Police fire on Peruvian farmers protesting open-pit copper mine, killing 1 and wounding 12

Published May 21, 2015

Authorities in Peru say police fired on farmers opposed to a Mexican-owned copper mine in the country's south, killing one person and wounding 12.

Local health director Walter Vera said a 61-year-old man died from a wound in the lower abdomen. He said six of those wounded Wednesday were hospitalized and six were treated and released.

Farmers and local leaders oppose the $1.3 billion Tia Maria mine in the Tambo valley of Arequipa state. They fear the open-pit mine will contaminate irrigation water in the rice-growing district.

In 2011, three farmers were killed during protests against the project owned by Southern Peru Copper Corp., a subsidiary of Grupo Mexico.

The company says it will use Pacific Ocean water in the project and pipe it back into the ocean.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/world/police-fire-on-peruvian-farmers-protesting-open-pit-copper-mine-killing-1-and-wounding-12