The Andes

Latin America: left leaders diss OAS rights group

At a summit in Bolivia, a special target for Evo Morales and other leaders on the left was the OAS rights organization, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights—despite its record of criticizing the US and its Latin American allies.

The Andes

Peru: police fire on protesters in Cajamarca

National Police fired on protesters amid a new “indefinite” civil strike called to oppose the US-backed Conga gold-mining project in Peru’s northern region of Cajamarca. Supporters of the project are calling for a state of emergency to be declared.

The Andes

Peru: four dead, mayor arrested in Cuzco mining conflict

The conflict over the Xstrata mine in Espinar province of Peru’s Cuzco region escalated as National Police troops in full riot gear stormed the office of the mayor, Oscar Mollohuanca, arresting him on charges of leading protests that have left four dead.

The Andes

Colombia signs pact with China for inter-oceanic pipeline

Colombia’s Juan Manuel Santos and Chinese President Hu Jintao presided over the signing in Beijing of a pact calling for the two governments to cooperate in building a trans-oceanic pipeline through the Andean country.

The Andes

Colombia: “armed strike” against glyphosate spraying

Much of Colombia’s lowland jungle department of Putumayo is shut down by a “paro armado”—a civil strike enforced by the guns of the FARC guerillas, in response to glyphosate spraying across the territory.

The Andes

Peru: new mobilization against Conga mine prepared

The struggle against the planned Conga gold mine in Peru’s northern region of Cajamarca continues to gain ground, with formation of a “Unitary Struggle Command for the Northern Macroregion and Oriente.”

The Andes

Peru: state of emergency over Cuzco anti-mining protests

A clash with National Police left 11 campesinos hurt and eight detained amid an indefinite paro (civil strike) in Espinar province of Peru’s Cuzco region, called to protest pollution caused by local mining operations.