***VIDEO CLIPS of DEc 2nd shootout/ Clips del enfrentamiento del 2 de Diciembre
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
This is the address to see the clips of the Dec 2nd violent confrontation between the "paramilitary?" group and the Junin community Esta es la dirección para observar los clips del video mostrando el enfrentamiento del 2 de diciembre entre la comunidad y el grupo de supuestos paramilitares http://youtube.com/profile?user=decoinintag See the December 23rd Update to keep up with the latest Para estar al tanto de los últimos acontecimientos, ver el blog del 23
Agresion a Campesinos de Junin
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Dec 23rd Update- REsponding to AScendant and call to action from ISN
Dear Everyone Before anything else, and on behalf of Intag's communities, DECOIN and myself, I want to sincerely thank all of you for helping; for caring and for acting on our behalf during this very difficult past 12 months. During this past year most of you wrote letters, some sent money, and all of you expressed your heart-felt concern with the fate of this crucial struggle and our safety. It's difficult to express how important this support was, and continues to be. It’s also impossible to imagine our struggle without your support. I hope to keep counting on it in 2007. Below the update, check out our response to Ascendant’s Dec 19th news bulleting to see just one example of how the company completely distorts the truth. Also, please take the time to participate in Intag Solidarity Network’s call to action to try and get Ascendant Copper Corporation off the Global Compact. This will be the first of several calls to action that I hope you will help be successful. Again, Thank You, and our sincerest hope for a Happy Holiday. Update As of today, the government has not lived up to the agreement to have a permanent and strong police presence in Intag to prevent more company-induced violence, which was made on the 9th of December by government representatives. Likewise, it did not send in police to clear the area of the paramilitaries, as promised. Fortunately, it seems most of the armed thugs have left the area, but there is still a large group of paid Ascendant employees who pose a threat to the security of Junin and nearby communities. The company has foolishly disregarded the government’s order to stop its activities, and they are still employing locals to do different jobs. This, in spite of the denial of its Environmental Impact Study, and the rejection of the company’s presence by most of Intag’s communities, all of Intag’s and Cotacachi’s local governments and, as of the 8th of December, from the Ministry of Energy and Mines. Everyone is aware that the company seems to be trying to provoke a violent reaction from the communities resisting this death project. In fact, we have information from reliable sources that they are getting ready to send local people in large numbers in early January to occupy land within the mining concessions. Lawsuits. Just yesterday we counted the number of criminal lawsuits filed against anti-mining activists. It’s now up to 10. Most are as made up as the robbery case against me was- and all of them target known community activists. Nearly 40 men and women campesinos from the communities now are implicated, and are being investigated for all kinds of invented crimes. This includes accusations against people who were in the US, or other parts of Intag at the time of the alleged crimes. 2007. On the ground the anti-mining forces are very hopeful. The company’s Environmental Impact Study was denied; it is unable to access its concessions; more local governments and communities are in opposition than ever before; they are seen by many as the pariah of the industry in Ecuador; the UN Human Rights Commission, Amnesty International and Global Witness are asking government officials for information regarding the accusations of the company’s use of violence, illegal arrest and search warrants, armed guards, and gangster tactics on the ground. Then there is Correa. Rafael Correa, Ecuador’s new president, starts his four year mandate on January 15th. President’s Correa’s vision, shared by the Alberto Acosta, the proposed new Minister of Energy and Mines, have a very different vision of transnationals and extractive industries. And, it is one that does not favor industry interests over collective and human rights, and the environment. Knowing the personal and professional background of Mr. Correa and Mr. Acosta, I am confident the new government will annul many mining concessions- including Ascendant Copper’s, and will not grant any new ones until a new more favorable mining law is passed. ISN LETTER WRITING Members of Intag Solidarity Network, We hope you are enjoying the Winter Holidays. Though Ascendant has been ordered to stop its operations by the Ministry of Mines pending a review of the company’s environmental impact statement, the need remains to hold the company accountable for complicity in the recent human rights abuses in Intag. As you may know. Ascendant is a voluntary participant in the UN Global Compact (http://www.unglobalcompact.org/index.html), a set of ethical principles by which companies elect to conduct their activity. Ascendant has been a voluntary member of the Compact since July 2006. The company has yet to file any compliance of progress (COP) reports. Arguably, Ascendant’s conduct in Intag violates principles of the Compact. Though, the UN Global Compact Office (the oversight body) is not an enforcement agency, they do have established procedures for filing complaints about possible violations of the Compact. We ask that you send a letter to the director of Integrity, Ms. Ursula Wynhoven (wynhoven@un.org) raising concerns about Ascendant’s potential violation of the Compact. Following is a sample letter. ********************************************************************* Ursula Wynhoven Integrity Measures UN Global Compact Office wynhoven@un.org Dear Ms. Ursula Wynhoven, I write to express my concern with recent alleged human rights abuses in the Intag region of Ecuador associated with the presence and operations of Ascendant Copper, a participant in the UN Global Compact. My concern stems from reports of human rights abuses documented in the December 2, 2006 denouncement by the Ecumenical Human Rights Commission (CEDHU), a non-governmental human rights monitor in Quito. Reports document a number of abuses by individuals associated with Ascendant that are concerning. These acts include (a) a group of men using pepper spray and guns to confront a group of residents from Junin blocking a road, (b) a group of 120 men blocking roads into and out of Junin, (c) the presence of an Ecuadorian Army helicopter charted by Ascendant Copper flying over Junin, (d) the shooting of Israel Perez, a community member, and (e) the beating of several community members by individuals associated with Ascendant. The individuals involved in these acts are reported to work for Empresa Falericorp, a company contracted for agricultural development by Ascendant. The violence associated with Ascendant’s operations was also documented in reports by Ecuadorian newspapers, including La Hora, (“Convulsión en Intag,” December 7, 2006) and El Comercio (“El Alcalde de Cotacachi hizo denuncias contra empresa minera,” December 5, 2006). The Ecuadorian Ministry of Mines, in a recent letter addressed to Ascendant Copper, also acknowledged the violent confrontations associated with the company in Intag. “As is publicly known, in the last few days grave confrontations have taken place in the communities within the area of influence of the Junin Mining project, which is under the responsibility of the company you represent, putting at risk the security and integrity of the inhabitants of the area.” The violence in Intag warrants attention from the Global Compact Office. Ascendant’s on-going provocation of violence in Intag raises questions about the depth of its commitment to the first two principles of the Compact. In addition, I am concerned that Ascendant’s actions challenge the integrity of the Compact. I respectfully ask the Global Compact Office to ask Ascendant Copper to respond to concerns about its involvement in human rights abuses in Ecuador. Intag Solidarity Network (www.intagsolidarity.org) Decoin and Mining Watch Canada’s Response to Ascendant Dec 19th News reslease http://www.miningwatch.ca/index.php?