Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Demanding that money brought in from mining be shared with the region's poor, protestors in Moquegua - a small region in southern Peru - have blocked roads to Chile as well as a mine and smelter.

Not only are the region's people protesting, but also authorities in the area, who have announced the start of an indefinite hunger strike.

Fourteen mayors in Moquegua have begun a hunger strike, stating the government is being indifferent to demands being made.

According to the mayors, the government is not paying attention to the fact that mining royalties from Southern Copper have been reduced.

Over 150,000 people were unable to reach their destinations after miners and protestors blocked both sides of the highway, reported the country's Ministry of Transportation (MTC).

Furthermore, the MTC said that over 3,000 vehicles were unable to get past the roadblocks set along Panamericana highway.

The MTC affirmed that protestors were violating citizen's rights and putting them as well as themselves in danger.

Panamericana highway has been blocked at several different points.

Motorists were unable to reach areas in the north of the country such as Huaraz, La Libertad, Piura, Tumbes, San Martin, Amazonas, Cajamarca and Ucayali because the highway was blocked in Chimbote.

This was the case in the south of Peru as well. Rocks and boulders kept motorists from reaching Tacna, Puno and Moquegua.

To make matters worse, the country's largest federation of mining unions has threatened to strike on June 30 if a bill to improve benefits for workers is not approved.