2015 Peruvian protests against Las Bambas mining project
{{Short description|Environmental protests in Peru}}
{{Infobox civil conflict
| title = 2015 Peruvian protests against Las Bambas mining project
| partof =
| image = Location of the province Cotabambas in Apurímac.svg
| caption = Location of Cotabambas Province, the hotbed of protests
| date = 28 September 2015–present
| place = {{flagicon|Peru}} Apurímac Region, Peru
| coordinates =
| causes = Las Bambas mining project
| goals =
| methods =
| status =
| result =
- 30-day state of emergency
- Protest repressed by force
| side1 = Anti-mining activists
Locals
FDIC
| side2 = National Police of Peru
Peruvian Army
| side3 =
| leadfigures1 = Jaime Osorio
| leadfigures2 =
| leadfigures3 =
| howmany1 = 15,000
| howmany2 = 1,500 police officers
150 soldiers
| howmany3 =
| casualties1 = 4 dead
15 injured
22 arrested
| casualties2 = 8 injured
| casualties3 =
| fatalities =
| injuries =
| arrests =
| detentions =
| charged =
| fined =
| casualties_label =
| notes =
}}
The protests escalated on 29 September, when four people were killed and dozens injured in clashes between demonstrators and police, prompting President Ollanta Humala to decree a state of emergency.
29 September clashes
{{See also|Las Bambas copper mine}}
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| video1 = [https://www.reuters.com/video/2015/09/29/three-killed-in-protest-at-massive-coppe?videoId=365773121 Three killed in protest at massive copper mine in Peru] on Reuters
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On 29 September, an estimated 15,000 people gathered in Challhuahuacho to protest against a $7.4 billion copper mine project. Locals in the region are concerned that the copper mine project will cause environmental damage to the Andean area.{{Cite web|title = Peru anti-mining protest sees deadly clashes – BBC News|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-34389803|accessdate = 2015-09-30}}{{Cite web|title = Nuevo conflicto minero en Perú deja un saldo de cuatro muertos|url = http://es.panampost.com/panam-staff/2015/09/30/nuevo-conflicto-minero-en-peru-dejaun-saldo-de-cuatro-muertos/|accessdate = 2015-09-30}} Peruvian authorities sent 1,500 police officers and 150 soldiers to the area. Several hundred demonstrators attacked the mine installations and clashed with police, who responded with tear gas.{{Cite web|title = Peru declares emergency at Las Bambas – BNamericas|url = http://www.bnamericas.com/en/news/mining/peru-declares-emergency-at-las-bambas|accessdate = 2015-09-30}} The protest escalated, after law enforcers opened fire on protesters,{{Cite web|title = Three dead as Peruvian farmers and police clash at $7.4bn Chinese mine|url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/29/three-dead-as-peruvian-farmers-and-police-clash-at-74bn-chinese-mine|website = the Guardian|accessdate = 2015-09-30|agency=Associated Press}} killing four of them. The four fatalities were all local men.{{Cite news|title = Peru suspends civil liberties after anti-mining clash|url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/2-killed-as-police-protesters-clash-over-peru-copper-mine/2015/09/28/76a79a6c-6651-11e5-bdb6-6861f4521205_story.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150929120511/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/2-killed-as-police-protesters-clash-over-peru-copper-mine/2015/09/28/76a79a6c-6651-11e5-bdb6-6861f4521205_story.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = 2015-09-29|newspaper = The Washington Post|date = 2015-09-28|access-date = 2015-09-30|issn = 0190-8286|first = Franklin|last = Briceno {{!