In Lauricocha, a province of Huánuco, in the central part of the peruvian Andes, protests against mining company Raura S.A. started this morning. Thousands of people have begun a 24 hours strike that paralyses public life.

They demand that the government takes action because Raura S.A. isn’t complying with its PAMA (Programa de Adecuación y Manejo Ambiental), a program agreed on, both by national government and the mining company, that is made up from environmental measurements.

The protesters ask the mining company to comply with its obligations and accuse them of polluting rivers and eleven lakes in the surroundings of the mine. Also, the people blame them for the more than 50 children suffering health problems, probably owing to high levels of lead and cadmium.

More information at:

http://www.larepublica.pe/archive/all/larepublica/20090429/11/pagina/15

Marijke Deleu (www.wijzijnweg.be)