JAÉN, March 19th 2009 - Early this week, a verdict was sentenced against some of the officers of the Policía Nacional de Perú (PNP) that were involved in the 2005 abuses. They were convicted of the imprisonment and maltreatment of 29 demonstrators (during a peaceful manifestation against the activities of mining company Rio Blanco S.A. in Northern Peru) at the exploration camp of the Rio Blanco project in the District of El Carmen de la Frontera. The facts had been known for quite a while but could only be proven when, at the beginning of January of this year, pictures proving the abuses surfaced.  

 

Although the officers were convicted by the provincial department of the public prosecutor of Piura for imprisonment and maltreatment of 29 people, they were not deemed responsible for the death of Melanio García and the sexual intimidation against 2 women (both accusations are also supported by photographic evidence). However, the case of Melanio García is currently being investigated. 

  

The question who bears the real responsibility for these grave violations of human rights was not answered. And thus, Ricardo Benavides Rodríguez, head of the Primera Dirección Territorial of the PNP, colonel Antonio Lazarte Dextre, colonel Ricardo Murillo, responsible for the maintenance and order in the area, and captain Marco González Santillán, head of the Destacamento Policial with head chair in mining camp “Henry´s Hill” were not charged. The investigation, into the true responsibles for the imprisonment and maltreatments, was ended in the same resolution. 

 

Also, the charges against the functionaries and employees of mining company Minera Majaz S.A. (now Rio Blanco Copper S.A.) and the private security company Forza S.A. (currently part of the Securitas group) were withdrawn without further investigation. They  were at “Henry’s Hill”, the mining camp were the facts took place, during the three days the demonstrators were contained there. According to the victims, they did not only provide their facilities but some of them also actively participate in the maltreatments. 

 

Fedepaz and la Coordinadora Nacional de Derechos Humanos are pleased with the conviction of the police officers but they will appeal the ending of any further investigation. They hope that an investigation by the supreme court of justice will shed more light into the events that took place at “Henry’s Hill”.