President Dina Boluarte Zegarra announced the declaration of a curfew in the province of Pataz, La Libertad region, from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., as part of the measures to combat crime in this area of the country.
The Pataz area is approximately 900 kilometers north of Lima and approximately a 17-hour bus ride away, it’s a zone of mining activities specially to obtain gold, where illegal an informal miners are operating next to formal mining companies.
President Boluarte also announced that the Armed Forces will take full control of the area where the Poderosa mining concession is located and a military base will be established in the Pataz district.
Legislative powers
The president also announced that Congress will be asked for extraordinary powers to legislate on urban terrorism, in order to act against criminals who sow terror, as has happened in the past with terrorism.
"I ask the population, what do we call those who have murdered in a cruel and brutal manner? What do we call those who extort and kill drivers, passengers, and businesspeople? What do we call those who make phone calls from prisons, those hitmen who go out in gangs to extort, those who ride motorcycles and shoot with a cell phone?" the president asked.
She indicated that the government presented a proposal to Congress to classify these acts as urban terrorism and provide a legal framework for addressing this problem, but it has not been accepted.
“This week, a request will be presented to Congress for powers to legislate on urban terrorism. The lives of our brothers cannot be at the mercy of these criminals. We must provide the appropriate legal framework so that the military or police authorities can act,” she asserted.
Mining activities suspended
Similarly, the president announced that all mining activity in Pataz will be suspended for 30 days, extendable, to facilitate the deployment of the Armed Forces and the National Police.
During this period, she said, all those registered in the Comprehensive Registry of Mining Formalization (Reinfo) as suspended will be removed.
“A tough hand against criminals,” she asserted.
The president called on mining companies with concessions in Pataz not to subcontract their concessions, as this makes it difficult to control those carrying out mining activities in the area.
“We must work together to eradicate the brutal actions of this social scourge,” she asserted.
Condolences to victims
President Boluarte made these announcements at a press conference. She began her speech by expressing her condolences to the families of the miners who died in Pataz.
“Their death is painful; it is deeply felt. From the Government, we will provide the families who are left in mourning and pain with the necessary facilities to support them psychologically and through the social programs we have,” she stated.
She also stated that the Government took action from the moment the kidnapping of the 13 miners was rumored, even before the formal report of their disappearance was known.
"We will not allow these acts of organized crime, of terror, of extreme brutality," said the president, who questioned the release of the criminal known as "Cuchillo," the alleged perpetrator of this crime, in 2023 by the prosecutor's office after being detained by the police.
Finally, President Dina Boluarte called on Congress, the Public Prosecutor's Office, and the Judiciary, along with the Executive Branch, to work together to eradicate crime through the functions corresponding to each sector.
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Published: 5/5/2025