Peruvian social organizations strongly rejected a proposal by the Mexican-owned Southern Copper Corporation to suspend the controversial Tia Maria mining project for two months. Unions and social organizations charged that the proposal from the company was an attempt to deflate the growing protests. They called for a 48-hour general strike in six of Peru's 17 provinces on May 26 against the US$1.4 billion mining project, which many feel poses a serious threat to the Arequipa region's environment and agriculture. On Friday, President Ollanta Humala called on all sides to refrain from violence in the seven-week old conflict that has already claimed three lives and dozens of injuries. teleSUR
