The president of the Autonomous Territorial Government of the Wampís Nation (GTANW) in Peru has strongly condemned the use of local children as “human shields” by illegal miners to protect their operations. This alarming practice has sparked a demand for a state of emergency to be declared in the region, according to local reports. The Wampís Nation, which contains over 10,000 members, established this government entity in 2015 to manage and protect their territory, situated within the Santiago/Kanus and Morona/Kankaim river basins in the Peruvian Amazon.
Teófilo Kukush Pati, the leader of the Wampís, revealed that illegal miners have been employing children aged between 5 and 10 years to shield their activities during state interdictions. The Peruvian police and armed forces have been conducting these interdictions, which include the destruction of illegal mining equipment and materials. Pati has reported threats against those opposing these illicit operations, extending as far as death threats from the mining companies.
The environmental repercussions of illegal mining are profoundly concerning, particularly due to the mercury contamination in the Santiago River basin. This issue poses a significant risk to local communities who rely on the river for drinking water and food, as articulated by Pati in discussions with authorities in Lima.
Despite existing legal frameworks, which ostensibly safeguard natural resources and the environment, the measures in place are falling short, say observers. Pati’s calls for action coincide with efforts to meet the High Commissioner for the fight against illegal mining to escalate the matter to a state of emergency in hopes of expelling the illegal miners from the region. More on these legal and environmental challenges can be found in the context of special laws under the Peruvian Constitution that are under scrutiny in terms of their efficacy in addressing these pressing issues.