Peru anti-oil exploration protest leaves 1 dead, 22 wounded
Peru anti-oil exploration protest leaves 1 dead, 22 wounded
By FRANKLIN BRICENO, Associated Press | February 11, 2015 | Updated: February 11, 2015 5:39pm
LIMA, Peru (AP) — Rock-throwing protesters battled riot police Wednesday after security forces fired on locals demonstrating against oil and natural gas exploration in the Peruvian Amazon. At least one person was killed by gunfire and 22 wounded, hospital officials said.
Protesters were repelled Tuesday night after entering part of a military base that is being used by the Argentine company Pluspetrol in the Junin state town of Pichanaki, police Lt. Edwin Rojas said.
He said it wasn't known who fired on the crowd. Authorities said several elite police units were on the scene, and newly arrived reinforcements boosted police strength to 1,700 on Wednesday.
The Interior Ministry said that about 500 people "violently entered" an area on the base where explosives, machinery and tents were stored and that police turned them back with tear gas.
In a separate statement, the Defense Ministry said that "no military personnel participated in the events."
A 25-year-old protester was killed by a gunshot to the abdomen and 22 people were wounded by what appeared to be shotgun pellets, said Jose Huicho, an official at Pichanaki hospital. He said 16 other civilians and two police officers were treated for other types of injuries.
More:
http://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Peru-anti-oil-exploration-protest-leaves-1-dead-6075492.php
