Mining referendum has emotions running high in northern Peru

Published: 2007-09-12

HUANCABAMBA, Peru (CNS) -- Conflict over a nonbinding referendum on mining in northern Peru has emotions running high in a Catholic diocese. The Sept. 16 vote is scheduled for three districts with a combined population of more than 22,000. They are located in the Diocese of Chulucanas near the Rio Blanco concession held by the Majaz Mining Co., in which the largest shareholder is the Chinese Zijin Consortium. The referendum will consist of a single question -- whether residents want to allow mining for metals in their districts. Emotions are running high over the issue: People who favor mining have been branded as traitors by other members of their communities, while those who oppose mining have been called terrorists or accused of favoring poverty over development. Bishop Daniel Turley Murphy of Chulucanas, an Augustinian missionary and a native of Chicago, fears a return to the violence that marked protests over the mine in 2004 and 2005. When he tried to intervene then to promote dialogue among the government, mining company and community representatives, an advertisement in a newspaper referred to him as a terrorist. "As bishop, my position is that there should be dialogue, not violence," said Bishop Turley. "But I am afraid there is going to be violence."

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