HEALTH ADVOCATES ASSAULTED, STONED BY DOE RUN WORKERS

PERU- Health advocates opposed to a fourth delay of a pollution agreement (PAMA) by The Doe Run Company in La Oroya, Peru have been targeted in recent aggressive attacks by Doe Run workers. MOSAO (Movement for Health of La Oroya) members were attacked and pummeled with rocks by five busloads of Doe Run employees outside the National Congress where the group was invited to testify by the Congressional Environment and Ecology Commission. "Doe Run workers are blacklisting MOSAO members, supporters and congressmen who are sympathetic to the health concerns in La Oroya" according to Hunter Farrell, MOSAO member. "One MOSAO member has had death threats made against him and several have been personally targeted in an aggressive media campaign by Doe Run workers. We are calling on the Doe Run Company to put an immediate end to this senseless violence and targeted aggression on the part of their workers", said Farrell.

MOSAO opposes the St. Louis-based company's most recent PAMA delay because each revision has delayed the reduction of excessive pollution levels in La Oroya, Peru where 100% of children in the city of 30,000 are lead-poisoned. "Doe Run is for the fourth time, attempting to avoid responsibility and delay necessary actions which would reduce chronic industrial lead poisoning in the children of La Oroya", stated Elinor Stock, of Joining Hands Against Hunger, a U.S. faith-based group supporting MOSAO.

Peru's Minister of Energy & Mining, Jaime Quijandria, said last week that the smelter must comply with its original PAMA, which includes modernization and pollution improvements. Doe Run Peru has invested only $40.3 million of the $174 million required to implement the pollution control program, despite the large increase in lead prices since last year. The Ministry of Energy & Mining office recently appointed a MOSAO-recommended "Coordinating Committee" to study mining and smelting related issues in Peru. Appointed were two Doe Run officials, but no citizen's representative.

For more info contact: Elinor Stock (314) 867-2881 in St. Louis, MO (U.S.)

**********
PLEASE send letters to the Peruvian Ambassador, the Embassy and to the following person in Peru, demanding an end to aggression by Doe Run workers against MOSAO members/supporters, it would be most helpful.

Ing. Jaime Quijandria
Minister of Energy and Mines
Fax: (51.1) 246-3716
e-amil: fquea [at] minem.gob.pe

The objective is to pressure him to:

1. Name a member of MOSAO to the "Coordinating Committee" examining technical solutions to the health emergency in La Oroya;

2. Reconsider the naming of Daniel Vornberg (Doe Run) to the "Coordinating Team", due to numerous criminal lawsuits currently pending against him which allege illegal actions in relation to environmental health concerns in Missouri;

3. Given the speculative nature of Mr. Ira Rennert´s (Doe Run) investment history, urge the Minister to get a financial guarantee from Doe Run-Peru.
_____________________________

Global Justice Ecology Project
P.O. Box 412
Hinesburg, VT 05461
+1-802-482-2689 ph/fax

http://www.globaljusticeecology.org