Peru: State of Emergency Called to Quell Anti-Mining Protests

In Peru, 13 people have been arrested during a 60-day state of emergency in an attempt to quell anti-mining protests in which four people have been killed in the last two months. Peru’s Interior Minister José Luis Perez said authorities must reinstate order following attacks on police and fire stations. The state of emergency means that some constitutional rights will be suspended, including freedom of transit and the right to hold meetings. The anti-mining protests that started two months ago have focused on Southern Copper Corp’s US$1.4 billion Tía María project, which residents fear will pollute land and water and damage crops. teleSUR