The Canadian mining company Manhattan, backed by Peru's Ministry of Energy and Mines, called off the Nov. 7 public hearing on its gold exploitation plan for the northern city of Tambogrande after the mayor announced a general strike to protest the project. Tambogrande is the capital of the valley of the same name, the country's leading fruit-producing region, with 45,000 hectares of citrus and mangos destined for export.

Underneath the city are gold deposits estimated to be worth 1.2 billion dollars. Mining the ore would require relocating more than half of the inhabitants, tearing down 22 city blocks.

Mayor Francisco Ojeda announced the general strike for Tambogrande, where 98 percent of the peasant farmers polled say they oppose the project, although Manhattan promises jobs and better housing.