4 July 2012 - Peru declared a state of emergency in an area of the northern Andes after three people died in clashes between police and opponents of Newmont Mining Corp. 4.8 billion dollars Minas Conga project.

The government imposed the measure for 30 days to restore order in three provinces of the Cajamarca region where Newmont plans to build the copper and gold mine, the Cabinet Chief’s office said in an e-mailed statement.

The declaration comes a week after Newmont was cleared to resume work that was halted in November when its installations in the area were destroyed during six days of protests. President Ollanta Humala allowed the restart by the largest US gold producer after it pledged to build reservoirs to ensure water supplies for communities in the region before resuming work on the mine.

The clashes are a result of Humala’s government refusing to negotiate with those opposed to the project, regional president Gregorio Santos told Lima-based Radio Programas. Newmont is committed to talks and to the region, according to an e-mail from the company’s local unit late Tuesday.

Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at demonstrators after as many as 2.000 people planned to storm municipal offices in Celendin, close to where the mine will be built, Radio Programas reported. The protesters set fire to vehicles and attacked other government buildings in the town, the Interior Ministry said. The violence also left 25 people injured including two police officers who were shot in the leg, the ministry said.

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