RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – At least 14 people were killed after clashes between miners disputing land in the district of Atico, Caravelí province, in the Arequipa region of Peru, state news agency Andina reported on Wednesday. The hostilities began last June 2.
According to the state agency, prosecutor María del Rosario Lozada Sotomayor reported that the number of victims could be higher because there are still missing persons.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office informed that more than 30 people had been preliminarily detained for ten days in the investigation framework for the alleged crimes of a criminal organization, aggravated homicide, and serious injuries, among others.
Edwin Martinez, congressman for Arequipa, said on his Twitter account on Tuesday that weeks ago, he warned before the plenary of Congress about what was happening in his region: “Two weeks ago, the violent escalation of the social conflict in Atico began, and the government did not pay attention”.
The parliamentarian said that he called “with great concern the Minister of the Interior, and he did not answer the calls” and that the same happened with the President of the Council of Ministers, Aníbal Torres, who “did not take notice”.
According to the parliamentarian, 15 people have died due to the confrontations.
In declarations to Canal N, Martinez said: “Fifteen dead, Mr. Minister, I informed you, I informed the premier, and so far there is no solution to this conflict. What do you want; there to be more deaths? Please, don’t be so indolent.”
CNN has requested comments from the Ministry of the Interior and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers on Congressman Martinez’s statement and contacted the Peruvian Police to obtain more information on what happened in Arequipa. They informed that the Minister of the Interior travels tomorrow to Arequipa.
With information from CNN
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