Paro in Peru

28.09.2009

Small farmers and their livelihood are under threat. People protest and fear for the future.

Yesterday I celebrated what was a special and emotional Mass. It was the 10th day of the 'paro,' the protest begun by the campesinos of Combapata to prevent the building of a hydro-electric plant which would divert most of the water from the Salcca River which irrigates the small farms of the valley where most of our parish communities are located.

The paro involved blocking the bridge on the main road between Cusco and Puno, where thousands of tourists pass to visit Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca. Schools are closed. Combapata's animal and produce market, the largest in southern Peru, has not functioned for two Sundays as there is no transport in any direction. Most of our normal pastoral activities are suspended, but without sitting down to think about it, the parish team accepted the paro as our pastoral work.

At 5:30am we take hot drinks to the 120 people from the communities who are taking turns sleeping out in the sub-zero winter weather. The people come to get mattresses and blankets from the parish centre while stranded passengers or those who are walking come to the centre seeking accommodation.

On June 19, it appeared that the situation was getting out of hand when the drivers of 300 trucks who had been unable to pass for six days were threatening violence. They first asked if I could mediate with the people and their leaders to see if they could continue on their journey. We agreed to present their case at the assembly meeting on Saturday morning.  No immediate decision was given, and I offered to celebrate a Mass for Peace right there at the bridge.

A South African tourist driver offered a table for the altar, the communities prepared the songs in Quechua, and as we concluded I asked that a sign of peace be given among all. It seemed that the conflict was avoided for the time being, but it was a joyous moment when the leaders decided to let all the vehicles pass, as they wanted to make sure that the highway would be passable to take l,000 people into Cusco on Sunday morning to continue the protest there.

One group is still blocking the bridge while the others are in Cusco hoping that the Prime Minister will come up from Lima to dialogue. It is now the 11th day of the paro. Everyone is tired, but the struggle goes on. In the meantime, Sabina, Yolanda and Isidora are preparing the ingredients for tomorrow's breakfast drink.          

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The road block on the bridge continued for 15 days before it was finally called off. However a little before that, some of the drivers began to insult the people. When the trucks began to pass through, the people recognized those drivers who had insulted them and they were made to get out of their trucks, kneel on the ground and beg forgiveness.

One reason for calling the "paro" off was that the government promised to dialogue with the leaders but so far it has not been satisfactory.  One reading is that the government has already signed the contract with the construction company and they would have to pay a very large amount if the contract was rescinded. However, if an environmental study proved that the diversion of the river would cause ecological damage, the contract could be broken without payment. Lack of consultation with the people affected could be another reason.

It is a complex situation, but one not limited to Combapata. There are over l70 social conflicts going on in the country as people stand up for their rights. Water, land, mining and forestry are the main concerns. The indigenous peoples of the Peruvian Amazon have been to the forefront in defending their lands, but tragically at the cost of 42 lives.

The mood seems to be swinging to dialogue rather than standoff, but if there is no satisfaction, we might be back taking hot drinks to the bridge.

Fr Donald Hornsey first went to Peru in 1999.

Read more stories from The Far East, October