Colombia and Peru strike accords to end social conflicts
The governments of Colombia and Peru sealed accords this week tentatively resolving long-running social conflicts that have caused serious economic repercussions. Detractors accused them of capitulating to protesters, setting a negative precedent. And yet it still might not be enough. Neither accord is set in stone. Indigenous protesters in Colombia’s south-western department of Cauca, who have blocked the Pan-American highway for four weeks, and local community groups in Peru’s southern- central region of Apurímac, who have blocked the access route to the massive Las Bambas open-pit copper mine for nearly two months, are pushing for more than the promise of greater social investment outlined in the respective accords.