Violent protests over two mines in northern and southern Peru have left seven people dead and dozens injured, and prompted a high-level change in President Ollanta Humala’s cabinet. The government’s handling of those projects, along with a third in which a settlement was reached, underscores the complexities facing large-scale mining in Peru, whose myriad mineral concessions on paper belie local opposition on the ground. In the northern department of Cajamarca, two “facilitators”—a Catholic bishop, chosen by the national government, and a Catholic priest requested by the regional government—were named to lead talks over Minera Yanacocha’s Minas Conga copper and gold project. The company suspended operations in late 2011, when the start of construction spurred protests. Tension over government handling of the... [Log in to read more]