/Ecuador_en/Response_to_Davis Organisations Challenge Ascendant Copper Corporation's Claims Regarding Junin Mining Project (Ottawa/Intag) MiningWatch Canada and the Ecuadorian organisation DECOIN (Ecological Defence and Conservation of Intag - Defensa y Conservacion Ecologica del Intag) today released documentation showing that Ascendant Copper's news release dated December 19, 2006, contains inaccuracies and distortions of the facts regarding the company's ill-fated Junin mining project. "Ascendant CEO Gary Davis has come up with some colorful language, accusing people of being 'eco-terrorists' and the like, and cheerfully asserting that Ascendant's legal and technical problems are either not material or have already been resolved," says MiningWatch spokesman Jamie Kneen. "The truth is that he doesn't want his investors to find out what's really going on." A legal response from Ecuadorian human rights lawyer Alejandro Ponce on behalf of DECOIN and its Executive Director Carlos Zorrilla is now available at http://www.ascendantalert.ca/Files/Carta_Gary_Davis.pdf. Davis asserts that "in no manner or form has the Government of Ecuador suspended Ascendant's activities or threatened to suspend or obstruct it from carrying out activities related to either its mining concessions or surface lands." In reality, on December 8, 2006, Yolanda Viteri, Subsecretary of Environmental Protection for the Ministry of Energy and Mines, wrote to Ascendant's general manager in Ecuador ordering him to suspend all of Ascendant's activities in the Junin project until the company's Environmental Impact Study is approved. The order can be consulted at http://www.ascendantalert.ca/Files/EIA_desaprobado.pdf. The principal reason given for the decision was the extremely dangerous situation created by the presence of armed groups sub-contracted by an Ascendant contractor (Falericorp), who tried to shoot their way in to Ascendant's concessions in the Junin area on December 2nd. Ecuador's most respected human rights organization, CEDHU (the Ecumenical Human Rights Commission - Comision Ecumenica de Derechos Humanos), has labelled the group a paramilitary organization. Video clips showing the mercenaries shooting at and tear-gassing community members were broadcast on Ecuadorian television and will soon be available on the Web; still photos were also published in Ecuadorian newspapers and can also be seen at http://www.DECOINwatch.org. Despite Davis' claims, these individuals were in no matter or form agricultural workers. After 57 of the larger group of approximately 120 were captured by community members, they claimed that they worked for private security firms. They had been told their work in Intag was to provide security - not to carry out agricultural projects. All had handguns and teargas, and some also had shotguns. Most of them were from the coastal area of Ecuador - hundreds of kilometers' distance from Intag. As Zorrilla points out, "Davis' assertion that this particular group was captured by local people armed with automatic weapons is ludicrous. They were captured by 120 men and women - from approximately 12 communities in the Intag region - with sticks, nothing more." According to Zorrilla, the guards surrendered because they did not want to kill defenceless Ecuadorians protecting their lands. "In fact, one of them, when interviewed on national television, threatened to take the company that hired them to court because, as he put it, they were lied to regarding what their job would be." Zorrilla continues, "Davis also tries to imply that Ascendant had no dealings with the military in December's violent series of events. The facts are these: CEDHU confirmed with Ministry of Defence sources that Ascendant hired a military helicopter on December 2, 2006, which flew over several communities in the Intag region. Thrity-four of the fifty-seven individuals arrested by the community had military identification cards identifying them as either active service or retired military personnel. CEDHU and other organizations have met with the Defence Minister and asked for a full investigation, a request he is fully supporting." Adds Kneen, "In order to draw attention away from the deteriorating situation on the ground and in the halls of the Ministry of Energy and Mines regarding the Juninmining project, Davis has been making much of Ascendant's agreement with the Organization for the Development of Intag ("ODI") as well as with the Parish Council of Garc?a Moreno and the Women's Association of Garcia Moreno - yet it's abundantly obvious that ODI is not a legally recognized organization, nor does it represent the communities of Intag." This was made clear in a December 2, 2006 legal declaration by the Parish Council of Garcia Moreno in which it withdrew all support for the company, whom they blamed for the presence of hundreds of armed individuals from outside the Intag area and the attendant violence. The document states that the Parish Council does not recognize ODI as being representative of Intag's communities, nor of the Parish. This also calls into question the relevance of Ascendant's agreement with the Women's Association of Garcia Moreno. The Garcia Moreno Parish Council is one of nine local governments that have called on Ascendant Copper Corporation to leave the Intag area. Zorrilla concludes: "As a responsible NGO working in the Intag region since 1995 in conservation and environmental educational projects, DECOIN rejects Ascendant's misinformation campaign, and calls for its investors to look beyond Ascendant's smoke screens into what is really going on with the company's Junin mining project, and to stop financing it." For more information: Carlos Zorrilla, Executive Director, DECOIN: 011 (593) 6-648-593 (phone/fax) intagcz@imbanet.net Jamie Kneen, Communications and Outreach Coordinator, MiningWatch Canada (613) 761-2273 (cell)
Government Rejects EIS !! / Estudio de Impacto rechazado por gobierno!!
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Español abajo Government Rejects Environmental Impact Study The Subsecretary for Environmental Protection of the Ministry of Energy and Mines made it official today: the Ministry rejected Ascendant's Environmental Impact Study for its Junin mining project. The decision was taken basically because of: Insufficient consultation with affected communities; insuficient deforestation and impacts to the area's threatened spider monkey (brown-headed spider monkey- Ateles fusciceps) This means, according to the document from the Ministry of Energy and Mines thatAScendant will have to present a new EIA Gobierno Rechaza Estudio de Impacto Ambiental La Subsecretaria de Protección Ambiental del Ministerio de Energía y Minas hoy le comunicó a AScendant Copper Corporation que se le había negado la aprobación del Estudio de Impacto Ambiental para el proyecto minero JUNIN. La decisión se basó, fundamentalmente a: una deficiente consulta con las comunidades más afectadas; e insuficientes estudios sobre el impacto del proyecto en los bosques y en la especie de mono araña cabici-café amenazado por la extincción (Ateles fusciceps). La funcionaria del Ministerio de Energía y Minas precisó que la empresa tendrá que presentar otro estudio de impacto ambiental.
