Bear Creek CEO defends mine shut down by Peruvian government after protests

VANCOUVER – The chief executive of Canadian miner Bear Creek (TSXV:BCM) is calling the government shutdown of an  operation in Peru “illegal and unconstitutional.”

Andrew Swarthout says his company is considering its legal options but will seek a political solution after the outgoing Peruvian government cancelled the Santa Ana project following a bloody protest at an airport about 160 kilometres from the mine.

Six people were killed and at least 30 wounded on Friday when police fired on mostly indigenous protesters opposing the project.

The company says it has followed Peruvian law and has held consultations with local residents. Bear Creek also says it has developed an environmental plan that makes it impossible for the mine to pollute Lake Titicaca as the protesters have alleged.

Swarthout says the protests were politically motivated and originated from outside the communities concerned.

The company has said it already spent $96 million on the Santa Ana project.

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