AMERICA/PERU - Solidarity to the Archbishop of Huancayo threatened to death for having sought assurances on health and decent work for the workers in La Oroya

Huancayo (Agenzia Fides) - "On behalf of the Directorate-General of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, based in Rome, Italy, I would like to express our support to the President of the Department of Justice and Solidarity of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM), Mgr. Pedro Barreto Jimeno , Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Huancayo and Vice President of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference, and to the technical team of the Project 'Mantaro Revive' for the death threats received over the telephone on March 2, 2012". This is how the letter of solidarity to Archbishop Pedro Barreto, Archbishop of Huancayo begins, by the Directorate General of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI), signed by Fr. Gilberto Piñón Gaytán, 2nd Assistant General, addressed to the "public opinion, political and civil authorities of Peru".
The text of the letter, sent to Fides, recalls that the threats arrived 2 days after the statement "In the face of evil, one cannot remain silent" on the activity of the Metallurgical Complex of La Oroya (see Fides 01/03/2012) . The Archbishop had said in a press conference that he was in favour to the resumption of the work of the complex, provided it guaranteed the life, health and decent work for workers and the population of La Oroya.
"Faced with this intimidating fact - the letter continues- that we have learned through different media, and after receiving the official declarations of the Archdiocese of Huancayo, we express our concern for the life of the Archbishop and all those involved in the project 'Mantaro Revive', who fight for truth, peace and justice. We therefore call upon the political authorities and police forces to carry out their investigations to identify the perpetrators of these acts that denigrate the image of Peruvian democracy. We look forward to the competent authorities involved in the question to restore peace and the free development of civil society organizations and the Church in Peru". (CE) (Agenzia Fides 13/3/2012)