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In Peru, the states of Puno, Cusco, Junin and Lima are the regions with the most unresolved social conflicts. Out of 170 active disputes nationwide, 50 percent have open dialogues.

Adapted from El Comercio

According to the Defensoria del Pueblo’s latest report on social conflicts, Puno has the greatest concentration of confrontations between the population and the local and regional authorities. The report said that there are 260 problems in the country, of which 170 are active and 90 dormant.

In addition to Puno, the regions of Junin, Lima and Cusco, with 20 problems each, are the areas that present the most disputes.

The plateau region of Puno concentrates a total of 22 disputes, of which seven question the mayors of San Roman, Huancane, San Antonio de Putina, Sandia and Mariscal Cáceres. The remaining three are conflicts with the regional authorities in Puno.

“Aymara Organizations question the performance of local authorities and demand that their decisions are consulted in their assemblies,” said Rolando Luque, deputy for the Prevention of Social Conflicts of the Defensoria del Pueblo It must be kept in mind that many of these authorities, including the regional president, were elected with very few votes,” with respect to the indicators in Puno.

Key Facts 1. Of the 121 social-environmental conflicts, 92 have their origin in the rejection of mining and drilling activities. 2. There are 14 territorial demarcation problems existing in the country. 3. Only in the first month of the year, 32 protest actions were carried out (strikes, walkouts and confrontations). 4. The Defensoria del Pueblo report also reports 5 terrorist actions in January 2010.

In January of this year there were seven fewer cases compared with December 2009. Another positive aspect is that 50 percent of the 170 active conflicts are now seeking being solved through dialogue. Among these, there is the progress of the dialogue table to resolve the border problem between Moquegua and Puno.

The social-environmental aspect remains the main trigger for violent conflict in the country. Forty-seven percent of all cases are environment-related. Because of this, Rolando Luque demanded more attention is given to problems with the indigenous population, who are “still awaiting results on the law that develops the right to prior consultation [of these people].”

“We must be careful that this delay does not cause further mistrust and rebellions,” said Luque.


Adapted and translated from Spanish by Diana Schwalb

tags : social conflicts Puno Peru Moquegua Aymara

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