QULLA SURPRISE

Indigenous Bolivians stormed the site of a Japanese mining company last week and are occupying the offices in protest against environmental abuse and the exploitation of communities.

On April 12, seven hundred Qulla people blockaded a key road and rail routes to the silver-zinc mine, owned by the Sumitomo Corporation. On the 16th they occupied the offices, setting the site on fire and overturning containers filled with mineral ore awaiting export.

The Qulla claim Sumitomo is dumping toxic waste into the Madera River, contaminating their water supply and land. They are demanding an end to the environmental degradation and calling for more investment in their impoverished community.

A spokeperson for the protesters said, “Our demands are fair and must be met. The mine is ransacking our natural resources. We want compensation for the damage and… we want help with our development.”

With Bolivian President Evo Morales busy espousing half baked theories on the roots of homosexuality to those assembled for the alternative climate summit the World Conference on Climate Change and Mother Earth (see And Finally...), the government has yet to officially respond. The Bolivian Deputy Minister of Environment, Juan Pablo Ramos, said it wasn’t their intention to circumvent the discussion, but the world conference was not the appropriate setting because it would be focused on global issues. Demands from the Qulla for their own table at the conference have been refused.

* See earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/23876