Junin in La Hora Ecuador
Sunday, August 29, 2004
JUNIN: Another Blow to Ascendant as Road Equipment Forced to Turn Back
Saturday, August 28, 2004
Another blow to Ascendant Exploration was delivered this past Friday August 27th, when five communities in the Junin area definitely rejected Ascendant's offer to improve the roads into the communities. As a result of the decision, the company was forced to withdraw their equipment and leave the area.
Representatives from the communities of Chalguayacu Alto, Chalguayacu Bajo, Junin, Chontal Alto and La Armenia, together with the board of the Community Development Council met with Captain Nelson Moreno, representative of Ascendant Exploration in Intag, and unequivocally rejected the company's offer to improve the roads into all the communities in exchange of support for the mining project. The communities will now pressure to have this overdue road work done by the provincial government, as it is their responsibility.
Meanwhile in a recent version of the Ascendant web page overview section the company is publishing misleading information leading readers to believe the company has started advanced exploration activities in the area of the concession ("drilling", according to the site). This could not be further from the truth, as the company does not even have the environmental impact study necessary to start exploratory activities, and the community of Junin has blocked all attempts for the company to go into their lands, which is where most of their concessions are found (Golden 1 and Golden 2). Without going into the area, there is no legal way to do an environmental impact study (operative word "legal").
TRIUNFO CONTRA EL PROYECTO MINERO JUNIN, ECUADOR
Buenas noticias.
Este 27 de agosto fue otro día histórico en la lucha de las comunidades afectadas por el proyecto minero "Junin", zona de Intag, Cantón Cotacachi, que desde 1995 luchan en defensa de su dignidad, sus derechos civiles y de vivir en un medio ambiente libre de contaminación. Las directivas de las comunidades de Chalguayacu Bajo, Chalguayacu Alto, La Armenia, Chontal Alto y Junin, y el Consejo de Desarrollo Comunitario se reunieron en el pequeño poblado de Chalguayacu Bajo perteneciente a la parroquia de García Moreno con representantes de la empresa canadiense Ascendant Exploration, y le dijeron con una sola voz: NO A LA MINERÍA Y SÍ A LA VIDA.
La reunión fue convocada para determinar si las mencionadas comunidades deseaban que la empresa mantenga su maquinaria y continúe con la rehabilitación de las carreteras vecinales a cambio a que las comunidades apoyen al proyecto minero - estrategia trazada por la empresa para no solo intentar de conseguir apoyo al proyecto, sino de causar división dentro de la oposición y comunidades. El rechazo a este repugnante ofrecimiento fue tajante, gracias a hombres y mujeres de las comunidades que priorizaron la vida y la dignidad antes de intereses personales y de ofrecimientos nefastos. Como resultado de la reunión el representante de la Ascendant Exploration, capitan Nelson Moreno, decidió definitivamente suspender el programa de rehabilitación de carreteras y de largarse del sector con sus maquinarias!!
Los representantes de las 5 comunidades decidieron buscar apoyo para los proyectos viales de la zona, de tal forma que no les amarre a la destrucción de sus comunidades, y acudirán a instancias gubernamentales, como el Consejo Provincial de Imbabura, para que se cumpla los proyectos viales, ya que es de conocimiento público que cuentan con financiamiento desde hace varios años.
DECOIN
Defensa y Conservación Ecológica de Intag
Confrontation in Junin
Thursday, August 26, 2004
This past Monday, 22 August, Ascendant Exploration, with close to 100 paid machete-yielding workers from communities far from the mining area, tried to forcibly bring in their machinery to work on road maintenance, against the wishes of the 3 communities most likely to be affected by the Junin mining project in this area. The workers came from other communities, and had machetes, supposedly to help work on the road, and we have reports they were each paid $40 per day; about 5-6 times more than the normal daily wage.
