Marco Arana Photo: Bradley Wakof

Mining activists in Peru are under threat. They need your help.

In the past year, several members of the Peruvian organization GRUFIDES, including its president, Father Marco Arana, and its executive director, Dr. Mirtha Vasquez Chuquilin, have been targeted with death threats, defamation, and surveillance at home and at work.

GRUFIDES (El Grupo de Formación e Intervención para el Desarrollo Sostenible) is a human rights and environmental organization that works with communities impacted by mining in the Cajamarca region of northern Peru - home to Newmont Mining's massive Yanacocha mine. There is strong opposition to the mine's expansion. Residents have held several large protests to voice their concerns about the mine's impact on the environment and local water resources.

Mirtha Vasquez. Photo: Bradley Wakof

The lives of GRUFIDES members could be in danger. In November of 2006, Edmundo Becerra Corina, an environmentalist and a critic of the Yanacocha mine was shot dead a few days before he was due to meet with representatives from the Ministry of Energy and Mines. GRUFIDES is investigating the assassination, and is also providing support to the families of protestors that were injured and killed in demonstrations in August of last year.

TAKE ACTION. Ask Newmont Mining to publicly condemn the intimidation of mining activists and ensure that none of its employees are engaged in activities that violate human rights or contribute to violence and repression.

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Read the sample letter and modify if you can. Personalized subject lines and/or letter text will increase the impact your letter has on decisionmakers.
• Click "Send My Message" at the bottom of the take action page will send your letter to Newmont president Wayne Murdy care of Newmont investor relations.