State of emergency in four provinces of the southern region of Tacna

Authorities declared a state of emergency in four provinces of the southern region of Tacna on 5 November 2008. The state of emergency is scheduled to last for 30 days. The declaration was prompted by weeks of violent protests, which saw protesters attacking and setting fire to municipal buildings. Protesters are demanding that the Southern Peru mining company evenly redistribute tax revenues for Tacna and Moquegua, a neighboring region. Meanwhile, in a separate development, security has been increased in the Peruvian capital of Lima ahead of the 21-23 November Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference.