Armed police swooped in to Peru’s Amazon basin this week, burning down an entire town that was home to a vast illegal gold operation, which caused the destruction of a huge swathe of rainforest.
The unprecedented operation, El Telégrafo reports (in Spanish), involved nearly 900 police officers and armed helicopters, which main mission was to eradicate 55 illegal mining settlements in the Peruvian jungle.
The action triggered severe criticism, with many are accusing authorities of an excessive use of public force. But the illegal mining commissioner, Antonio Fernandez, says these operations will continue. “We have to keep doing this until these criminals understand that what they do is illegal,” he told the newspaper, adding that illegal mining usually goes hand in hand with other criminal activities, such as child labour and prostitution.
The illegal activity also carries an enormous ecological price. Mercury is most commonly used to extract gold particles, but illegal miners use it in an inappropriate way, letting the toxic metal contaminate rivers and destroying wildlife’s natural habitats.
The latest crackdown is not, however, the first time Peru tries intimidating illegals with massive operations. In November last year, the government sent 1,000 police to dismantle gold mining camps in the same area, known as La Pampa.
Up until two years ago no one knew the full extent of the damage, until a research team from the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington DC, and Peru’s Ministry of the Environment used satellite imagery to map the destruction.
The findings shocked millions and finally highlighted the devastating effect the illegal mines have had.
According to official figures, there are more than a half million illegal miners operating Peru and it is estimated that more that 22% of the $10 billion Peru gets from gold exports comes from illegal mining.
Images provided by Peru’s Government and from this YouTube Video.
2 Comments
Mark Harder
They tried it once before and it failed to stop the small miners. What makes them (and us) think this raid will take? Time for a more nuanced approach in a country with many desperately poor people and riches lying about in the muck. Regulate, don’t prohibit. Let the small miners participate in the formulation of laws that respect their right to better themselves while protecting themselves and the environment. Wouldn’t permanent government posts hosting effective law enforcement be more effective than these massive once-yearly raids? I read an interesting comparison between Canadian and US policies for enforcing law and order in their western frontiers. Canada sent detachments of Mounties to areas with growing populations, where they established forts and offices to administer the laws on the frontier. The US gov. waited until a virtually lawless area was settled before rationalising law-enforcement in the territories. Similar story re. regulating mining claims: Poor communications and coordination with Washington led to overlapping, though legal, mining claims. A riot of armed men (mostly) with gold dust in their eyes and sparse law enforcement on the margins of civilization. Results were predictable.
Noe
Mercury is most commonly used to extract gold particles, but illegal miners use it in an inappropriate way, but let me ask if the Peru government previous months or year, at least sent people to teach the appropriate way ?, if not then this is the criminal responsability of Peru government because the first responsability is to teach before to chastise, but probably this government is more chastiser than teacher !