PRESS RELEASE / 04-21-2009

Residents of La Oroya and the Junin region handed over nine thousand letters regarding health, decent work, and the environment.

Monsignor Pedro Barreto led delivery of letters to the Governmental Palace. In an historic event, 30 representatives of La Oroya and the Junin region presented 9,548 letters to President Dr. Alan García Pérez demanding respect for the dignity, life, and health of its population.

The delivery took place at the Bureau of parties in the Government Palace yesterday, Tuesday, April 21, and was led by Archbishop Pedro Barreto Jimeno, Archbishop of Huancayo and Coordinator of the Regional Environmental Roundtable Junín.

After the ceremony, Monsignor Barreto -accompanied by coordinator of the Roundtable of La Oroya, Joseph Deardorff, the technical team of the Regional Bureau, representatives of the College of Engineering of Junín, mothers and children of La Oroya and civil society- urged the central government, the mining companies, and workers to search for a "creative and corporate” solution to the problem in La Oroya and the Junin region.

"We are here with the people of La Oroya, Huancayo, and other cities to make our voices heard, a voice that seeks the continuation of mining activity, as long as there is respect for the life and health of the population," said Monsignor Barreto.

Furthermore, the Archbishop of Huancayo emphasized that this "historic event" is the result of the environmental awareness of the people of the Mantaro River. In this regard, he stressed that for the first time in many years the voice of the people has been heard through the 9,548 letters delivered to President Alan García, which signify "a qualitative step forward in civil society that is waking up to a civic, participatory democracy”.

On the other hand, addressing the deteriorating health and environment in La Oroya, Monsignor Barreto acknowledged that this action means "the people have said enough to the irresponsibility of this company that owns the polymetallic smelter in La Oroya.

Finally, they were informed that in ten days a formal response will be given to the letters delivered, and at the same time a coordination meeting will be established with the Head of State.

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CONTACTS:
Lilian Parra Póvez
Deputy Secretary of the Bureau of Environmental Dialogue – Junín
Of.: 064 – 215142 / 064 – 964410081

Paula Meza
Task Force - Regional Environmental Roundtable – Junín
064 - 964460674