Update: A huge thanks to all our backers for their extremely generous contributions towards this film. I've been blown away by the amount of support, and that the target was hit in such a short time. It's very heartening to realise what can be achieved when people come together.
Synopsis
This film will tell the story of the first ever case to be brought in the UK against a British company for human rights abuses committed abroad. This year, lawyers representing claimants in Peru are taking British mining company Monterrico Metals to court over allegations of torture. The proposed film will tell the story through the claimants, starting in their homes in Peru and then following their journey to London for the hearing of the case in October.
Background
In 2003, UK-based company Monterrico Metals obtained concessions from the Peruvian government to mine for copper at the Rio Blanco site. If built, the open pit mine, which is situated over important river sources, could pollute an entire region of Peru and destroy the livelihoods of half a million people, 2% of the country’s population.
The vast majority of locals are against the project and have over the last seven years tried, without success, to convince the Peruvian government to cancel the project. In July 2005, up to 15,000 locals marched to the mine site, the police suppressing the demonstration. Twenty-nine demonstrators including two women were held at the mine site and tortured by Monterrico’s private security guards for three days. Images of the torture were released in 2008, making headline news around the world and drawing comparisons to the infamous Abu Ghraib torture photos released in 2006. Proceedings were started against Monterrico Metals in London on behalf of 32 torture victims in 2009.
The case brought in Peruvian courts against the mining company for the 2005 tortures has been buried and protestors against the mine have been constantly met with criminalisation, police violence, propaganda aimed at defamation and accusations of terrorism.
The case is due to be heard in London in October 2011. A strong ruling could set an extremely important precedent in the world of business and human rights.
About the Director
I have made award-winning work about this particular case and have been filming in the region for 7 years. I have a detailed knowledge of and sensitivity to both the facts and the people involved, also the region and its history. Crucially, I am personally known and trusted by the claimants in Peru.
2nd December, a short film about the 2009 police attack on the village of Cajas Canchaque that left two farmers dead.
My award winning 2009 film, Laguna Negra, about the 2005 tortures.
About Mosaic Films
Mosaic is an award-winning production company known for, amongst other things, its international documentaries which focus on social issues. Led by BAFTA award winning filmmaker and producer, Andy Glynne, Mosaic is committed to using film to help make a difference - both here in the UK and around the world. For more info see www.mosaicfilms.com
Dear Backers!
I’ve just come back from Peru and wanted to update you all as to how everything is going. We’ve come back with around 30 hours of footage to sift through, which I’ve been working on in the last week. Some great news is that Mosaic Films submitted the project to the Sheffield DocFest MeetMarket and we were chosen along with 65 other films from over 450 entries! DocFest is soon in early June so there is a lot to be done to get things ready to show to possible interested parties.
Our time was split mainly in and around Huancabamba, in Piura city and in Cajamarca, Piura’s neighbouring department. In Huancabamba our focus was mainly on three characters who we spent time with developing different strands of the story; the abuses suffered over the years and also the way of life that is under threat. We made many small journeys with the characters through their landscape, capturing the immense natural wealth that is key to their survival. We also met 17 claimants from Pacaipampa and Yanta who were part of the 2005 protest and who suffered abuse at the hands of the security guards and Peruvian police. The overwhelming impression was that these men are simply farmers worried for their futures, not terrorists or violent as asserted by the Government and company.
One of the most valuable days of filming was the trek we made to actually get to the Rio Blanco mine site, the site of the 2005 tortures and also the underlying reason for the entire conflict. A 2am start driving 3 hours from Huancabamba, and then a 7 hour trek later we arrived at the perfect viewing point from across a valley to see the mine site. Seeing the mine for the first time, and the scenery it is set in, was really very powerful indeed. The area is a cloud forest, teeming with life and water. It really hit home the reasons for why these communities are against the project – the thought of a large open pit mine in the area and the environmental repercussions it would have was immediate and scary.
As for the future of the mine itself, this is very much in the balance. Much depends on who wins the Presidential election, the final round of which is on 5th June. The elections have been pretty divisive this time round, with ex-dictator Alberto Fujimori’s daughter Keiko Fujimori running against Nationalist and ex-military man Ollanta Humala. If Keiko wins in all likelihood the mine will go ahead, while Ollanta’s party look to be against the project.
I’ve been preparting the footage to take to Sheffield next and will update you as to how things are going over the summer. Most importantly I want to thank you for your generosity thus far, it was down to you that the chance to document this important story came to fruition. I’m confident that we are well on the way to making a powerful and interesting film and will be in touch as the process unfolds.
All the best and many thanks,
Michael Watts
