Thousands of people working for a US-owed smelter blocked a major freeway in La Oroya, Peru, to try to compel the government to push back its requirement for the company to comply with new environmental regulations by July 15.
Peruvian President Alan Garcia threatened to shut down the Doe Run facility if production does not resume by next week.
About 3500 workers placed boulders and tree trunks across the highway, defying the 2000 police officers and 500 troops that had been deployed to prevent the blockade.
When the mine was privatized and sold to Doe Run in 1997, the government had hoped Doe Run would convert the mine into a clean-running facility. Instead, the mine is credited for making La Oroya the most polluted town in the country.
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Thousands of people working for a US-owed smelter blocked a major freeway in La Oroya, Peru, to try to compel the government to push back its requirement for the company to comply with new environmental regulations by July 15.
Peruvian President Alan Garcia threatened to shut down the Doe Run facility if production does not resume by next week.
About 3500 workers placed boulders and tree trunks across the highway, defying the 2000 police officers and 500 troops that had been deployed to prevent the blockade.
When the mine was privatized and sold to Doe Run in 1997, the government had hoped Doe Run would convert the mine into a clean-running facility. Instead, the mine is credited for making La Oroya the most polluted town in the country.
