With the recent police killing of two activists protesting the controversial Tia Maria mine in the news, public attention has been drawn to the problem of police being hired and financed by private companies to defend their interests, in this case transnational mining corporations. Executive Decree No. 4 adopted in 2009 permits such arrangements. Over 20 mining companies have hired and paid the salaries of 500 police officers for private protection, which Peru's Ombudsman's Office views as a conflict of interest. With 58 activists in the fight against the mining companies having been killed since 2011 such financial ties between these corporations and the police will continue discrediting law enforcement. Rael Mora reports from Lima. teleSUR
