Another five thousand more, because those are the ones who have registered. And if we get to formalize ten thousand, better. Do you agree with the exploitation of lithium in one of the largest deposits (in the world), which has been found in Puno?
We can not talk about lithium if we do not have legislation in this matter. Second, there are conflicting positions. Unfortunately, Peru has had bad experiences in the topic of natural resources, such as the gas issue. Today we Peruvians are not owners, we do not benefit, I'd like that someone comes out and tells me that anyone have benefited from the gas. To this is added the tremendous corruption that nobody wants to touch. That is why I propose the Bolivian model in the use of natural resources, we are talking about large scale mining and strategic natural resources. Bolivia also has lithium and there is also Aymara population in Bolivia, there is Quechua population. Do those populations make a stop so that lithium is not exploited in their country? On the contrary, they support. Why? One, because lithium belongs to Bolivians; Two, this resource benefits all Bolivians. But in Peru you are neither an owner nor you do benefit. Therefore, when we propose what Peru should implement in the use of natural resources, the Bolivian model, I ratify myself. I am sure that this is the end of the strikes, the stoppages, the confrontations. Do we want to continue living in an emergency zone like in the mining corridor of Apurimac, Cusco and Arequipa? The good experiences of other countries must be taken into account, it must be discussed.
Some opinologists said that Aduviri wants to nationalize the mines in Puno. I'm not going to nationalize, I'm not president of the Republic. My attribution as regional governor is not to nationalize, don't distort my opinions. Obviously, these are not my competences, it is the responsibility of the central government, but at the same time, it is a scene where one has to express an opinion about the case.
So what will you do to replicate the Bolivian model?
You have to discuss it. The politicians of Lima do not understand, what they think about is nothing else than looting natural resources, a few lobbies and become millionaires. On the issue of the (gas) pipeline, for example, it's riddled with acts of corruption. The corrupt today continue to fight for their slice. For us corruption will not have space.
Regional governments have the power to send legislative initiatives to Congress. In this case, will you submit any proposal regarding the exploitation of resources?
We would like to, but unfortunately we have limited competences. If I present that immediately they will declare it null.
The Regional Government can submit a proposal for a law.
But the large scale mining is not my competition. Regrettably, the regulations say everything that is the subject of your competence, and only in that cas you can present legislative initiatives. There is a padlock. In small-scale mining and artisanal mining, I can present.
But I return to the question, what will be your position with Macusani?
Peru is rich in natural resources, but we do not own or benefit from them. At the same time we have socio-environmental problems. These have left balances of 300 dead, 500 imprisoned, 2000 disabled people. These are acts of terrorism, of murder. Who is in jail? I ask the politicians to have a little more humanity. Are we going to keep killing more brothers? The lives of the brothers who live in the Andean and Amazonian communities of the country are not worth anything? Are we going to impose the looting of natural resources at the point of murder and imprisonment? Bolivia does not live according to its natural resources. The private sector participates in the exploitation of natural resources, but is not the owner of the resources. What must be discussed is the Bolivian model. You have to put it on the agenda.
In Peru there is the Law of Prior Consultation, to avoid precisely social conflicts. Do you think that it is not working then?
This law has to be fulfilled. In this framework, the minimum is to listen to the popular will. Democracy is not listening to the population every four or five years and then saying "do not intervene, forget everything, I'm the one that decides". We are not in a dictatorship, but in a democratic government. These ways of consulting the population have to be fulfilled. In your government plan, you speak of a Great Andean Historical Project, is this different from the Aymara nation that aims to unify the peoples of Bolivia, Chile and Peru?
Look, we dont' have a separatist position. The Lima press is very wrong, I am going to ask you to investigate a little. There have been many misinterpreted positions since Lima. We do not have a separatist position, it's not that we're planning to split. There is nothing of that. This government plan that we have is a plan that includes the demands, the needs of the population and when we talk about a Qoyasuyo plan, we talk about a plan that not only has to be projected to five or ten years, why not talk about one hundred, how would we like to be? What we talk is about the countries where Aymaras and Quechuas are, they are our brothers. We are always going to move towards the brotherhood of good understanding, good understanding and joint work, respecting our independent countries that we have, because it is natural.
What, then, exactly, is the great Andean historical project?
Andean history, precisely, leading the development of our peoples. And if we talk about ideology, about history, we have had a thousand-year history. The positive of the history that our peoples have had, to take it. Some things are out of date, of course yes, from now on we have to take note. From now on we have to go to an industrialized region, which has basic sanitation, with irrigation, roads, quality in education and health.
Do you receive any kind of advice from the government of Evo Morales?
No, that's another crazy proposal. I do not have consultants, to date, I have never had consultants. The only adviser I have is my shadow. I do not have consultants nor do I need either.
Have you ever met Mr. Walter Chavez?
I don't know him. I understand that he is a Peruvian who is in Bolivia, right?
He was an adviser to Evo Morales.
No no.
Do you usually hold conferences in Bolivia?
Of course. I have been to Mexico, Bolivia, Ecuador, Brazil, in different parts of the world.
Who hires you?
Social Organizations. For example, when I have been a leader, several social organizations have called me to this kind of event. We have been, for example, at the Autonomous Metropolitan University of Mexico in 2011, at the invitation of the same university. It's natural.
Where have you received your ideological training?
In my community, in the region, in social organizations.