Bolivian miner trapped in Chile to get new job
By IANSSaturday, October 9, 2010
La Paz (Bolivia), Oct 10 (IANS/EFE) A Bolivian miner trapped along with 32 Chileans in a mine in Chile for the past 64 days has been promised a new job by Bolivian President Evo Morales.
Morales is also planning to be at the rescue site when the 33 miners, trapped in a copper and gold mine, are rescued.
“We were thrilled to hear that the drill has reached the miners and we’ll make every effort to finally gain back our Bolivian brother. We have a job guaranteed for him here,” Morales told a press conference Saturday.
Carlos Mamani, 23, is the only miner there who is foreign-born.
The miners were trapped Aug 5 when a landslide caused a tunnel at the San Jose copper and gold mine to collapse above them, but they managed to survive by taking refuge in a large underground shelter.
The trapped miners have been receiving food, water, medical supplies and extra oxygen via small bore holes since Aug 22.
On Saturday, one of three rescue drills broke through to the underground shelter that has housed the 33 trapped people.
Morales told his Chilean counterpart Sebastian Piera that he wants to “accompany him at the time of the rescue”, to show solidarity with his compatriot.
He also praised Piera’s decisive action to ensure all 33 miners make it to the surface alive.
“It’s something unprecedented, unbelievable. They’ve been practically buried alive for more than two months, 700 metres below, and they’re going to rescue them alive. It’s truly historic,” Morales said.
–IANS/EFE
