By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America
LIMA, Peru — Four people have died following clashes with police during protests in Apurímac, in the Cotabambas province in southern Peru. Another fifty protesters and police officers were injured, and about twenty-one protesters were arrested.
The demonstrations were against the Chinese-backed mining project at Las Bambas, owned by China’s MMG Ltd. The copper mine will be Peru’s largest, and is scheduled to begin production in May or June of 2016.
The communities in the area initially supported the Las Bambas project, but attitudes changed after an adjustment to the environmental impact assessment was made without consulting area residents. There are concerns that the mine could contaminate water sources and that the project isn’t creating enough jobs for residents.
The demonstrations, which began last Friday, escalated on Monday once protesters began gathering on mine owned land near Challhuahuacho. The official and alleged eyewitness accounts of what happened differ.
Peruvian authorities reported that police used non-lethal weapons until they were attacked by protesters breaking into Las Bambas property. Others have claimed that police began shooting live bullets as soon as the protesters tried to enter the property.
The state of emergency allows for a suspension of constitutional rights, including freedom of assembly and movement. Police will be allowed to search homes without a warrant.
Protesters have agreed to a 24 hour truce in the hopes of holding talks with the government.
Protests in Peru over mining projects have increased in recent years, with frequent escalation. Demonstrations against the Tia Maria copper mine back in May turned deadly and prompted a sixty day state of emergency.
The Observatory of Mining Conflicts in Peru reports more than 200 active social conflicts.
Peru is ranked third in the world for copper exports, representing about one tenth of the country’s economic output and 58% of its exports.
For more information, please see:
BBC – Peru declares state of emergency in mining region – 30 September 2015
Buenos Aires Herald – Four killed in anti-mining protests in Peru – 30 September 2015
LA Times – Peru protesters lift blockade at China-funded mine in hopes of talks – 30 September 2015
