Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

When 500 townspeople in Sandia, a province north of Lake Titicaca in the region of Puno, took 29 workers hostage at Untuca mine last week, police reinforcements were called to control the situation.

80 police officers arrived to the mine five days later only to find themselves with furious residents demanding jobs and environmental protection.

As a result of their fury and police intervention, a person was wounded after they were shot in the stomach.

Police arrived to the area of Laguna Negra, approximately 15 kilometers from the campsite, on Wednesday at approximately 1 p.m.

Informal miners and other people that live in the area were gathered and speaking to Américo Arizaga, head of Puno's Energy and Mines department, when they realized the police had arrived.

Once police were spotted, the mass of over 200 people took to higher ground and began throwing rocks at the officials.

Even though police had been told not to use their weapons, it was reported that several young officers drew their guns after being hit with rocks.

21-year-old Raymundo Quispe, an informal miner, was shot in the stomach and was immediately taken to a hospital.

Another four miners were wounded with rocks while two offices had to be treated after they were also hit with rocks.

Residents have announced that they are no longer willing to negotiate and have announced that they will not leave the mine.

While protesters say they never had hostages, Peru's RPP news reported that they managed to escape through the region's hills late Wednesday night.