Peruvian protests halt mining

PROTESTERS in Peru have scored an astonishing victory against the destructive forces of global capitalism.

Reports the Globe and Mail: "As smoke rose from burning tires and torched security vehicles, heavily armed police confronted nearly a thousand angry anti-mining protesters walking the runaway of Juliaca’s airport in southern Peru, near Lake Titicaca.

"One protest leader called for the group to reclaim the airport. Others said it was too dangerous. Then a call came through from the protest leaders in the capital, Lima.

"The government had given into their demands and agreed to revoke the licence for Canadian mining firm Bear Creek to open its Santa Ana silver mine in the area; as well, it halted all new mining concessions in Puno province for 36 months.

"The unrest ended with the agreement Saturday, narrowly averting a repeat of a bloody conflict the day before, when police killed at least five demonstrators at the airport.

"While the breakthrough agreement stopped further bloodshed, it casts doubts on other resource operations in Peru, a nation that relies heavily on foreign investment and receives about 70 per cent of its GDP from the mining industry.

"Peru is South America’s fastest-growing economy, driven by surging commodity prices, but the rural poor have benefited little from mining and complain it contaminates their water and crops.

"The incoming government must balance the interests of international resource firms, whose production is a huge source of national wealth, alongside those of protesters who argue mines have a devastating impact on the environment."

Peruvian killed in anti-dam protest

ONE man was killed and many others injured in Peru during protests against a proposed dam.

While corporate news sources like Reuters initially claimed the victim, Leoncio Fernández Pacheco, was a bystander and implied his death was accidental, Peruvian media are now admitting he was probably shot by police.

The conflict took place before dawn on Thursday in the town of Espinar, 400 miles (650 km) south of Lima.

The Majes-Siguas II irrigation project will leave Espinar without water, say residents.

They were enraged when the state investment agency awarded a concession on Monday for the project to a private consortium called Angostura-Siguas without listening to their concerns.

Peru's government has encouraged the growth of export-oriented agricultural farms and the petroleum industry.

Last year, three dozen people died in a clash over land in the Amazon jungle where indigenous tribes are resisiting the destruction of their land by oil exploration.

Massive prison uprising in Peru

RIOTING prisoners took over a jail in Peru, forcing the authorities to negotiate with them to release hostages.

Said the New York Times: "Peruvian officials say a riot by about 500 inmates at a northern prison killed two inmates and six guards were held hostage until negotiations got the prisoners to end their protest.

"Chief Cabinet minister Javier Velasquez says the violence erupted on New Year's Eve in the prison in Chachapoyas, about 650 kilometers (400 miles) northeast of Lima.

"Velasquez says he's not sure what caused the riot, but local Television N says inmates want a change in prison management because of a crackdown on drugs and cell phones.

"The rioters met with high-level officials Friday, then freed the five male and one female guards taken hostage."

Authorities are not revealing what concessions were made to the rebel inmates.