LIMA, (Reuters) – Residents of Peru’s key mining areas are expected to support protests due to kick off this week against the government of President Dina Boluarte, who yesterday denounced the planned demonstrations as a “threat to democracy.”
Communities along the main mining corridor in Peru – the world’s No. 2 copper producer – have voiced their backing for the protests, which begin Wednesday, NGO leaders said.
Mining output was heavily impacted in January and February during an earlier round of protests following the ouster of former President Pedro Castillo, who was arrested after illegally attempting to dissolve Congress.
“We know some delegations (from mining communities) are going to arrive (in Lima), and they will also mobilize in their communities like at the beginning of the year,” said Jose de Echave, head of environmental NGO CooperAccion, which monitors mining conflicts.
The mining corridor, which crosses poor, largely Indigenous communities in Peru’s south, transports copper from mines such as MMG Ltd’s 1208.HK Las Bambas, Glencore’s GLEN.L Antapaccay and Hudbay’s HBM.TO Constancia.
Peru’s government has warned that authorities will react to protests, called by unions and left-wing groups, with “legitimate use of force.”
The initial round of protests were Peru’s deadliest in decades, with human rights groups denouncing “extrajudicial killings” by security forces.
The protests call for Castillo’s release, Boluarte’s resignation, the closure of Peru’s unpopular Congress and a new constitution. Boluarte said in a speech on Tuesday that the government is “not able to resolve” such demands.
Boluarte added that the protests represent “a threat to democracy” and that “acts of violence are not going to be allowed.”
Her government has placed the military along the mining corridor and enacted states of emergency suspending constitutional rights such as freedom of assembly and freedom of movement as a way of blocking the protests, de Echave said.
Economy Minister Alex Contreras also said on Tuesday that maintaining the peace was key for Peru’s economy.
Organizers of the demonstrations, which have been dubbed “the third takeover of Lima,” have said protesters are largely coming from Peru’s poorer south, rather than the more economically prosperous capital.
