Six Injured, 36 Arrested and Roads Blocked in Peru Mining Protest

Six injured, 36 arrested and roads blocked in Peru mining protest

LIMA, April 11 (Xinhua) — Six people were injured, 36 arrested and major highways were blocked as a result of a mining protest in Peru’s Ancash region Wednesday, a local radio reported.

The 48-hour strike, initiated by Ancash People’s Interests Defense Front, was called in protest against President Alan Garcia’s government. The strikers are demanding better distribution of mining taxes paid by state companies.

There were also demands that Santa municipality, currently in charge of Chinecas hydroenergy project, transfer the management of the project to Ancash’s regional government, the Radio Programas del Peru (RPP) reported.

The strike is fully supported by the people, Cesar Alvarez, the regional president of Ancash, told an RPP interview Wednesday. He added that if Garcia’s government does not accept the strikers’ demands after the 48-hour protest, an indefinite regional work stoppage will follow.

Peruvian Prime Minister Jorge del Castillo blamed Alvarez for “creating a senseless division,” and said that “over 100 mayors of all Ancash Province oppose the mobilization.”

Since the beginning of his second term in July 28, President Garcia has faced various protests in mining and oil producing regions, as well as valleys where coca leaves are grown.

Peru’s mining businesses are estimated to have given a voluntary contribution of 776 million U.S. dollars in the last five years to help the country fight the poverty that affects more than half of its population.

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