Updated 12/12 Guards Freed / Actualizado 12/12 Comunidad libera a "paramilitares"
Saturday, December 09, 2006
ESPAÑOL ABAJO Sunday 10 december Yesterday, Saturday 9 December, several Ministry of the Energy and Mines representatives, together with the Mayor of Cotacachi helicoptered in to the community of Junin to officially receive the 56 guards that had been detained in Junin since they were arrested on the 4th. Community leaders and representatives of Intag’s Parish governments turned over the guards to the high government delegation, thus seemingly putting an end to an unusually tense and dangerous situation. The decision to suspend Ascendant’s activities in Intag was reiterated, as was the decision to fully investigate not only Ascendant, but the different organizations acting in its behalf- but especially Falericorp, who supposedly hired the paramilitary force in the first place. The other decision was to “sweep Intag clean” of the paramilitary presence. The violence continues. However, approximately around 6pm I received a report that a group of armed guards and community members stopped one of the trucks bearing Junin supporters and beat four of them with sticks and machetes. The group had been in Junin for the past week supporting the communities and was headed to Apuela to join the Cotacachi Assembly, which started yesterday. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries. There’s was absolutely no provocation for this senseless and violent act, but it’s a clear indication that Ascendant has lost all control over a situation they were instrumental in creating. The catastrophic (for Ascendant) violent assault of Intag and Cotacachi residents, the media and government officials by a handful of Ascendant supporters in the Garcia Moreno Parish this past Wednesday, should have made Ascendant immediately put an end to the violent tactics employed by its followers. Instead, and even after the decision ordering it to stop its activities in Intag, they continue. The violence generated by the company’s presence in Intag was the main reason for the government to decision to suspend Ascendant’s activities. Someone up high in the company is not getting the message. 12/12 The company refuses to abide by government order to stop all activities in Intag. News from Chalguayacu Alto, Junin and Garcia Moreno indicate that there are hired guards still in the area, though no longer in uniforms, and that the company or a subcontractor has rented a house in the town of Garcia Moreno. On the other hand, we are informed that the police still have not reached the communities, as was accorded on the 9th of December by government authorities, which is creating a very dangerous situation. At any moment we also expect an official estatement from the government indicating that Ascendant's Environmental Impact Statement was NOT approved due to the many flaws. Ayer (sábado 9 dic) representantes de las comunidades y gobiernos parroquiales de Intag públicamente entregaron los 56 paramilitares que habían sido capturados por comuneros de Intag el 4 de Diciembre a funcionarios del Ministerio de Energía y Minas y otras autoridades gubernamentales. La suspensión de las actividades de la empresa en Intag, juntamente con la entrega retenidos por la comunidad el día de ayer, debió haber puesto fin a los enfrentamientos y violencia. Sin embargo, continúan. Aproximadamente a las 6 de la tarde del sábado 9 de diciembre, cuando un grupo de inteños e inteñas que estuvieron en Junin apoyando la comunidad en contra de los paramilitares retornaban a sus hogares después de la entrega de los retenidos se dirigían a Apuela, fueron atacados por un grupo de personas armados con palos y machetes. La embestida se realizó cerca del mismo sector donde el miércoles fueron brutalmente asaltados los periodistas, autoridades y moradores del Cantón Cotacachi. Hubo cuatro personas heridas de parte de los opositores a la minería. Mientras tanto, en Junin, la comunidad sigue en alerta después de haber constatado la presencia de paramilitares en la comunidad de Chalguayacu Alto. Las comunidades y gobiernos Parroquiales de Intag esperan que el gobierno cumpla con su palabra de “limpiar a Intag de paramilitares”, y de investigar a fondo las empresas que trabajan con Ascendant y que se consideran responsables por la presencia armada en la zona. 12 diciembre: Noticias de las comunidades de Junin, Chalguayacu Alto y García Moreno indican que la emppresa no ha acatado la orden del gobierno de abstenerse de realizar actividades en Intag. Lo que es más hay informes de la presencia de guardias de seguridad en el área, aunque ya no en uniformes, y que la empresa o alguna de sus contratistas han alquilado recientemente una casa en el poblado de García Moreno Por otra parte, nos informan las comunidades que la policía no se ha trasladado a las comunidades tal como fue acordado en la entrega de los 57 guardias a las autoridades, lo cual crea un ambiente de grave inseguridad en toda la zona. En cualquier momento esperamos un pronunciamiento oficial de parte del Ministerio de Energía y Minas sobre la NO aprobación del Estudio de Impacto Ambiental de Ascendant Coppper por las graves fallas e irregularidades.
Entrevista Ecuavisa de activista de la DECOIN / TV interview Decoin member
Friday, December 08, 2006
07/12/2006 | 08:50 A piedrazos y balas: Seis activistas agredidos por presuntos empleados de empresa mineraEl activista Jorge Pereira denunció la brutal agresión de la que fue víctima (Imagen: Ecuavisa).
Ascendant Stopped by government / Gobierno frena a Ascendant
Español abajo "As is publicly known, in the last few days grave confrontations have taken place in the communities within the area of influence of the Junin Mining project, which is under the responsibility of the company you represent, putting at risk the security and integrity of the inhabitants of the area.." "....Therefore, as competent environmental authority in the mining sector, this Subsecretary requires that the company you represent refrain from carrying out activities until this indispensable requirement [approval of Environmental Impact Study] is complied with" So begins and ends the order from Yolanda Viteri, Subsecretary of Environmental Protection of the Ministry of Energy and Mines, to Ascendant's general manager in Ecuador ordering the company to stop all activities in its Junin mining project. The document also reminds the company that it cannot carry out mining activities without the approval of its environmental impact study. In light of the many irregularities and technical flaws that DECOIN denounced to the Ministry in September, we consider that the study will not be approved. The violence the document refers to took place on the 6th of December in which approximately 100 followers of Ascendant Copper Corporation, chanting things like “we want the Mayor’s head” threw thousands of rocks, molotov cocktails, burning tires and shot at a group of approximately 500 persons in the area of Garcia Moreno. The larger group, which included journalists, Cotacachi’s Mayor and the governor of Imbabura, and hundreds of people from Intag and the rest of the county, was on its way to Junin to witness the freeing of the 57 guards that the communities had detained and held since the 4th of December. Four persons of this larger group were wounded, one critically. In addition, by mere centimeters a bullet missed the head of a German volunteer who works for the Municipality of Cotacachi. The release of the detained guards by the community of Junin is expected to take place around noon today, and will hopefully diminish the grave tension and conflict in the area which greatly increased after the armed incursion in the Junin area on the 4th of December by so-called security personnel. (see the four previous blogs for more details, including photos of the armed confrontation).(((NOTE, THE GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE COULD NOT COME TODAY SO THE PRISONER RELEASE HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL TOMORROW) Ascendant has never been nearer to leaving the Intag area for good. “.... Como es de conocimiento público, en los últimos días se han suscitado graves enfrentamientos en las comunidades del área de influencia del proyecto Minero Junin, a cargo de su representada, poniendo en riesgo la seguridad e integridad de los habitantes del sector..” “....Por lo expuesto, esta Subsecretaria, como autoridad ambiental en el sector minero, requiere que su representada se abstenga de realizar actividades, hasta que se cumpla con este requisito [Estudio de Impacto Ambiental] indispensable..." Así inicia y concluye la orden dirigida a Francisco Ventimilla, gerente general de Ascendant Copper Corporation el 7 de diciembre por la Arquitecta Yolanda Viteri, Subsecretaria de Protección Ambiental del Ministerio de Energía y Minas, obligándole a la empresa minera suspender toda actividad en la zona de Intag. El documento también le hace acuerdo a la empresa que no puede realizar actividades mineras sin antes contar con el Estudio de Impacto Ambiental aprobado. Basándose en las innumerables irregularides y fallas técnicas existentes en dicho estudio y que la DECOIN le señaló al Ministerio la DECOIN en Septiembre, consideramos que el Ministerio no lo aprobará. La decisión estatal se basó en gran parte en la salvaje violencia provocada y dirijida por personas vinculadas a la empresa minera el día 6 de diciembre en el sector de García Moreno que dejó como saldo a cuatro heridos. En ese enfrentamiento, aproximadamente 100 personas aliadas a la empresa transnacional Ascendant Copper salvajemente atacaron a un grupo de aproximadamente 500 personas que pacíficamente se dirijían a la comunidad de Junin para participar en la puesta en libertad de 57 guardias de seguridad retenidos por la comunidad desde el lunes 4 de diciembre. El gobernador de Imbabura, al igual que el Alcalde de Cotacachi, economista Auki Tituaña, y periodístas de varios medios de comunicación, fueron testigos y víctimas del grado de violencia generado por la presencia de la empresa transnacional en Intag. Los manifestantes a favor de Ascendant Copper botaron bombas molotov y llantas encendidas, efectuaron varios disparos, y lanzaron miles de piedras a las personas que pacíficamente se dirijía a Junín. Cuatro personas de este grupo fueron heridas, una de gravedad, y por escaso centímetros una bala no terminó con la vida de una cooperante alemana que trabaja en el Municipio de Cotacachi. La libertad de los guardias retenidos por la comunidad estuvo previsto para el dia de hoy, pero se ha postergado para el día de mañana, sábado. La empresa nunca ha estado tan cerca de definitivamente abandonar la zona de Intag
****Suspension for Ascendant ***/ TARJETA ROJA para Ascendant
Thursday, December 07, 2006
IS IT LIGHTS OUT FOR ASCENDANT? 7 december Extra officially we heard from a very reliable source that this afternoon (7 december) the Ministry of Energy and Mines ordered a suspension of mining and mining related activities for Ascendant's Junin project!!!! If confirmed, it was an extremely long overdue decision. One which the Ministry and the Palacios government should be congratulated for. It probably helped save at least one human life, and relieved untold amount of stress and tension in Intag. Tomorrow we hope to have the details of the suspension, which appears to be for not only for ALL MINING ACTIVITIES, but also, we understand, community relations as well. The communities haven't officially said how the decision will influence the fate of the 75 persons they are detaining in Junin, but it's... Yes, 75, today they detained 18 Ascendant followers in the community of Chalguayacu Bajo, formerly a strong-hold of the mining company. Chances are all persons detained will be released tomorrow, but much will likely depend on the nature of the suspension. Keep tuned La DECOIN acaba de recibir la noticia (extra oficial) que la Subsecretaría de Protección Ambiental del Ministerio de Energía y Minas esta tarde ordenó la suspensión de las actividades de la empresa minera Ascendant Copper Corporation en la zona de Intag. No tenemos en nuestras manos los detalles de la suspensión, lo cual esta en manos del Municipio de Cotacachi Es un inmenso respiro para la zona de Intag. Esperemos que la decisión ayude a drásticamente a reducir el ambiente de hostilidad que se ha implantado en la zona de Intag a raíz de la presencia de la empresa minera Aunque las comunidades aún no se han pronunciado oficialmente, existe la posibilidad que la decisión estatal contribuya para que las personas arrestadas y retenidas por las comunidades sean puestas en libertad el día de mañana. Con las acciones de hoy, en las cuales un grupo de comuneros de Junín arrestó a 18 personas pro-mineras en la comunidad de Chalguayacy Bajo, el número de personas en manos de la comunidad de Junín ascendió a 75.
