2015 Peruvian protests against Las Bambas mining project

Environmental protests in PeruOctober 2026 2015 Peruvian protests against Las Bambas mining project Location of the province Cotabambas in Apurímac.svg Location of Cotabambas Province, the hotbed of protests 28 September 2015–present Peru Apurímac Region, Peru Las Bambas mining project 30-day state of emergency Protest repressed by force Anti-mining activistsLocalsFDIC National Police of PeruPeruvian Army Jaime Osorio 15,000 1,500 police officers150 soldiers 4 dead15 injured22 arrested 8 injured 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 Las Bambas copper mine left Three killed in protest at massive copper mine in Peru on Reuters 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. Peru anti-mining protest sees deadly clashes – BBC News https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-34389803 2015-09-30 Nuevo conflicto minero en Perú deja un saldo de cuatro muertos http://es.panampost.com/panam-staff/2015/09/30/nuevo-conflicto-minero-en-peru-dejaun-saldo-de-cuatro-muertos/ 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. Peru declares emergency at Las Bambas – BNamericas http://www.bnamericas.com/en/news/mining/peru-declares-emergency-at-las-bambas 2015-09-30 The protest escalated, after law enforcers opened fire on protesters, Three dead as Peruvian farmers and police clash at $7.4bn Chinese mine https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/29/three-dead-as-peruvian-farmers-and-police-clash-at-74bn-chinese-mine the Guardian 2015-09-30 Associated Press killing four of them. The four fatalities were all local men. Peru suspends civil liberties after anti-mining clash 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 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 dead 2015-09-29 The Washington Post 2015-09-28 2015-09-30 0190-8286 Franklin 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, Las Bambas: confirman que son 4 muertos por enfrentamientos http://elcomercio.pe/peru/apurimac/bambas-confirman-que-son-4-muertos-enfrentamientos-noticia-1844644 elcomercio.pe 2015-09-30 El Comercio while Exaltación Huamaní (30) succumbed to death at Challhuahuacho hospital. Likewise, 23 other people, including eight policemen, Peru declares state of emergency after anti-mining protest deaths http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2015/09/30/Peru-declares-state-of-emergency-after-anti-mining-protest-deaths/4581443620433/ 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. Peru: Soldiers Open Fire at Anti-Mining Protest, Killing 3 http://www.democracynow.org/2015/9/29/headlines/peru_soldiers_open_fire_at_anti_mining_protest_killing_3 Democracy Now! 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. 2 killed as police, protesters clash over Peru copper mine https://uk.news.yahoo.com/2-killed-police-protesters-clash-022354065.html#Fh9v26u 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. Peru declares state of emergency over mining plant violence https://news.yahoo.com/peru-declares-state-emergency-over-mine-violence-155815476.html 2015-09-30MMG Limited Las Bambas http://www.mmg.com/en/Our-Operations/Development-projects/Las-Bambas.aspx www.mmg.com 2015-09-30 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150207015625/http://www.mmg.com/en/Our-Operations/Development-projects/Las-Bambas.aspx 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, Peru Declares Emergency After Three Die in MMG Mine Protest https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-29/peru-declares-state-of-emergency-after-three-die-in-mine-protest Bloomberg.com 2015-09-30 John Quigley where the mine, Las Bambas, owned by China's MMG Ltd., is under construction. Peru declares state of emergency in mining region – BBC News https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-34400831 2015-09-30 The state of emergency applies to six provinces. Deaths in Mining Protest Spur Emergency Declaration in Peru https://www.voanews.com/a/deaths-mining-protest-emergency-declaration-peru/2984458.html 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". Peru Martial Law: Civil Liberties Suspended After Anti-Mining Protest Leaves 4 Dead http://www.latinpost.com/articles/83307/20150930/peru-martial-law-civil-liberties-suspended-after-anti-mining-protest-leaves-4-dead.htm 2015-09-30 Interior Minister José Luis Pérez Guadalupe said radical groups from outside the area had provoked the clashes. Two killed in protest at $7.4-billion MMG copper project in Peru https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mmg-ltd-protests-idUSKCN0RT03J20150929 Reuters 2015-09-29 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. References 2 Category:2015 protests Category:Protests in Peru Category:Environmental protests Category:Environmental justice