--Peru antimining groups led by ideological groups, say analysts --Groups aim to destabilize government and weaken President Humala --Groups want to change economic model By Robert Kozak LIMA--Antimining protesters in Peru are aiming to tarnish President Ollanta Humala's image and force the government to shift from its market-friendly economic policies. Political analysts say that a number of left-leaning local politicians and antimining activists who supported Mr. Humala during his campaign last year are unhappy that he has implemented orthodox economic policies. Many protesters are using protection of the environment as a pretext for launching politically-motivated attacks on mainly foreign mining companies and the Humala administration, analysts said. "There is a concerted movement of local leaders who backed Humala before the elections that now feel betrayed," said Miguel Santillana, an economist and mining-sector analyst with the Peru Institute, which is tied to the University of San Martin de Porres. "The environment is an excuse. The main reason is that they are against the Peruvian economic model," he added. Analysts say the radical protesters are aiming to weaken Mr. Humala's authority and undermine his policies; hurt mining investments in order to change the economic model, and to force Mr. Humala to adopt policies followed by a number of socialist governments in South America. An estimated 17 people have died in protests since Mr. Humala took office in July 2011 for a five-year term. In a recent interview in influential newspaper El Comercio, one of Peru's most famous artists, Fernando de Szyszlo, said that various social conflicts are part of a plot to destabilize the Humala government. Peru has had a long tradition of heavy state involvement in the economy, including the 1968 to 1980 socialist military dictatorship. During President Alan Garcia's 1985 to 1990 term in office, Peru suffered from hyperinflation and a collapse in the economy due to poor policy decisions that relied heavily on central government planning. Since the early 1990s, Peru has implemented market-friendly policies that have drawn large amounts of foreign direct investment, helping fuel a boom in economic activity and consumer spending. The most heated conflict in Peru right now is over the future of the Minas Conga copper and gold project in northern Peru, with protests being led by some local politicians and activists who hope to increase their profile and make electoral gains. Pollster Ipsos-Apoyo found in a national poll released Sunday that 56% believe that various social conflicts in Peru are due to the political ambitions of leaders who are manipulating the population. Ipsos-Apoyo polling director Alfredo Torres commented that the conflict over the Minas Conga project has led to a deterioration of Mr. Humala's image. The president's approval rating fell to 40% in July from 45% in the previous month. Mr. Santillana said that the antimining activists want the government to permanently cancel the Minas Conga project, and other large-scale mining projects on the drawing board in the Cajamarca region, such as Rio Tinto PLC's (RIO, RIO.LN) La Granja's copper deposit, and Anglo American PLC's (AAUKY, AAL.LN) Michiquillay copper project. -Write to Robert Kozak at robert.kozak@dowjones.com
