government representatives. Las Bambas did not immediately respond to a request for comment...Vargas and members of the communities of Fuerabamba and neighbouring Huancuire entered the mine in mid-April, resettling on land they previously owned. While the Fuerabamba villagers were evicted shortly thereafter, the Huancuire community members have managed to remain inside the mine, preventing operations from restarting...