“2 Civilians Die in New Mining Conflict in Peru”

…At 4:30 am local time Monday, police confronted 800 community members in an attempt to clear a roadblock in Alpamarca, district of Parcoy, province of Pataz, and region of La Libertad in the northwest of Peru. Two civilians are reported dead and 23 injured all due to gun wounds. However, the community has denied reports the two police officers were injured by gunshots. The occupation of the road was a civil disobedience action after failed dialogues with gold mining company Consorcio Minero Horizonte…The protest broke out after attempts by the community to meet representatives of the company on Sunday afternoon failed. The community members blocked the Chilcapamba road that connects to the mine site called Bernabe. Then approximately 130-armed police officers were sent to confront protesters meeting them at the farming community Juan Velasco Alvarado. Those injured were transported to the facilities of the mine or the closest city, Trujillo, for treatment. One of the deceased is 55-year-old Pedro Valle Sandoval. The second one has not yet been identified…However, Horizonte accused the demonstrators of breaking a pipe in order to have a reason to protest. The company also claimed that what is really behind the protests are demands by the community for informal mining concessions. The legal manager of Horizonte, Ernesto Bendezu issued a press release claiming the problem started when the community “demanded the construction of a mine and access to the company's facilities.”