Yanacocha issued a statement rejecting plans by impacted communities to hold a consulta or referendum on the [Minas Conga project (joint venture between Buenaventura & Newmont)]. Yanacocha spokesman Javier Velarde said: "If we are going to accept conultas every time there is a project that wants to be developed, and if the consultas are on the margin of the law, without the participation of the authorities, we will be placing in danger all the mineral industry at the national level."...Peru's attorney general, José Peláez Bardales, also weighed in against the consulta. "There could be commission of criminal acts" if the consulta goes ahead, he warned. "Is not up to the regional government to carry out any plebiscite or referendum, since that is the faculty of Executive Power and the National Election Tribunal." While the consulta is the initiative of local campesino communities, it has the support of Cajamarca's regional president, Gregorio Santos. [Also refers to Barrick Gold]