Death in Las Bambas: CMP regrets Death of Community Member

Eng. César Gallardo Vela lamented the death of Quintino Cerceda Huilca (42) and called for dialogue.

The Executive Director of the Chamber of Mines of Peru, Eng. César Gallardo Vela, lamented the death of Quintino Cerceda Huilca (42) and called on the authorities, the population, and the company MMG, Las Bambas to establish effective mechanisms for dialogue to prevent a repeat of these unfortunate events.

“The new mining is based on the use of the latest technology and efficient operations. While also caring for the environment and maintaining good relations with the communities. We regret the death of Mr. Quintino Cerceda and we call on the parties to insist on dialogue as a way to resolve the conflict”, expressed Eng. Gallardo.

“The State must provide conditions to foster the understanding between company and the opponents of the project. It is imperative to give an answer to the questions of the communities. The company must guarantee the protection of the environment and the State ensure that the population close to the project can benefit from the economic development”, he expressed.

Death in Las Bambas

Quintino Cerceda Huilca, 42, was shot in the head during a confrontation between the police and the Choquecca community. The conflict started due to the eviction of opponents of the Las Bambas copper project. The community blocked the road that connects the mine with the Quehuira community; thus, preventing the transit of the trucks transporting the mineral. The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that the confrontation also left 20 police officers wounded, one of them with a serious eye injury from a stone.

It is worth remembering that on September 25, 2015, the residents carried out a strike; demanding the demolition of the project’s treatment plant as it was considered a contamination agent; and the annulment of the modified Environmental Impact Study. The following day, the Executive declared a state of emergency in the provinces of Cotabambas, Grau, Andahuaylas and Chincheros. The protests of that week left 4 dead and 23 injured.

On October 3, before the conflict escalated, the head of the National Office for Dialogue and Sustainability, Rolando Luque, assured that the conflict in Las Bambas was a priority for this government.