"From conflict to co-operation", 6 February 2016

Last April the valley [Tambo] was the scene of a month-long "strike" that saw pitched battles between the police and hooded protesters...Two protesters and a policeman were killed; 150 police and 54 civilians were hurt. The protest was over a plan by Southern Peru Copper Corporation [part of Grupo Mexico]...for a $1.4 billion copper and gold mine, called Tía María...Local farmers insist it would kill their livelihoods by polluting the river. The company denies this...So far the farmers are winning...In all 53 people have been killed and almost 1,500 injured in social conflicts in Peru, mostly related to extractive industries, since Mr Humala took office in 2011...Battles over the exploitation of natural resources have become common throughout Latin America...Reconciling the national benefits and local costs of mining is ultimately a problem of democracy. The days when big mines could simply be imposed are over. [also refers to MMG, Glencore, Pluspetrol, Barrick Gold, Vale, BHP Billiton, Gold Fields, Anglo American]