Thread by @LeighDay_Law

THREAD: Monterrico, a UK mining company that established a mine in the pristine environment of an indigenous community in Peru and allegedly facilitated human rights abuses, including torture, of protesters by the police #CorporateAccountability #BizHumanRights 1/12

In August 2005, communities living near the Rio Blanco copper mine, in a remote and beautiful area of Peru near the Ecuadorian border, took part in an environmental protest against its development. 2/12

Monterrico sought assistance from the PNP, a police unit that had a track record of violence. The police handcuffed, hooded and beat protesters, taking them into the mining site where they were detained outside for 2-3 days. 3/12

The detainees alleged they were beaten, abused, threatened, two women were sexually abused, forced to eat rotten food, and were detained on a wet platform for slaughtering animals. Several protesters were shot, one died and one lost an eye. 4//12

It was alleged that Monterrico was complicit in the abuses by inciting the police to attack and mistreat the protesters; and by failing to prevent the mistreatment that occurred over 2-3 days on the mine premises. 5/12

One protester, Senesio Jimenez, said "they ejected us with beatings and bullets, they tortured us on our own land. A peasant is sometimes treated like an animal with no right to live" 6/12

Following the human rights abuses, neither the police nor Monterrico were subject to criminal investigation in Peru. Several of the victims were however prosecuted. 7/12

From 2009-2011, Leigh Day represented 33 protesters in a case against Monterrico in the UK High Court.
Read: theguardian.com/world/2009/oct… #BizHumanRights 8/12

Prior to proceedings, it emerged that Monterrico was to be taken over by Zijin Consortium (China) and its assets dissipated. This was unconnected with the human rights claims, but the effect would have been to render UK legal proceedings pointless. 9/12

In 2009, the claimants successfully obtained a worldwide freezing injunction from the UK High Court over £5 million of Monterrico’s assets. They also succeeded in obtaining a freezing injunction from the Hong Kong High Court over Monterrico’s assets there.
leighday.co.uk/LeighDay/media…

In 2011, legal proceedings by 33 Leigh Day claimants against Monterrico were settled by compensation payments, without admitting liability.
leighday.co.uk/News/2011/July… 11/12

The @leighdayintl case against Monterrico Metals plc is a salutary lesson to MNCs which encourage or fail to prevent police brutality and the violation of the #humanrights of indigenous communities. #BizHumanRights #CorporateAccountability leighday.co.uk/LeighDay/media…
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