}} AP}} In a press conference, authorities confirmed that Uriel Elguera Chilca (34), Beto Chahuallo Huillca (24) and Alberto Cárdenas Chalco (23) died from gunshots on way to Cusco,{{Cite web|title = Las Bambas: confirman que son 4 muertos por enfrentamientos|url = http://elcomercio.pe/peru/apurimac/bambas-confirman-que-son-4-muertos-enfrentamientos-noticia-1844644|website = elcomercio.pe|accessdate = 2015-09-30|first = El|last = Comercio}} while Exaltación Huamaní (30) succumbed to death at Challhuahuacho hospital. Likewise, 23 other people, including eight policemen,{{Cite web|title = Peru declares state of emergency after anti-mining protest deaths|url = http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2015/09/30/Peru-declares-state-of-emergency-after-anti-mining-protest-deaths/4581443620433/|accessdate = 2015-09-30}} were injured in ensuing clashes. Officials say ambulances couldn't reach the local clinic following the attack because police also shot at a vehicle carrying doctors.{{Cite web|title = Peru: Soldiers Open Fire at Anti-Mining Protest, Killing 3|url = http://www.democracynow.org/2015/9/29/headlines/peru_soldiers_open_fire_at_anti_mining_protest_killing_3|website = Democracy Now!|accessdate = 2015-09-30}}
MMG says that Las Bambas has reserves of 6.9 million tons of copper and expects to produce more than 2 million tons of copper concentrate in its first five years.{{Cite web|title = 2 killed as police, protesters clash over Peru copper mine|url = https://uk.news.yahoo.com/2-killed-police-protesters-clash-022354065.html#Fh9v26u|accessdate = 2015-09-30}} The deposit was discovered at more than 4,000 meters above sea level and will become one of the largest copper mines in the world once it is in full production. Construction started on 10 August and began operations in early 2016.{{Cite web|title = Peru declares state of emergency over mining plant violence|url = https://news.yahoo.com/peru-declares-state-emergency-over-mine-violence-155815476.html|accessdate = 2015-09-30}}{{Cite web|title=MMG Limited {{!}} Las Bambas |url=http://www.mmg.com/en/Our-Operations/Development-projects/Las-Bambas.aspx |website=www.mmg.com |accessdate=2015-09-30 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207015625/http://www.mmg.com/en/Our-Operations/Development-projects/Las-Bambas.aspx |archivedate=2015-02-07 }}
Reactions
Peruvian President Ollanta Humala regretted the loss of lives during the violent repression of the protest and called on calm and for dialogue. He also stated that "many of the protest leaders (...) come from outside the region and are using the protests to promote their campaigns for the April 2016 general elections".
Humala decreed the emergency for 30 days in the southern Andean regions of Cusco and Apurímac,{{Cite web|title = Peru Declares Emergency After Three Die in MMG Mine Protest|url = https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-29/peru-declares-state-of-emergency-after-three-die-in-mine-protest|website = Bloomberg.com|accessdate = 2015-09-30|first = John|last = Quigley}} where the mine, Las Bambas, owned by China's MMG Ltd., is under construction.{{Cite web|title = Peru declares state of emergency in mining region – BBC News|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-34400831|accessdate = 2015-09-30}} The state of emergency applies to six provinces.{{Cite web|title = Deaths in Mining Protest Spur Emergency Declaration in Peru|url = https://www.voanews.com/a/deaths-mining-protest-emergency-declaration-peru/2984458.html|access-date = 2015-09-30}} Suspending civil liberties and authorizing military patrols, the government announced that more troops would be sent to Apurímac "to restore internal peace".{{Cite web|title = Peru Martial Law: Civil Liberties Suspended After Anti-Mining Protest Leaves 4 Dead|url = http://www.latinpost.com/articles/83307/20150930/peru-martial-law-civil-liberties-suspended-after-anti-mining-protest-leaves-4-dead.htm|accessdate = 2015-09-30}} Interior Minister José Luis Pérez Guadalupe said radical groups from outside the area had provoked the clashes.{{Cite news|title = Two killed in protest at $7.4-billion MMG copper project in Peru|url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mmg-ltd-protests-idUSKCN0RT03J20150929|newspaper = Reuters|date = 2015-09-29|access-date = 2015-09-30}}
Amnesty International's executive director in Peru, Marina Navarro, called the deaths "unacceptable" in an email sent to the AP. "The price of social protests should not be the death of any person", the statement said.