The Killing That Tore Peru's Viral Hotspot Apart

By Bloomberg Originals

BusinessPoliticsSociety
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Key Concepts:

  • Rainbow Mountain tourism
  • Indigenous community conflict
  • Revenue sharing disputes
  • Mining interests vs. preservation
  • State intervention (or lack thereof)
  • Community leadership struggles
  • Violence and death
  • Pre-trial detention
  • Cultural expression through dance

1. Introduction: The Paradox of Rainbow Mountain

  • Rainbow Mountain, a popular tourist destination in Peru, has become a symbol of violence due to conflicts over revenue.
  • The video highlights the paradox of tourism: it can bring economic benefits but also create divisions and lead to tragedy.
  • The Rainbow Mountain is located in the impoverished southern Peruvian Andes.

2. Mining Interests and Initial Preservation

  • Peru is a mining nation, and mining companies were interested in the mineral rights beneath Rainbow Mountain.
  • The president of Peru intervened to revoke the mineral rights, preserving the mountain for tourism.
  • This was considered a significant achievement, as the state usually prioritizes mining.

3. Revenue Sharing and Community Conflict

  • A deal was reached between the community and the local municipality to split the revenue from Rainbow Mountain.
  • However, lack of state support and transparency led to disputes over the distribution of ticket revenues.
  • Flavio, initially an advocate for Rainbow Mountain, became president of the community and faced obstacles in implementing the revenue split.

4. Key Players and Escalating Tensions

  • Two main groups emerged: Chillihuani (the traditional center of power) and Llacto.
  • Cecilio Quispe Noa became president of the Chillihuani community and controlled the ticket revenue, neglecting the Llacto sector.
  • Cecilio argued that as an indigenous community, they should not be regulated, overseen, or taxed by the state.

5. The Fatal Confrontation

  • Tensions escalated, and Edit warned of a potential fatal confrontation.
  • A meeting was held on August 8th, but tensions were high.
  • Cecilio walked out of the meeting, and violence erupted.
  • Flavio was killed by a mob, reportedly stoned to death.

6. Aftermath and Investigation

  • The police were initially unable to intervene due to being outnumbered.
  • Filomeno and his wife, witnesses to the killing, named members of the Chillihuani community as perpetrators.
  • Around 20 members of the Chillihuani community were sent to pre-trial detention.

7. Cultural Expression and Mourning

  • The Llacto community honored Flavio by reinterpreting his death in a dance during a local festival.
  • The dance served as a way for some people to express their views on the tragedy, given the ongoing conflict.

8. Conclusion: Hopelessness and Reflection

  • The video concludes with a sense of hopelessness, questioning how the community could have reached such a point of violence.
  • It raises concerns about the impact of money and the lack of state support in managing tourism revenue in indigenous communities.
  • The video highlights the potential for tourism to create conflict and tragedy when not managed properly.

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