The confrontation took place on a narrow stretch of road between the area known as Loma Negra and the community of Chalguyacu Alto, relatively close to Junin. Three truckloads with about 80 people from Junin and nearby communities met Ascendant's paid workers and forced a standoff. Polibio Perez, the president of the Community Development Council was the first to arrive, and the first to be subjected to verbal and physical abuse. The physical abused immediately ended as soon as the Junin delegation arrived, but the death threats and verbal abused continued. At one point, according to reports, several armed (with hand guns) bodyguards of Ronald Andrade, an ex-congressman previously investigated for corruption, threatened Mr Perez, but a group of women yielding rebarbs stepped up to protect the community leader, saying they would kill the bodyguards if they so much as touched Mr. Perez. Mr. Andrade threatened Polibio in several occasions during the confrontation.
The tense confrontation ended peacefully. In order to avoid a bloody confrontation between neighbors, it was accepted that only the affected communities would meet this Friday to definitely decide what to do. Until then, the machinery was allowed to continue working on the section of the road they were on. However, a few hours after the arrangement, Mr. Andrade with several of his bodyguards, tried to intimidate Polibio Pérez by stopping in front of his house in his car, then going to a river a few meters away from his hous and shooting their guns. Polibio's wife and kids were in the house at the time of the shooting, but no one was hurt, nor was the house hit. A clear case of intimidation.
A person identifying himself as Captain Nelson Moreno, employee of Ascendant Exploration and leader Ascendant's group of thugs, threatened the community delegation, and said the company had sent in their road machinery to speed up the mining project. In a previous meeting, the main person representing Ascendant in Intag had offered to maintain community roads without strings attached, but many people considered it was done in exchange for support for the mining project- the offer that was rejected by most of the communities, but accepted by some.
The road is a sensitive issue, which the company is shamelessly using to gather support and divide the opposition. Most people in the area want, and need better roads so they can take their products to market. However, the company's actions are rejected by more and more people, who are seeing through their hypocrisy. In a meeting in Junin earlier in the month, it was agreed they would pursue the road issue with the provincial government, so as not to rely on the company. This was accepted by teh provincial government, but 3 days later, it was when company came with their equipment and paid goons.
As it stands now, there will be another meeting tomorrow, friday, with only the boards of the most affected communities (affected by the road), to see what comes of it. Apparently, retired army general Cesar Villacís (Community liason for Ascendant), will come to the meeting. Villacis has ties with military intelligence.
The communities will likely accept the machinery with some strict conditions . One of those will be that the work not be attached to any mining activities or to the communities accepting the mining project, and that it be done within a certain timeline, and then they LEAVE; conditions Ascendant is not likely to accept, or to respect if accepted. Junin has rejected altogether the machines on their section of the road, and so have the other 3 communities most likely to be affected by the mining project (Cerro Pelado, Barcelona and El Triunfo). I can't foresee they'll change position. Junin will rely on help from the provincial government if the other communities in the area (Chalguayacu Bajo; Alto, and Chontal) give in. However, in a time of election campaign, sometimes these very rural communities are forgotten and help given to the more populated areas. DECOIN, needless to say, will continue helping the Community Development Council and the communities opposed to the mining project, and any kind of "help" offered by the mining company.
In a more general context, Ascendant is getting a bit desperate and taken to going to other communities and parish governments, and schools to get support- way out of the area of Junin, where they have failed to get the support they need. They are offering to put in a university, computers in high-schools, funding town parties, and so on and on. In the case of the Apuela high school, they just told the headmaster to "submit to them anything they wanted", and that Ascendant would pay for it. Luckily the principal was warned to first hold a meeting with the parents. In that meeting most of the parents rejected the offer. It was agreed that the high school would hold a public debate between Decoin and Ascendant so the parents and public be better informed on the issue before they make a final decision.
We are looking forward to it.
Carlos Zorrilla
Executive Director
DECOIN
Comunidades Rechazan Ascendant Exploration.. de nuevo!!