Resumen- Junin Sitiada 6 dic / Summary to 6 dec Junin under siege
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Español abajo Dec 6th Today, four people were wounded, one seriously, when a pro-mining crowd in the area of Garcia Moreno stopped approximately 600 hundred persons from all over Intag and other parts of Cotacachi County, along with the governor of Imbabura and Cotacachi County, who were heading to Junin to witness the freeing of the 57 guards who were captured by the communities on Monday. The pro-mining crowd threw rocks and tires that had been set on fire, fired shots and threw Molotov cocktails at the group. The Governor of Imbabura and the Mayor of Cotacachi were part of this crowd, and only the governor was allowed to proceed to Junin. It's been agreed to install a permanent Assembly in Intag until the issue is resolved. The Assembly will decide the best way to proceed tomorrow. Today's paper reported that the Minister of Energy and Mines suspended all mining activities in the south of the country due to unusual levels of violence surrounding the Ecuacorrientes mining projects in the Condor Range (another Canadian mining company). The illegal arrest and almost murder of a congressman by the army while being transported in a company helicopter didn't help the company too much. And, unfortunately, it looks in Intag are heading down the same path with four wounded today when a group tried to go through a pro-mining road block near Garcia Moreno; The Minister of Energy and Mines, and the government in general, have shown an exceptional lack of intelligence in waiting until there are dead or critically wounded to take strong measures to stop the transnationals. This is the same guy who has publicly blamed foreigners for all the troubles at mining projects. Then again, maybe he's figured out the transnationals are a government unto themselves dec 4 Community spokespersons tell of 40 guns and at least two shot guns taken from the guards who, allegedly, work for a private security firm. The story Ascendant is retelling is that the guards were hired by Felicorp, to whom Ascendant supposedly gave the lands the company claims as there to implement agricultural projects. According to community reports, everyone of the guards are ex-military, and some were found with multiple identifications. CEDHU, the Quito-based human rights organization has called them paramilitary. No one knows about Felicorp, and it seems to be a newly created organization to do the usual transnational dirty work. Meanwhile, Felicorp and, apparently a Ascendant employee have taken the first step to present two (so far) lawsuits against 29 community individuals and five international observers- some who were in the States at the time of the supposed crime ((kidnapping)) 4 December: 57 armed hired guards were arrested by community members today while they were trying to build a camp in the forests close to the community of Cero Pelado, and will be turned over to authorities on Wedensday. Details are schetchy at the moment. In the pre-dawn hours of December 1st, a group of about 50 heavily armed persons attacked a road control post set up by the community of Junin to limit access to their community and forest reserve. The armed individuals at first used tear gas to try to force their way through the control, but at seeing the campesinos and campesinas would not retreat, they fired hundreds of rounds from their handguns and machine guns indiscriminately, wounding one of the community members. The invaders were forced to retreat once their ammunition had run out. The communities had won the first battle. Soon after the military-type incursion, a 25 member pro-mining group, made up mostly of people from Intag who were accompanying the armed personnel, were apprehended, and held in the community of Junin. Later that day, a delegation made up of local government officials a journalists who were headed to Junin to try and defuse the situation were stopped at the community of Chalguayacu Alto (close to Junin), where they were assaulted and detained by the pro-mining crowd that had gathered there. Both groups were released towards the evening, in large part due to police intervention, which had by then started to make stronger presence (we believe the police presence to be around 100) The Army's InvolvementOn the first day of the operation, the company hired a military helicopter to fly over the communities, as confirmed by CEDHU, the Quito - based human rights organization. It is worth noting that the day before the brutal military-type operation took place, the head of Ascendant in Ecuador said, when interviewed, that they had nothing to do with the training of local workers in what was seen as paramilitary skills. He said to take the issue up with Falericorp, the organization that Ascendant supposedly contracted with to carry out agricultural projects in the company's lands. But this isn't the only instance of military involvement with the mining company. On November 1st another pro-mining group transported by Ascendant Copper vehicles tried to violently access land Ascendant claims belongs to them. The so-called agricultural workers used tear gas against the local population, and ran over an anti-mining activist. According to legal documents, a active-service Army Mayor took part in the operation (later it was confirmed he was retired) At their first defeat at the hands of the community, the company reacted by bringing in two busloads of what they are calling "security personnel" from other private security firms. In their December 3rd news release, CEDHU used the term paramilitary to describe these so-called security guards, and warfare tactics when referring to the December 2nd incursion. In total, it is believed that close to two hundred of these "hired guns" from other parts of Ecuador are roaming around the Intag region trying to get access to Ascendant’s mining concessions. On the second of December, after seeing their town overrun by paid thugs and upon hearing of the shooting confrontation, the local government of Garcia Moreno, where the concessions are situated, unanimously decided to withdraw all support for the company, and asked the rest of the area to support the communities. The communities and organizations responded by sending hundreds of people and provisions to support the areas at risk. The Garcia Moreno government also revoked the agreement the Parish government’s president had signed with the company on the 20th of November. As things stand now (morning of Dec 4th), the rest Intag"s communities and organizations are sending their people and supplies to support the community of Junin and others at risk. On the other hand, a group of what are believed to be part of the armed organization slipped through the community"s control and are reportedly making a camp somewhere in the forests close to the community of Cerro Pelado, a few kilometers east of Junin. It"s one of the properties the company claims legal possession to. The communities, meanwhile, are complaining bitterly at the lack of action by the police, who have been asked to evict the armed people in Intag, but have not taken any steps to remove this THREAT. WE JUST RECEIVED WORD FROM JUNIN THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAPTURED AND ARE HOLDING APPROXIMATELY 60 GUARDS CAPTURED IN THE FOREST CLOSE TO THE COMMUNITY OF CERRO PELADO AND ARE WAITING FOR THE GOVERNOR OF THE PROVINCE TO TURN THEM OVER. ((PHOTO SHOWING TEAR GASSING OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS BY ARMED GUARDS IS ABOVE)) Ascendant is a "Responsible Corporate Citizen"Moments after using their tear gas, the guards took out their guns and the opened fire on the unarmed crowd ((SEE DEC 1 PHOTO FILE)) El Asalto a Junin del 6 de diciembre ACTUALIZACION 6 diciembre: Una turba que lanzaban consignas a favor de la empresa minera Ascendant Copper Corporation dispararon, botaron bombas molotov y botaron llantas encendidas contra un grupo de personas que se dirijían a la comunidad de Junin a las 4:15 de esta tarde por el sector de García Moreno, Cantón Cotacachi. Cuatro personas resultaron heridas por el salvaje ataque del grupo que apoya a la empresa minera. El grupo pro-minero se encotraba bloqueando una carretera para evitar el ingreso del gobernador de Imbabura, el Alcalde de Cotacachi aemás de otras autoridades que estaban acompañadas de aproximadamente 600 personas de la zona de Intag y el resto del Cantón Cotacachi. El grupo se dirijía a la comunidad de Junin para presenciar la entrega a las autoridades de 57 guardias que habían sido apresados y retenidos por moradores de diferentes comunidades de la zona de Intag el día lunes 4 de diciembre cerca a la comunidad de Cerro Pelado. Los guardias fueron contratados por Felicorp, quien mantiene un contrato con la canadiense Ascendant Copper Corporation para, supuestamente, ejecutar proyectos agrícolas en predios que la empresa dice les pertenece. 