The president and the protesters fall out

MINING lies at the heart of Peru’s economic boom of the past decade. But big mining projects in the Andes are prompting ever more conflicts among companies, the government and local communities, who worry about the impact on their land and livelihoods and are often assisted by left-wing activists. Ollanta Humala, who was elected as Peru’s president a year ago on a vaguely populist platform, promised to solve these disputes, which left 190 people dead during the preceding administration.

The first law signed by Mr Humala required the government to consult with local communities before approving extractive projects. This was followed by measures to increase the total tax-take from mining by about $1 billion a year. His popularity soared. A year later, conflicts are rising again: the ombudsman’s office reports 149 disputes involving extractive industries. The government has declared a state of emergency in one area, and sent troops to another. Eight protesters have been killed by the police since March. Mr Humala’s approval rating is down to 45%, according to Ipsos-Apoyo, a polling firm.

http://www.economist.com/node/21557344