According to Mayor Richard Ale of Islay province, protester Henry Checcla was killed by a police bullet on Tuesday during clashes between demonstrators and authorities.
Checcla was part of a group protesting Southern Peru Copper Corp.’s Tia Maria project, a $1.4 billion open pit mining plan that locals fear will contaminate the agricultural valley. The project is backed by local politicians.
Protests against the project have been ongoing for over a month. Two weeks ago, a 61-year-old farmer was also killed by a police bullet. According to Interior Minister Jose Perez, some 140 police officers have been hurt in clashes with demonstrators.