40 revólveres, 38 gases lacrimógenos, y 3 escopetas de grueso calibre fueron decomisado de los guardias, quienes, según afirman voceros de la comundidad, son ex-militares. A algunos de ellos se le encontró con diferentes cédulas de identidad. CEDHU, ha calificado a estos indivíduos como paramiliatares. De lo que sabemos, a última hora se permitió que el gobernador, la jefa política de Imbabura y unos policías ingresen hacia Junín. Como resultado del enfrentamiento, esta tarde dirigentes de la Zona de Intag declararon a la Zona de Intag en Asamblea Permanente hasta que el gobierno- y en especial el Ministro de Energía y Minas, resuelva de forma definitiva el problema causado por la empresa minera y evitar mayores desgracias. Para mayores detalles sobre contexto de la resistencia en Intag ver el documento adjunto Voceros de la comunidad afirman que le confiscaron 40 revolveres y por lo menos dos escopetas de grueso calibre de los guardias quienes supuestamente, trabajan para un compania de seguridad privada. El cuento que Ascendant esta difundiendo es que los guardias fueron contratados por Felicorp, a la cual Ascendant le entrego las tierras que ellos se cren duenios para, supuestamente, desarrollar proyectos agricolas. Segun informes de la comunidad, sin embargo, todos los guardias seran ex-militares y algunos le encontraron multiples identificaciones. CEDHU, la organizacion de derechos humanos basada en Quito, los ha catagolizado como paramilitares. Nadie sabe de la Felicorp, y parece ser una organizacion recientemente creada para realizar el usual trabajo sucio de las transnacionales. 4 diciembre Antes de la madrugada del 1 de diciembre, un grupo de aproximadamente 50 personas fuertemente armadas atacaron a un control de camino establecido por la comunidad de Junin para limitar el acceso a su comunidad y reserva forestal. Los individuos armados comenzaron usando su gas lacrimogeno para pasar por el control a la fuerza, pero al ver que las y los campesinos no se retiraban, dispararon cientos de veces sus pistolas y metralletas indiscriminadamente, hiriendo a un miembro de la comunidad. Pero los invasores se vieron obligados a retirarse una vez que sus municiones se agotaron. Las comunidades ganaron la primera batalla. A poco tiempo de esta incursion tipo militar, un grupo de 25 personas que apoyan la mineria, principalmente personas de Intag que acompañaban al personal armado, fueron aprehendidas y detenidas en la comunidad de Junin. Mas tarde ese dia, una delegacion de funcionarios del gobierno local y periodistas que se dirigian a Junin para tratar de calmar la situacion fueron detenidos en la comunidad de Chalguayacu Alto (cerca de Junin), donde fueron asaltados y detenidos por la muchedumbre pro-mineria reunida alli. Ambos grupos fueron liberados para la noche, en gran parte por la intervencion de la policia, que para entonces habia comenzado a establecer una presencia mas fuerte (creemos que hay aproximadamente 100 policias en la zona). Al primer dia del operativo, la empresa contrao; un helicoptero militar para sobrevolar a las comunidades, como fue confirmado por la CEDHU – organizacion de derechos humanos con sus oficinas centrales en Quito. Vale la pena anotar que, el dia antes del brutal operativo de tipo militar, el jefe de Ascendant en el Ecuador fue entrevistado y dijo que no tenian nada que ver con la formacion de trabajadores locales en lo que se veian como destrezas paramilitares. Dijo que habria que abordar el asunto con Falericorp, la organizacion que Ascendant supuestamente contratópara realizar proyectos agricolas en los terrenos de la compania. Pero este no es el unico caso de participacion militar de la empresa minera. El 1º de noviembre, otro grupo pro-mineria transportado en vehiculos de la Ascendant Copper tratóde acceder violentamente a terrenos que Ascendant asevera que le pertenecen. Los llamados trabajadores agricolas usaron gas lacrimogeno contra la poblacion local, y atropellaron a un activista anti-mineria. Segun los documentos legales, un mayor del ejercito en servicio activo participó del operativo (luego fue confirmado que está en servicio pasivo). Ante su derrota inicial en manos de la comunidad, la Compania reaccino trayendo dos buses llenos de lo que están llamando "personal de seguridad" de otras empresas de seguridad privada. En su comunicado de prensa del 3 de diciembre, CEDHU usó el termino de "paramilitares" para describir a estos supuestos guardias de seguridad, y "tácticas de guerra" al referirse a la incursion del 2 de diciembre. En total, se cree que casi 200 de estos "matones a sueldo" de otras partes del Ecuador están deambulando por la region de Intag tratando de conseguir el acceso a las concesiones mineras de Ascendant. Al dos de diciembre, viendo a su poblacion inundada de matones contratados y con noticias de la confrontacion armada del dia anterior, el Gobierno local de Garcia Moreno, donde están situadas las concesiones, decidiópor unanimidad retirar todo apoyo a la Compana, y pidióque el resto de la zona apoye a las comunidades. Las comunidades y organizaciones respondieron enviando a cientos de personas de provisiones para apoyar a las áreas en riesgo. El domingo 3 de diciembre, el Gobierno de Garcia Moreno hizo publico, en la Radio Intag que habian tomado la decision unánime de anular el acuerdo que habia firmado el Presidente del Gobierno parroquial con la Compania el 20 de noviembre. El Presidente dijo que la decision se debia principalmente a que vieron la violencia que tratóde usar la Compania para acceder a su concesion, y al ver la presencia de ver a tantos hombres armados de fuera de Intag. Actualmente ( 4 de diciembre) el resto de las comunidades y organizaciones de Intag están enviando a su gente y suministros para apoyar a la comunidad de Junin y otras que están en peligro. Por otro lado, un grupo de lo que se cree que son parte de la organizacion armada logrótraspasar el control de la comunidad y se informa que están estableciendo un campamento cerca de la comunidad de Cerro Pelado, a pocos kilometros al este de Junin. Es una de las propiedades que la Compania dice que es legalmente suya. Mientras tanto, las comunidades se quejan amargamente por la falta de accion por parte de la policia, a quienes pidieron que hicieran salir a las personas armadas de Intag, pero que no han tomado ninguna medida para hacerlo. Y acabamos de oir que las comunidades han capturado a un grupo de 50 a 60 guardias, que habian estado construyendo un campamento en el bosque cerca de la comunidad de Cerro Pelado. Ascendant se autodenomina "Ciudadana Corporativa Responsable" pero – apenas unos momentos luego de usar su gas lacrimogeno, los guardias desenfundaron sus armas y abrieron fuego contra las personas reunidas ahi, sin armas. (((VER ARCHIVO FOTOS 1 DE DICIEMBRE))
Photos / FOTOS 12-01, 2006 Enfrentamiento / Shootings
Monday, December 04, 2006
 Los paramilitares  Este es carro de la empresa Ascendant, y su chofer es Fausto Herrera que es de Garcia Moreno Silvia    Pierna lastimada de Israel Perez
