Vol. 74/No. 35      September 20, 2010

Prime Minister Javier Velásquez said August 9 that one of the gas fields in La Convención will be exclusively for domestic use. Before, local residents had to spend between 20 and 40 soles (1 sole = US 35 cents) more than what people pay in Lima, the capital of the country, for a standard tank of approximately 20 pounds. A large part of the gas extracted from the Camisea reserves in La Convención is exported.

Under the agreement, gas will cost no more in La Convención that it does in the capital. The government also agreed to look at alternatives than would prevent damage to the Megantoni Nature Sanctuary, where the government plans to run a gas pipeline.

During a town meeting to discuss the agreement people gathered to discuss the issues in the fight, according to Peru’s La Primera newspaper. Some brought their black cooking pots to demonstrate that they are using coal because they can’t afford the gas produced on the land where they live. Carlos Quispe, leader of the Committee to Defend the Interests of Kiteni, denounced the gas companies for hiring local residents “only for seasonal jobs and unskilled labor.”

On the 11th day of the strike, hundreds of students, peasants, and workers marched on Cuzco to call a halt to gas exports from Camisea. People carried posters saying, “Gas or Death!” “Enough of the gas robbery!” and “Peru’s natural resources are not for sale!”
 
 
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