Protest against giant mine project in southern Peru escalates into violence, 12 injured

Farmers opposed to a mining project in their city clash with riot police in Cocachacra, Peru, Thursday, May 14, 2015. Farmers and local leaders fear the $1.3 billion Tia Maria open-pit mine will contaminate irrigation water in the rice farming-rich Tambo valley on Peru's desert coast. Thousands have mobilized against the project, which is owned by Southern Peru Copper Corp., a subsidiary of Grupo Mexico. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia) (The Associated Press)

Farmers opposed to a mining project in their city clash with riot police in Cocachacra, Peru, Thursday, May 14, 2015. Farmers and local leaders fear that the Tia Maria open-pit mine will contaminate irrigation water in the rice farming-rich Tambo valley on Peru's desert coast. Thousands have mobilized against the project, which is owned by Southern Peru Copper Corp., a subsidiary of Grupo Mexico. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia) (The Associated Press)

Protests against a copper mining project in southern Peru injured a dozen people Thursday and spread to other parts of the region.

Demonstrators in Cocachacra, at the epicenter of the conflict, threw stones at police, who responded with tear gas. Twelve people were reported injured, and authorities said protests had erupted in other cities, including the regional capital of Arequipa.

Residents of this southern coastal valley are opposing the $1.4 billion Tia Maria project of Mexican-owned Southern Peru Copper.

Farmers fear the project would contaminate their crops. The owners say it would use desalinated water and pump water used in processing into the Pacific Ocean.

The protests, which began in March, have claimed the lives of two civilians and a police officer.

"A strike lasts 48 hours; it is not normal for it to last 53 days," said the head of the police operation, Enrique Blanco.