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Peru: Mining firm pays out to shot and tortured protesters

Date: 21 Jul 2011

Monterrico Metals has paid compensation to 33 protesters who were allegedly shot at, beaten and tortured by police during a protest against the company's Majaz mine in 2005.

The company made the payments as part of a settlement whilst denying liability for the actions. The solicitors for the plaintiffs Leigh Day & Co said that they had seen no evidence that the company had in any way complained about the police conduct.

One man was killed in the violence. Police detained the protesters, hooded and tied them, and then beat them, shooting some in the legs.

The company has attracted other controversy during the same period. A former British Ambassador in Peru Richard Ralph moved in 2006 to become chairman of Monterrico Metals, and was later fined for insider-trading in the company's stock just before it was taken over by a Chinese mining consortium in 2007.

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