Human Rights Organizations Condemms Ascendant's Actions / Cedhu condena a Ascendant Copper, pide investigar uso de paramilitares
Sunday, December 03, 2006
ESPAÑOL ABAJO HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION CONDEMMS ASCENDANT'S VIOLENCE IN JUNIN NEWS RELEASE THE ECUMENICAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMISSION (CEDHU) DENOUNCES INTAG COMMUNITIES VICTIM OF NEW VIOLENT ATTEMPTED INVASION BY PEOPLE LINKED TO ASCENDANT COPPER CORPORATION, SOME OF THEM CAMOUFLAGED, AND USING MACHINE GUNS, HANDGUNS AND TEAR GAS. 2nd of December 2006 Approximately at 4am on Friday, 2 of December 2006, a group of persons- some dressed as civilians, others from Otavalo and Intag area but associated with the Ascendant Copper Corporation, used tear gas, machine guns and handguns in the area of Chalguayacu Alto (García Moreno Parish; Cotacachi County, Imbabura province) injuring some members of the local population. As a consequence of this confrontation, the campesino Israel Pérez suffered a bullet wound. The community captured 25 of these invaders, with the aim of turning them over to the police. Army helicopter contracted to render services to Canadian Ascendant Copper Corporation Around 8am, and on another area, four pick-up trucks full of persons in camouflage, went by the community of Villaflora, Barcelona area heading towards the cordillera, at the same time that a helicopter was flying over Junin and adjacent areas (contracted to assist the incursion). Around midday, the vehicles returned empty. Another group of approximately 50 persons from the Peñaherrera also were heading towards Junin. Similarly, from Cuellaje other persons, contracted by the company, are trying to head towards Junin. Among the incidents denounced by the communities, the destruction of the fence protecteing the installations of Intag’s community radio and the destruction of 5 meters of the antenna. The communities also denounced the alleged judicial order to occupy Ascendant Copper Corporation lands. Individuals associated with Ascendant seize government authorities and inhabitants from Intag Around 8pm on the night of December second the persons detained both by the individuals associated with Ascendant as well as by those detained by the community, freed. Third of December,2006 The Junin community is besieged by personnel armed by Ascendant Copper Corporation. In the early dawn hours of today, another incursion comprised of about 120 armed individuals tried to reach Junin through the route known as “El Copo”, while others are arriving in Chalguayacu Bajo. The communities denounce that the persons who are in the vicinity of Junin and who are trying to reach the community are using war tactics. These series of armed incursions coincide with a denunciation previously presented by the Intag Parish Government Association to Sergio Torres, Imbabura’s Police Chief, and to Imbabura’s governor, Mr. Juan Almedia, against two officials of the Army (one is retired Army Major Marco Vinicio Vargas Padilla), who since November 8th 2006, were planning these incursions in Otavalo. The new incidents that took place during December 1 and 2 were denounced by CEDHU to General Luis Garzón (First Army Division, in Quito), who confirmed that a Army helicopter had been hired for delivering provisions, but assured that no active Army personnel took part in the operative. The denounced incidents also coincide with the Minister of Energy’s double talk, because, on the one hand he proposes to the communities to abide by Constitutional norms and other laws of the nation, as well as to carry forth a series of meetings (proposed on the 24th of November) with representatives of the Cotacachi Municipal government; the Intag Parish Association, and community representatives, with the goal of addressing the issue; on the other hand, this government official makes statements (see Imbabura’s Diario del Norte December 1 and 2) against “foreigners that oppose mining”, disrespecting the process of dialogue that he himself proposed. The statements also demonstrate how this functionary underestimates not only the position of Intag’s communities but also the policies of local governments: Parish governments; Cotacachi Municipality; and the Imbabura government, who have publicly stated their opposition to mining We hold the Minister of Energy and Mines and Ascendant Copper Corporation responsible for these new measures which threaten human rights of Intag’s communities, and for all other consequences derived from these premeditated armed incursions. We call on the province’s governor and the police to make sure enough personnel are assigned to protect the people, stop the pro-mining incursions, and prevent confrontations in the area. We ask the Ministry of Defense to fully investigate the paramilitary groups used by the Canadian corporation Ascendant Copper Corporation, as well as the contracted retired Mayor Marco Vinicio Vargas Padilla. We ask the local, provincial, national and international press to report on these new abuses, which pose a risk to life, the physical integrity of individuals, and the peaceful tradition of the Ecuadorian people. Sincerely, Sister Elsie Monge EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMISIÓN ECUMÉNICA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS, CEDHU FAVOR DE DIFUNDIR BOLETÍN DE PRENSA LA COMISIÓN ECUMÉNICA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS (CEDHU), DENUNCIA NUEVO INGRESO VIOLENTO A LAS COMUNIDADES DE INTAG POR PARTE DE ALLEGADOS A LA EMPRESA ASCENDANT COPPER CORPORATION, VARIOS DE ELLOS USANDO UNIFORME DE CAMUFLAJE, METRALLETAS, PISTOLAS Y BOMBAS LACRIMÓGENAS Día 2 de diciembre de 2006 Aproximadamente a las 4 horas de la madrugada del día viernes 2 de diciembre de 2006, personas vestidas de civiles, algunas provenientes de la ciudad de Otavalo vinculadas a la empresa minera Ascendant Copper Corporation conjuntamente con moradores de la zona de Intag y de otros lugares, ingresaron armados con metralletas, pistolas y bombas lacrimógenas a la comunidad de Chalguayaco Alto (parroquia García Moreno, cantón Cotacachi, provincia de Imbabura) agrediendo a la población local. Como producto de este enfrentamiento, el campesino Israel Pérez resultó herido de bala y otros contusos. Por su parte, la comunidad retuvo a 25 de estos agentes externos, a fin de entregarlos a la Policía. Helicóptero del Ejército contratado para prestar servicios a la empresa canadiense Ascendant Copper Corporation Por otra ruta, ingresaron 4 camionetas con personas vestidas con uniforme de camuflaje, quienes alrededor de las 8 a.m. pasaron por la vía Villa Flora- Barcelona, enrumbándose hacia la cordillera, mientras que, un helicóptero del Ejército (contratado para apoyar las incursiones), sobrevolaba Junín y las zonas aledañas. Cerca del mediodía las camionetas regresaron vacías. Otra incursión con alrededor de 50 personas pro-mineras se dirigieron desde Peñaherrera hacia la comunidad de Junín. Igualmente, desde Cuellaje varias personas más, contratadas por la empresa, intentan dirigirse a Junín. Entre los episodios denunciados por las comunidades, contan la destrucción de la cerca que protege las instalaciones de la radio comunitaria de Intag así como la rotura de aproximadamente 5 metros de antena. Las comunidades denunciaron además una “supuesta orden judicial” para ocupar “las supuestas tierras de la Ascendant Copper” en la zona. Personas vinculadas a la Ascendant retienen a autoridades y pobladores/as de Intag Aproximadamente a las 5 p.m. de la tarde del día 2 de los corrientes, el concejal Luis Robalino, el presidente de la Junta parroquial de Peñaherrera Gustavo León, la periodista de radio Intag María Augusta Díaz, un integrante de la Asociación de caficultores y varios periodistas fueron interceptados y retenidos en Chalguayaco Alto por personas vinculadas a la empresa Ascendant Copper Corporation. En la noche del