Society in Ecuador rejects mining exploitation

In a statement, the Front Charter Against Mining for Life, Water and Nature rejected the intentions of Exploraciones Mineras Andinas Ecuador (Emsaec), a subsidiary of Chilean Codelco, to start a medium- and large-scale mineral mining project. in the area

According to the document, which was disclosed by the Coalition of Organizations for Human Rights, the company did not conduct the stipulated call for prior consultation with the community with due anticipation.

This week, the Federation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONE) warned of a possible “preventive strike” in areas where mining companies are located due to the environmental and social consequences of this activity.

Kony’s leader, Leonidas Eiza, made it clear that the measure would be a response to the Guillermo Lasso government’s failure to respect the agreements reached at the dialogue tables after the national strike in June 2022.

In these talks, the executive and indigenous organizations agreed to suspend all mining projects and not to open any new projects until the Prior Consultation with Communities Act was enacted, yet extractive activity would continue.

The leader reported that the National Anti-Mining Front held a meeting in Cotopaxi province on January 12 to determine the strategy for defending the areas, the legal mechanism for the denunciation, and the possible date for the strike where the mining companies are located.

For Ecuador, mining products are the fourth line of exports and rank third among non-oil sales.

Copper and gold are the most important metals and are mainly shipped to China, the United States and Switzerland.

rgh/avr