The Andes

Peru: indefinite occupation declared to halt mine in Cajamarca

Some 400 protesters clashed with police as they attempted to occupy the site of the planned Conga gold mine in Peru’s highland region of Cajamarca. Protesters say they will keep up their regional strike until the project is cancelled.

The Andes

Chávez repatriates Venezuelan gold from European banks

Venezuela announced the first air shipment of overseas gold holdings as part of a move to repatriate the country’s foreign reserves from Europe and North America. Hugo Chávez said the gold “should have never left” government coffers.

The Andes

FARC executes prisoners in rescue attempt: Bogotá

Guerilla fighters of the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) executed four captive members of the security forces as the army raided the camp where they were being held in a rescue attempt, the Defense Ministry charges.

The Andes

Peru: anti-mining protesters occupy Cajamarca

Residents in Cajamarca, Peru, held a general strike, blockading the local highway and occupying the university campus, to demand that the US-owned Yanacocha Mining Corp. drop its plans to develop a giant gold mine.

The Andes

Colombian army kills FARC leader “Alfonso Cano”

Colombian army forces announced that they have killed Guillermo Leon Saenz AKA “Alfonso Cano”—supreme leader of the FARC guerillas. Initial reports that he was killed an in airstrike contradict forensic evidence of multiple bullet wounds.