día 2 de diciembre, alrededor de las 8:00 p.m., las personas retenidas tanto por allegados a la empresa como por la comunidad, fueron liberadas. Día 3 de diciembre de 2006 La comunidad de Junín es sitiada por el personal armado de la empresa Ascendant Copper Corporation En horas de la madrugada de este día, prosiguió otra incursión de unas 120 personas armadas que también intentan ingresar a Junín por la ruta “El Copo” y otras tantas están llegando a Chalguayaco Bajo. Las comunidades denuncian que las personas que se encuentran en los alrededores de Junín y las que pretenden ingresar están utilizando estrategias y tácticas de guerra. Esta serie de incursiones armadas coinciden con una denuncia presentada con anterioridad por la Asociación de Juntas Parroquiales de Intag al Comandante de Policía, Sergio Torres y al Gobernador de Imbabura, Juan Almeida, en el sentido de que dos oficiales de la Fuerza Terrestre del Ejército (uno de ellos, el mayor en servicio pasivo Marco Vinicio Vargas Padilla) planificaban estas nuevas incursiones desde el día 8 de noviembre de 2006, en la ciudad de Otavalo. Los nuevos hechos ocurridos durante los días 1 y 2, de diciembre fueron denunciados por la CEDHU al General Luis Garzón (de la Primera División del Ejército, localizada en Quito), quien confirmó que 1 helicóptero del Ejército efectivamente habría sido contratado para aprovisionamiento, pero aseguró que no existe personal del Ejército en servicio activo participando en este operativo. Los acontecimientos denunciados coinciden también con el doble discurso del Ministro de Energía y Minas, pues éste ofreció a las comunidades cumplir con las disposiciones constitucionales y demás leyes de la República además de proponer (el 24 de los corrientes) una serie de reuniones con representantes del Concejo Municipal Cotacachi, la Asociación de Juntas Parroquiales y representantes comunitarios, a fin de tratar la problemática; sin embargo, por otro lado, este funcionario hace pronunciamientos (ver Diario del Norte de Imbabura del 1 y 2 de los corrientes) en contra de “extranjeros que se oponen a la minería”, irrespetando el proceso de diálogo por él mismo propuesto. Pronunciamientos que, por otro lado, revelan cómo este funcionario subestima no sólo la posición de las comunidades inteñas sino la posición política de los gobiernos locales: juntas parroquiales, Municipio de Cotacachi y Consejo Provincial Imbabura, autoridades que han hecho pública su oposición a la minería. Responsabilizamos al Ministerio de Energía y Minas y a la empresa minera Ascendant Copper Corporation por estos nuevos hechos que atentan contra los derechos humanos de las comunidades inteñas y por todas aquellas consecuencias que se deriven de estas incursiones armadas premeditadas. Hacemos un llamado a la Gobernación de la provincia y a la Institución Policial a fin de que asignen personal suficiente para proteger a la población, detengan las incursiones pro-mineras y eviten los enfrentamientos en la zona. Pedimos al Ministerio de Defensa una investigación exhaustiva a los grupos para-militares utilizados por la empresa extranjera de Canadá Ascendant Copper Corporation así como a su contratado, mayor en servicio pasivo Marco Vinicio Vargas Padilla. Solicitamos a los medios de comunicación locales, provinciales, nacionales e internacionales, difundir estos nuevos atropellos que ponen en riesgo la vida, la integridad física de las personas y la tradición pacífica del pueblo ecuatoriano. Atentamente, Hermana Elsie Monge DIRECTORA EJECUTIVA DE LA COMISIÓN ECUMÉNICA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS, CEDHU
3 Dic.. EMERGENCY IN JUNIN!! / EMERGENCIA EN JUNIN
Saturday, December 02, 2006
español abajo The government of Garcia Moreno withdrew all support for Ascendant Dec 3 am_ In spite of Ascedndant losing all support, dozens of heavily armed persons claiming to work for security companies were seen leaving Garcia Moreno heading for the Junin area this morning. This force looks more and more to be a para military force. Who else besides AScendant Copper Corporation could be financing it? Dec 2 10 pm update All captives are freed. Parish government of García Moreno decides to back the communities; annul the Agreement with Ascendant, and to ask the company to leave. This evening it was confirmed that all captives were freed from both sides. As of now, no one is being held either by the pro-mining crowd or the communities. The big news is that the Parish government of García Moreno met today in the afternoon and, after seeing first hand the violence and conflict the company generated, decided to a) back the communities b) Annul the agreement recently signed with Ascendant and other actors c) Ask the company to leave the Intag area (for the third time) However, and seeing how the company has not respected legal decisions taken in the past, the communities are readying for another invasion, especially after the arrival earlier in the evening (dec 2) of over 100 private security guards. 9:30 Pm All captives are freed. Parish government of García Moreno decides to back the communities; annul the Agreement with Ascendant, and to ask the company to leave. This evening it was confirmed that all captives were freed from both sides. As of now, no one is being held either by the pro-mining crowd or the communities. The big news is that the Parish government of García Moreno met today in the afternoon and, after seeing first hand the violence and conflict the company generated, decided to a) back the communities b) Annul the agreement recently signed with Ascendant and other actors c) Ask the company to leave the Intag area (for the third time) However, and seeing how the company has not respected legal decisions taken in the past, the communities are readying for another invasion, especially after the arrival earlier in the evening of over 100 private security guards. Liberan a todos los detenidos Gobierno Parroquial de García Moreno toma la decisión de apoyar a las comunidades, revocar el convenio con la Empresa, y pedirle a la empresa que se largue! A partir de las 20:30 de la noche, todos los retenidos,de ambos bandos, fuero puestos en libertad. La gran noticia es que hoy en la tarde, y después de experimentar la forma brutal de como actuó la empresa, los integrantes del gobierno Parroquial de García Moreno se reunieron en sesión de gobierno y tomaron las diferentes resoluciones: a) Apoyar a las comunidades b) Anular el convenio recientemente firmado con Ascendant Copper Corporation c) Pedirle a la emrpesa que se largue de Intag (por tercera vez) Las comunidades, sin embargo, se alistan en caso de otra invasión, debido a la presencia de los más de los 100 nuevos guardias privados que arrivaron a la zona en la noche. Police Arrive; Intag and Cotacachi government members held by Pro-miners The shooting Around 4pm today we got news that a 12 persons delegation, including, several presidents of Intag Parish governments and one of Cotacachi government’s council member, are being illegally held by the pro-mining faction in the Chalguayacu Alto. They were headed to Junin with a newspaper reporter to try to defuse the tense situation. There are reports that they were beaten. Ironically, as of 2pm the police from Otavalo have been in the area and successfully kept the pro-mining faction from carrying out another invasion. The police are investigating the shooting confrontation carried out by members of the private security firm. On the shooting: From an eyewitness we have an account of the shooting that took place in the area adjacent to the community's road control; between Chalguayacu Alto and Junin. It started when several men from the hired security firm tried to force their way through the control using tear gas. They destroyed the road control, and at seeing the community members was not backing away, they started shooting indiscriminately at the people, using small arms and machine guns. The community members backed off a few hundred meters, but returned after the security personnel had fired most of their bullets. Israel Perez was shot in the lower leg at very close range, when he was surrounded by three of the private security guards. Luckily, the bullet grazed his leg and he did not sustain serious injury. At seeing the determined opposition led by both men and women from the communities, the invading force retreated. Meanwhile, it has been confirmed by the Military that the people dressed in military uniform are not military personnel. Helicopter- What seems to be a military helicopter was seen circling the communities earlier in the day, but there is no report of it landing anywhere. The communities have asked for more police protection. 