Peru: Tia Maria Copper Mine Protests Enter 51st Day

Protests against the Tia Maria copper mine in the Tambo Valley in southern Peru have entered their 51st day and far from winding down, they are, in fact, intensifying. The protests now encompass the entire Arequipa region, with a 72-hour general strike currently underway that began yesterday, which closed down all business activity in the country's second largest city. Protesters say that 13,000 acres of agricultural land will be affected by the mine. In addition to 4,000 police, the government sent the army into the area last Saturday, and President Ollanda Humala has not ruled out the possibility of declaring a state of emergency in the Arequipa region. Violent clashes have thus far resulted in five deaths and hundreds being injured. Rael Mora reports on the scene for teleSUR.