Monday, August 23, 2004
LÍDERES COMUNITARIOS RECHAZAN PRESENCIA DE LA EMPRESA MINERA ASCEDANT EXPLORATION EN JUNIN, ECUADOR
Intag, 23 Agosto 2004
Este pasado sábado, 21 de agosto, representantes de 5 comunidades del sector de Junin unánimemente tomaron la decisión de rechazar los ofrecimientos de la empresa Ascendant Exploration de construir nuevas carreteras y rehabilitar otras, en una medida que tendrá graves consecuencias para la estrategia de la empresa de vender su proyecto minero a las comunidades.
El rechazo fue respaldado por el presidente del Consejo de Desarrollo Comunitario, el Señor Polibio Pérez, quien, apoyó la idea de obligarle al Consejo Provincial de Imbabura a cumplir con su plan de vialidad, dejando a un lado por completo a Ascendant.
Esta es solo la última de varios reveses para Ascendant Exploration en el proyecto Junin. La empresa no ha podido realizar actividades de exploración debido a la tenáz oposición de las comunidades. Cabe resaltar que la concesión se encuentra, casi en su totalidad, dentro de la reserva comunitaria de Junin y el bosque protector 'El Chontal'. La oposiciÍn cuenta con el apoyo firme y determinado del Economista Auki Tituaña, Alcalde de Cotacachi, y el de otras autoridades locales.
En otro envento realizado a principios de agosto, representantes de 5 comunidades aledañas a Junin y reunidos en la comunidad de Barcelona, una de las comunidades potencialmente más afectadas por el proyecto minero, reafirmaron su decisión en rechazo de la presencia de la empresa Ascendant Exploration firmando la Declaración de Barcelona. La declaración anuncia en términos muy claros, su rechazo a las pretenciones de invadir tierras comunitarias de Junin, y las intiminaciones, acciones y amenazas dirigidas hacia las comunidades y líderes comunitarios que se oponen al proyecto minero. Manifiesta, por otro lado, su intención de seguir buscando vias de desarrollo no destructivas que no destruyan la Cordillera del Toisán o causen divisiones dentro de sus comunidades, o el desalojo de sus vecinos.
DECOIN
Defensa y Conservación Ecológica de Intag
PO BOX 144
Otavalo, Imbabura
Ecuador
www.decoin.org
decoin@hoy.net
intagcz@uio.satnet.net
Communities Reject Ascendant Exploration...Again!
COMMUNITY LEADERS REJECT PRESENCE OF ASCENDANT EXPLORATION IN JUNIN ECUADOR
Intag, 23 August 2004
This past Saturday, 21 August, representatives from 5 communities in the Junin area unanimously decided to reject Ascendant's offer of building
new roads and rehabilitating others, in a move that will have serious repercussions for the company's intent to sell their ill-fated mining project to local communities.
The rejection also was seconded by the president of the Counsil for Community Develolpment, Mr. Polibio Perez, who, together with those present, decided to force the Provincial government to comply with their road-building responsibilities and leave out Ascendant altogether from the scene.
This is the latest of a series of setbacks for Ascendant Exploration in the Junin mining project. The company has been unable to carry out exploration activities in its mining concession due to strong local oppostion. The mining concession lies almost in its entirety within community forests reserves, and a private protected forest.
The opposition also counts with firm and determined support of Cotacachi County mayor, Auki Tituaña, and other local authorities.
In another development earlier in the month, representatives from 5 communities surrounding the Junin mining concessions and meeting in the community of Barcelona, one of the communities to be affected by the mining project, reaffirmed their decision to reject the presence of Ascendant Exploration in their communities, by signing the Barcelona Declaration. The Declaration sets in no uncertain tone their firm rejection to the actions, intimidation, threats and the presence of Ascendant aimed at their communities and local oppostion leaders. It manifests, furthermore, their rejection to the pretension of Ascendant to invade community territories in Juin, and their desire to seek more rational and less destructive development initiatives, which does not cause divisions within their communities nor resettlement of their communities and neighbors.
