Spectre of rising violence haunts Peruvian mining

[struggle4progress]

By Hal Weitzman
Published: August 12 2005 03:00 | Last updated: August 12 2005 03:00

<snip> The latest target is Monterrico Metals, a British resource development company that is developing Rio Blanco, 880km north-west of Lima in a farming region on the Ecuadorean border. The project is expected to become Peru's second biggest copper mine when it opens in 2008.

In recent weeks the site has come under attack from protesters who say mining will contaminate water supplies to farms. One demonstrator died in clashes with police last week. Farmers kidnapped three of Monterrico's Peruvian employees in the area last weekend, one of whom has still not been released.

The conflict at Rio Blanco follows several similar confrontations. In May, BHP Billiton, the world's biggest diversified miner, suspended operations for a month at its Tintaya mine in southern Peru when protesters raided the site, demanding the company spend more on improving local roads.

Last September Newmont, the US miner, scrapped a planned expansion of Yanacocha, the world's most productive gold mine, in the northern highlands, after demonstrators alleging water contamination besieged the site for two weeks, forcing Newmont to helicopter in shift workers. <snip>

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/ceef825c-0acc-11da-aa9b-00000e2511c8.html

[bemildred]

1. "Spectre of unacceptable pollution haunts Peruvain mining"

Sounds like ...

[nosmokes]

2. yeah, in this day and age the peasants aren't always

backwards uneducated and ignorant, and if they are ignorant, it's easier to educate them now than ever. much to the chagrin of those that exploit them and despoil their lands.