Peru’s congress yesterday approved a request by President Ollanta Humala giving him temporary legislative powers to reform national defense and the interior . . . the government said the measure will help “carry out a more efficient fight against organized crime and criminality” . . . Humala claims he plans to modify pay and pensions for the military, benefitting more than 140,000 soldiers . . . he also plans to create a national security secretariat to coordinate and strengthen security policy . . . the approval is a victory for Humala, who has been under siege for his handling of indigenous opposition to mining projects and counter-insurgency efforts . . . however, the opposition is likely to remain leery of Humala’s executive powers and will monitor his actions under the mandate carefully . . . indigenous leaders are likely to worry that Humala could use the expanded powers to quash protests against mining projects with renewed vigor.