Protests Continue against Tia Maria Copper Mine

Demonstrators in southern Peru continue to demand a halt to the Southern Copper mining project in the state of Arequipa. Clashes with police on Thursday marked the third day of a strike in a struggle that has claimed the lives of three people. They aim to stop the US$1.4 billion Tia Maria mining project, which they say will destroy the environment along with the livelihood of the region’s farmers. They aim to keep the pressure on Peru’s President Ollanta Humala to suspend the project, although the president says that he is prepared to declare a state of emergency in the region to put down the demonstrations, but first calls on all parties to engage in dialogue. teleSUR