DECOIN
Defensa y Conservación Ecológica de Intag
PO BOX 144
Otavalo, Imbabura
Ecuador
www.decoin.org
decoin@hoy.net
intagcz@uio.satnet.net
ECUADOR: COTACACHI COUNTY VIOLATED BY ILLEGAL PRESENCE OF TRANSNATIONAL MINING COMPANY
Monday, August 16, 2004
Cotacachi County has become a national and international reference point for social and economic development, having been recognized globally for its effective environmental protection, and of the quality of life of it's citizens. The county's residents are largely indigenous and small-farmers.
Ecuador's Ministry of Energy and Mines gave away the mining concessions Golden 1 and Golden 2, comprising of 7,000 hectares, in the region of Junin, García Moreno Parish, in the biodiverse Intag region, on August 2002, to Mr. Roque Bernardo Bustamante Espinoza, for a total value of 18,005 dollars.
The area's 500 families have traditionally lived from small-scale agriculture and cattle raising. In addition, there are extensive areas of primary forests that harbor a great diversity of plants and animals, some of which are in danger of extinction.
As a result of the above, the Cotacachi Municipality, with its mayor Auki Tituaña at the head, in 2003 presented a Constitutional Injunction, on the basis the inhabitants of Cotacachi and Intag had not been previously informed, nor consulted, as is guaranteed in the Constitution and the Environmental Law. The Mining law was likewise violated, as the concession did not have inputs from the Municipality of Cotacachi.
Cotacachi's Civil judge sentenced in favor of the County and its inhabitants, suspending the mining concession and ruling on its illegality. However, the Minister of Energy and Mines and the concessionaire, appealed to the Constitutional Tribunal, which, in a five to four resolution, revoked the civil judge's sentence, pretending to rule in favor of the concession owner and the Ministry of Energy and Mine. However, Cotacachi petitioned for a expanded ruling (clarification), which has not yet to date been resolved, making the sentence which suspended the concession still legally valid, as long as the petition is not resolved.
However, and illegally, the concession owner sold his rights to the concession to the transnational Ascendant Exploration (Canada), with authorization from the Ministry of Energy and Mines
In these past few days Cesar Villacís, a retired General in Ecuador's Army, responsible for Ascendant's public relations, accused Polibio Perez, president of the Community Development Council, of being a hired by the Mayor to kill General Villacis,
Cotacachi's Mayor and the president of the Community Development Council are in the process of pressing criminal charges against the above mentioned company employee for slander.
On the other hand, Perez has pointed out that "nowhere in the world has mining brought well-being to the people, but only delinquency, social problems, and environmental destruction. The presence of the mining company has caused deep divisions between García Moreno's inhabitants, something that had never happened before. For this, I ask of them that they leave", said Polibio Perez, Community Development Council.
Finally, the Centro de Derechos Económicos y Sociales (CDES), a human rights organization currently advising Intag's affected community's, that if Cotacachi's petition is not respected and resolved in the next few hours, international legal actions will be undertaken against the Ecuadorian government and the transnational mining company.
JUNIN UPDATE 2 AUGUST 2004
Monday, August 02, 2004
Dear all-
A lot to write about, unfortunately. This is the latest from the Junin area; please get involve:
2nd of August 2004
1. I heard (today) that the miners have set up a camp less than a kilometer from Junin's community reserve, fit for 70 people. Apparently their aim is reestablishing the camp at the old Mitsubishi mining camp. This area is wholly within the community reserve. Junin people are patrolling the area daily, or every other day, and communicating with the community via walkie talkies (we can use a couple more walkie talkies by the way).
2: Yesterday (1 August) we heard from reliable sources that mining company officials (including General Villacís) are going around collecting signatures asking for the removal of families in the Junin area that oppose the mine. This is probably a strategy to gain support for the invasion of the community reserve; legally they cannot evict anyone without court orders- which, of course they do not have.