3 de dic. Un grupo de aproximadamente 80 personas fuertemente armados salieron esta mañana de Garcia Moreno en direccion a Junin. Las personas se identifican como miembros de empresas privadas de seguridad, e ingresaron de afuera de la zona de Intag. Esto a pesar que la empresa perdío todo apoyo local (ver abajo)-- da la impresión que son un ejercito de para militares,, y solicitamos que se les investigue. Liberan a todos los detenidos Gobierno Parroquial de García Moreno toma la decisión de apoyar a las comunidades, revocar el convenio con la Empresa, y pedirle a la empresa que se largue! A partir de las 20:30 de la noche, todos los retenidos,de ambos bandos, fuero puestos en libertad. La gran noticia es que hoy en la tarde, y después de experimentar la forma brutal de como actuó la empresa, los integrantes del gobierno Parroquial de García Moreno se reunieron en sesión de gobierno y tomaron las diferentes resoluciones: a) Apoyar a las comunidades b) Anular el convenio recientemente firmado con Ascendant Copper Corporation c) Pedirle a la emrpesa que se largue de Intag (por tercera vez) Las comunidades, sin embargo, se alistan en caso de otra invasión, debido a la presencia de los más de los 100 nuevos guardias privados que arrivaron a la zona en la noche. La gran noticia es que hoy en la tarde, y después de experimentar la forma brutal de como actuó la empresa, los integrantes del gobierno Parroquial de García Moreno se reunieron en sesión de gobierno y tomaron las diferentes resoluciones: a) Apoyar a las comunidades b) Anular el convenio recientemente firmado con Ascendant Copper Corporation c) Pedirle a la emrpesa que se largue de Intag (por tercera vez) Las comunidades, sin embargo, se alistan en caso de otra invasión, debido a la presencia de los más de los 100 nuevos guardias privados que arrivaron a la zona en la noche. A las 4 de la tarde de hoy (2 de dic), recibimos noticia que una delegación compuesta por 12 personas, incluyendo varios presidentes de las Juntas Parroquiales y un concejal del gobierno Cantonal de Cotacachi, está en manos del grupo pro-minero en el sector de Chalguayacu Alto. La delegación se dirigía a Junin juntamente con un periodista del Comercio para tratar de calmar la tensa situación. Según varios informes, fueron gravementes lesionados por la muchedumbre. En estos momentos policía se esta trasladando al lugar. Presencia Policia: Irónicamente, desde aproximadamente las 2 de la tarde, la policía de Otavalo se encuntra en el sitio, impidiendo que el grupo pro-minero invada de nuevo y provoque otro enfrentamiento. La policía también investiga el tiroteo provocado por la empresa privada de seguridad aparentemente contratada con dinero de la empresa. El tiroteo. Una persona que participó en el hecho, nos informó que el tiroteó ocurrió en el área aledaño al control comunitario de la carretera, entre Chalguayacu Alto y Junín, y que inició cuando miembros de la empresa de seguridad destruyeron el control vial. Al ver que los comuneros no retrocedían, utilizaron bombas lacrimógenas, y efectuaron cientos de disparos con pistolas y armas automáticas en contra de los pobladores, hasta casi quedarse sin municiones. Los pobladores retrocedieron unos cuantos metros, pero después retomaron el terreno y le obligaron a los invasores a retroceder. Israel Pérez, uno de los dirigentes en contra del proyecto minero fue impactado en la pierna por uno de los disparos, pero no es de gravedad. Mientras tanto se pudo confirmar de fuentes militares que las personas que vestían de militar no son militares- por lo que se puede presumir que es parte de una fuerza para-militar. Y, un helicóptero aparentemente de las fuerzas armadas sobrevoló varias comunidades de Intag hoy, pero nadie le vió aterrizar. 11:30 am-- recibimos información que Israel Perez de la comnunidad de Chalguayacu Alto, cerca a Junin, recibió un disparo de parte de miembros de la empresa de seguridad que fue transportada al sitio por vehiculos de la empresa minera Ascendant Copper. El señor perez esta en buen estado, parece que la herida no es de gravedad. Este intento de violentar el control de la comunidad fue rechazado por los comuneros, y segun tenemos entendido, los miembros de la empresa de seguriad de replegaron a Chalguayacu Alto, donde se concentran más comuneros de la zona que llegan en carros aparentemente contratados por la empresa. Se espera otro intento de invasión en estos momentos. Información de más temprano en la mañana:::: Recibimos información muy confiable que entre 30 y 40 personal de una empresa privada de seguridad, posiblemente llamada seguridad empresarial, o algo similar, se trasladaron desde García Moreno al sector de Junin a las 8 de la mañana en vehículos de la empresa minera Ascendant Copper Corporation. Otras personas vinculadas con la empresa (algunos supuestos veedores), estan siendo trasladados en carros particulares hacia el sitio del conflicto. Parece que entre unas 200 a 300 personas estan tomando parte en esta nueva invasión. Acabmos también de recibir información que existe una orden judicial para que puedan ocupar las áreas de la empresa, pero no tenemos detalles a nombre de quien esta la orden, ni quien la emitió. Comuneros nos informarion que un grupo de personas transportadas en vehiculos de la empresa minera y vestidos de militares entraron a junin por el sector de Barcelona NUEVO INTENTO DE INVASIÓN EN JUNIN Desde aproximadamente las 4am de la madrugada de hoy, 2 de Diciembre, varios grupos de personas intentan invadir agresivamente la zona de Junin. Hasta ahora, las personas identificadas provienen de otras partes de Intag, ninguno son del sector de Junin. Un grupo de invasores de 8 personas fueron detenidos por comuneros hasta poder identificarlos, para posteriormente, según informes de las comunidades, entregarlos a la policía. Otro informe de las comunidades revela que otro grupo de aproximadamente 25 personas también fue detenido cerca de Junin por los comuneros- hasta el momento no se conocen los detalles de su procedencia. La DECOIN fue informada que uno de los comuneros de Chalguayacu Alto fue lesionado por los invasores. No se conoce de otros heridos, o de otros enfrentamientos- pero hay varias versiones que en estos momentos vehículos de la empresa estan transladando personal al sector del enfrentamiento. Según el relato de uno de los apresados por la comunidad, ellos fueron contactados para una gira de observación a Mindo por personas vinculadas a la empresa minera Ascendant Copper Corporation. Por lo menos tres de las personas que hasta el momento se ha podido identificar liderando la agresiva invasión han sido capturadas previamente por las comunidades; uno de ellos firmó una acta en Marzo del 2006 aceptando que no entraría más a la zona de Intag. Las comunidades, alertadas de esta posibilidad el día de ayer, pidieron resfuerzo policial para evitar enfrentamiento entre inteños. No se conoce el número de efectivos de la policía en la zona hasta el momento, pero de lo que se sabe la mayoría se encuentra el el sector de Barcelona y Cerro Pelado. Aparentemente no hay policías en Junin- pero se conoce que las comunidades estan solicitando mayor respaldo de la policía. DECOIN
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