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Peruvians protest silver mining project, May-June 2011

Summary

In May-June 2011, indigenous Quechua and Aymara people in the Puno region of Peru protested the Santa Ana silver mining project proposed by Bear Creek Mining Corporation. The campaign used strikes, roadblocks, and marches to demand cancellation of the land concession and a moratorium on new concessions to foreign mining companies. The Peruvian government revoked the mining license and imposed a three-year moratorium on new concessions, but a full ban was not achieved. [source: nv-database]

Tactics used

Background

The Puno Department in southeastern Peru is a high plateau region where indigenous Quechua and Aymara people rely on agriculture. Between 2002 and 2010, land concessions to international mining companies increased by 279% in the region, and in 2010 alone 1,656 concessions were made. The Santa Ana silver mine project by Bear Creek Mining Corporation threatened local livelihoods and the environment, prompting opposition. [source: nv-database]

What happened

Resistance began on 7 May 2011 in the village of Huacallani, closest to the proposed mine site, with farmers and agricultural workers starting a general strike led by the Natural Resources Defense Front of the Southern Zone of Puno and the National Conference of Peruvian Communities Affected by Mining [source: nv-database]. On 10 May, protesters established a roadblock on the highway to Desaguadero, a key border crossing with Bolivia, using boulders and checkpoints; the Union of Aymara Communities and Conami supported the action [source: nv-database]. By 24 May, about 25,000 protesters seized the city of Puno, bringing it to a standstill and freezing trade; the focus expanded to demand a review of all mining concessions and a moratorium on future concessions [source: nv-database]. Strikers held marches with banners, and some vandalism of government buildings occurred; Bolivian indigenous groups organized sympathy strikes [source: nv-database]. In late May, protesters withdrew support for presidential candidate Ollanta Humala, who had not opposed mining, and threatened to boycott the 5 June election; Humala then adopted their cause, and protesters voted for him [source: nv-database]. Negotiations with outgoing President Alan Garcia began in mid-June, and on 24 June 2011 the government revoked Bear Creek’s mining license, citing it was no longer in the ‘national interest’, promised no new mining concessions in the region for three years, and established measures for local stakeholder input [source: nv-database]. Protesters returned to work and cleared roadblocks, though they viewed Garcia’s actions as transferring the issue to his successor [source: nv-database]. Bear Creek later took the Peruvian government to court, arguing the decision was unconstitutional; as of December 2013 no final decision had been reached [source: nv-database].

Key people & organizations

  • Natural Resources Defense Front of the Southern Zone of Puno [source: nv-database]
  • National Conference of Peruvian Communities Affected by Mining [source: nv-database]
  • Union of Aymara Communities [source: nv-database]
  • Conami [source: nv-database]
  • Bolivian Quechua and Aymara People [source: nv-database]
  • Ollanta Humala [source: nv-database]
  • Bear Creek Mining Corporation [source: nv-database]
  • Peruvian Government [source: nv-database]

Outcome

Verdict: partial.

The campaign achieved its primary goal of canceling the Santa Ana mining concession and secured a three-year moratorium on new concessions, but did not achieve a permanent ban on all foreign mining land concessions, resulting in a partial outcome. The government’s response was influenced by the protests, though some international media incorrectly attributed the decision to violence that occurred the following day. [source: nv-database]

Lessons

  • Combining economic disruption with political leverage (e.g., electoral threats) can pressure governments to act [source: nv-database]
  • Building broad coalitions across indigenous groups and regions strengthens a campaign’s reach and resilience.
  • Clear, simple messaging (e.g., ‘agriculture yes, mining no’) helps unify diverse participants [source: nv-database]

Sources

Disclaimer: Included as a teaching example of campaign craft, not as endorsement.

Sources & verification

  • nv-database — grounding: primary — license: link-only
  • Rewritten: 2026-07-04 via worker_casestudies_v2.py

Last verified: 2026-07-09