Campesino, squatter actions rock Bolivia http://www.ww4report.com/node/8538

Also April 16, a group of some 900 local comunarios (communal peasants) invaded the operations area of San Cristobal Mining Company in Nor Lípez, Potosí department, burning the company's office and overturning two rail-wagons loaded with some 20 tons each of lead, silver and zinc ore.

The comunarios are protesting the contamination of local water sources by the mining operations, while the company uses 50,000 cubic meters of water every day free of charge. Comunario leader Mario Mamani said the protesters are demanding that company, a subsidiary of the Japanese multinational Sumitomo, pay local communities directly for use of the water, as well as paying for electrification projects. They pledged to continue their occupation, and overturn another wagon every five hours until their demands are met.