However, given that the most of the land the reserve is unclaimed land, and without title, they may invade with police or army support. We are monitoring the situation, but it's hard to get information since there are no phones anywhere near Junin. Currently, we are working with the Municipal government to try and stop a potential bloodshed.
3. Yesterday also, a large tractor, brought in by Ascendant Exploration, going into communities close to Junin (Chalguaycu Alto and Bajo) to start fixing the roads into these communities-- the work includes gravelling the road. The principal goal is getting further support from communities for the mining company.
A lot of this current and aggressive activities are probably because the company must begin exploration activities during what is left of this year's dry season-which usually ends by October. We are feeling the heat and suspect the investors are getting nervous about this mining project.
On the other hand....
4. DECOIN is helping to gather signatures from communities and organizations denouncing the latest aggressions and the plans to forcibly evict people from the reserve and communities- We'll pass on a model letter the soonest possible time for you to sign.
YESTERDAY, the newly hired nurse (thanks mostly to Sloth Club members in Japan) went into Chalguayacu Bajo community to start working for the communities in the area. We have also funneled money to pay for the travel costs for a doctor to go into this area once a month-- a simple clinic is in the planning stage.
LATEST MEETINGS AND RALLIES: This past Saturday (1 August) we had a meeting in Apuela with the communities in the mining area and a few others. Jose Serrano, from the Quito-based NGO, CDES, came to talk about the mining struggle and their support for our struggle here (Interamerican Human Rights Commission, among other support). Later in the meeting, our mayor, Auki Tituaña, came and also manifested his support for the valiant struggle Intag's communities are undertaken. The people present were super motivated.
We have confirmed that the miners paid $10.00 per day to people to attend the rally in García Moreno on 17 July which was called for communities in the García Moreno parish to sign a document supporting the mining company so called "development plan". Together with the local Community Development Council, we were able to mobilize a lot of people and spoil their party, however. More than 400 people showed up, but due to the 10 bucks a day for going, many were pro-miners-- however, ALL of the communities most directly affected by the mining project, decidedly and publicly rejected the mining project and the presence of the mining company. In addition, the document was not signed, thus defeating the main objective of the rally. In all, only about 7 of García Moreno's 32 communities publicly expressed being in favor of mining- NONE OF THEM, HOWEVER, ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE PROJECT. In the rest of Intag's 6 other parishes, over 90% of the communities are against mining activities- a similar figure goes for Intag's organized groups.....Oh, it was at this rally that the main person at Ascendant Exploration, General Cesar Villacís, publicly accused our mayor of hiring Polibio Pérez, a community organizer and leader, to kill him. The Mayor will likely soon criminally charge Villacís for slander.
Peñaherrera 10 July: Ascendant Exploration invited the nice people of the Peñaherrera parish to view their "development plan", but we showed up with over 200 people, and the pro-mining meeting turned out to be a huge anti-mining rally, where 80 or more percent of the people were vociferously anti-mining. Mining company officials left very much with their tails between their legs- shocked at the level of opposition, and very, very nervous.
Meanwhile, we are having several meetings and workshops weekly to get the word out about what is really going on. We are also working closely with the Community Development Council (they need emergency funding!!) in the Junin area.
The past few days and weeks have been very intense and stressful. The company has launched a very dirty anti-Decoin campaign, accusing us of keeping million of dollars from all the projects we work on! This country is corrupt enough that some people are buying it. That, and the need for a perverted justification for keeping the money the company is handing out to sign letters of support for the company. In spite of all this, I am happy to say just all the communities we work with are still strong in the opposition to mining. And of course Junin still leads the opposition, though other nearby communities are strongly supporting Junin.
What next? This week, we'll be working hard to do all we can to prevent a violent confrontation in the Junin area. A confrontation we feel is being promoted by Ascendant Exploration. A couple of leaders from Junin will be in Quito during the next few days contacting the press and friendly congressmen to try and defuse the situation.
Sorry, but it's been a very long day.
Carlos Zorrilla
|
