Conflict over Marco Agreement Funds (Convenio Marco)
📌 The community of Espinar faces severe socio-economic crisis, exacerbated by the global pandemic, leading to a need for exceptional financial support.
📉 For 17 years under the Marco Agreement, the community asserts that the mining company (Antapaccay) controls the funds, often executing projects poorly or over-priced, without sufficient benefit to the population.
💰 The local government is requesting the immediate release of 50 million soles (as per a technical file) for provincial survival, viewing this as an exceptional gesture required from the mining company now.

Mining Company's Position and Alternative Proposal
🤝 Antapaccay expressed willingness to be flexible regarding the use of Marco Agreement funds to address the extraordinary situation caused by COVID-19 in Espinar.
🚫 The company disagrees with the direct cash distribution model (like the proposed "50 million soles" bonus) stating it is only a "punctual support," not effective assistance.
💡 Instead, the company proposes activating ready Marco Agreement projects to generate temporary employment for six months and suggested a "voucher" (vale) system for vulnerable populations to cover specific needs like food and medicine sustainably.

Community Demands and Grievances
🗣️ Representatives strongly reject the company’s voucher proposal, insisting on the immediate realization of the Socio-Economic Project, known as the "1,000 soles bonus" funded by the requested 50 million soles.
🌍 The community highlights severe negative impacts, including dead rivers (Río Salado, Río Palilía) due to contamination and high traffic (300-500 trucks daily), leading to illness from heavy metals, contrasting the narrative that mining is a "blessing."
📜 The community demands justice and activation of their own approved district and community projects, referencing Article 15 of Convention 169, to avoid poverty despite proximity to transnational mining operations.

Key Points & Insights
➡️ The core dispute is the mode of fund disbursement: the local government/committee demands direct cash/project implementation (the 50 million soles/bonus), while the company favors specific, structured support mechanisms (vouchers/temporary jobs).
➡️ Community leaders feel that 23 days of protest, repression, and conflict were needed before central government authorities arrived to mediate the urgent financial need.
➡️ There is a strong consensus among local representatives that past funds from the Marco Agreement have failed to deliver tangible development or quality of life, necessitating an immediate, tangible injection of funds (the 50 million soles) for survival due to the pandemic.

📸 Video summarized with SummaryTube.com on Dec 08, 2025, 03:50 UTC