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GOVERNMENT FIRM AGAINST MINING CONCESSIONS- REJECTION OF ENVIRONMNETAL IMPACT STUDY, AND NEW LEGISLATION ON THE HORIZON
JUNE 5TH, NATIONAL ANTI-MINING PROTEST PLANNED
Today´s El Comercio Newspaper reported Ecuador´s President Correa recent speach against the mining concessions in Ecuador, where he stated that it´s a disaster how they have been issued and that his government will review every single one of them. He said that that around 4,000 concessions have been issued, but that they have
"created chaos and that certain areas they are on the brink of a civil war"
President Correa also stated that the communities were not consulted in the issuing of the mining concessions, and that
"the law needs to be changed to guarantee collective rights"
http://www.elcomercio.com/solo_texto_search.asp?id_noticia=74458&anio=2007&mes=5&dia=3
This comes admist the government decision to reject the environmental impact study Canadian mining company Corriente Resources, and issued a stop-work order for the company . A similar stop work order was issued against Ascendant Copper on December 2006. (Reuters News Agency, 29 May 2007)
HUGE INCREASE IN MINING royalties is one of the proposals being discussed by the government- up to 80% according to one ministers of state- and which will be incorporated in the new mining law.
(Español: por favor ver el articulo de El comercio de arriba,, y Reuters))
June 5th has been chosen by civil society groups and communities from all over Ecuador to show their rejection to large-scale mining projects and large hydroelectric dams. The organizations are asking for immediate expulsion of mining and hydroelectric companies from the communities.
The strike is being led by National Coordinator for the Defense of Life and Dignity, and joined by hundreds of organizations and communities impacted by mining and hydroelectric dam projects.
The organizations taking part of this first-ever national strike are demanding the government rescind all the mining concessions for violating the nation's Constitution, specifically the right to previous consultation. In addition, they are demanding from the government:
The Demilitarization and expulsion of paramilitary and armed groups from the areas in conflict. That human rights violations undertaken by transnational mining companies be investigated and punished, and in particular those of Aurelian Resources, Corriente Resources Inc, and Ascendant Copper who were assisted by the military or paramilitary groups
The press comunique goes on to say that:
"...on June 5 we will initiate a NATIONAL PROTEST until the concessions are annulled, our rights are respected and peace reestablished in our communities"
below is the full text of the release
LEVANTAMIENTO NACIONAL DEL 5 DE JUNIO
- Salida inmediata de las mineras e hidroeléctricas de nuestras comunidades.
- Que mediante decreto ejecutivo se deje sin valor las concesiones mineras, hidroeléctricas e hídricas en aplicación del Art. 272, por haber violado los Art. 86 y 88 de la Constitución y se declare a Ecuador país libre de minería a gran escala.
- Desmilitarización y retiro de paramilitares y grupos armados de las zonas en conflicto.
- Que se investigue y sancione la violación de los derechos humanos cometidos por las empresas mineras transnacionales, y en particular la Aurelian Resources, Corriente Resources Inc. y Ascendant Copper S.A. con apoyo de las fuerzas armadas o grupos paramilitares.
- Poner fin a la criminalización de las luchas sociales y ambientales a través de juicios y procesos legales en contra de los dirigentes y las organizaciones que resisten a las empresas extractivas.
- Que se sancione mediante la Ley de Defensa del Consumidor por la propaganda engañosa y mal intencionada de la Cámara de Minería del Ecuador.
- Que se garantice la libertad de expresión de las comunidades afectadas por las mineras e hidroeléctricas a través de los medios de comunicación.
- Que el gobierno nacional demande a las empresas mineras e hidroeléctricas por daños y perjuicios.
- Que se garantice la integridad física y no se tome represalias de ningún tipo contra los participantes en este levantamiento.
El levantamiento se iniciará el día 5 de junio a las 00h00.
COORDINADORA NACIONAL
POR LA DEFENSA DE LA VIDA Y LA SOBERANIA
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On the Ministy of Energy and Mines May 3rd news release, the Ministry lashed out against the mining company for it's bad practices in Imbabura. See below for the extract, which makes reference to a protest march in which Ascendant employees participated in. The full translation of the official document is below.
MINISTER ACOSTA DENOUNCES BAD PRACTICES OF MINING COMPANY IN DIALOGUE WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF ECUADOR’S NATIONAL CHAMBER OF MINING
(taken from Ministry of Enegy and Mines newsrelease)
".....In light of the high level of conflicts affecting industrial mining projects in different parts of the country, the participants in this forum agreed with Minister Acosta that there is an important citizen’s reaction against these projects, which in a few cases could be on the brink of “local civil wars”. These large projects- said the minister- have managed to divide the communities, fool the people, fuel rent-seeking, and social manipulation. He showed photographs and documents, and Minister Acosta presented as an example the behavior of a mining company in Imbabura, which, besides secretly taping the Minister’s private conversations in the Governor’s office of Imbabura, schemes and finances protests against the government in the city of Ibarra, last Friday 20th of April, in which the company’s vice president of said company, a foreign national, also actively participated....." (Click here for original news release in Spanish)
On May 3rd, on the other hand, the Minister sent James Stonehouse, Ascendant's Vice President, a stinging letter accompanied by photographs of the April 20th protests (image above) In it, the Minister accuses the company of using the needs of ex employees of Ascendant Copper to involve them in political activism. He goes on to imply such illegal activities are being used as a pretext for not complying with labor regulations in regards to the fired employees. Finally the Minister questions the fact that a "foreigner" took part in politica activities against a government official and reminds the company it is responsible for monitoring the relationships with its employees and ex-employees in strict compliance with the nation's laws. (see below for full translation of document and and view this image of the original letter.)
KEEP TUNED - A LOT MORE IS COMING!
En el boletin de prensa publicado por el Ministerio de Energia y Minas del 2 de Mayo, el Ministro denuncia a una empresa operando en Imbabura- sitio del proyecto minero de la empresa Ascendant Copper- y hace referencia a una protesta en la cual participaron empleados de Ascendant.
A continuacion extractos del comunicado de prensa
MINISTRO ACOSTA DENUNCIA MALAS PRACTICAS DE EMPRESA MINERA EN DIALOGO CON REPRESENTANTES DE LA CAMARA NACIONAL DE MINERIA DEL ECUADOR
(…..)Frente a la alta conflictividad que afecta a los proyectos mineros en escala industrial en varias zonas del pais, los participantes en este dialogo estuvieron de acuerdo con el ministro Acosta de que existe una importante reaccion ciudadana en contra de estos proyectos, que en algunos casos pueden estar al borde de -guerras civiles localizadas-. Estos grandes proyectos -dijo el ministro- han logrado dividir a las comunidades, enganiar a la gente, fomentar el clientelismo y la manipulacion social. Presentando fotografias y documentos, el ministro Acosta puso como ejemplo de esta situación, la conducta de una compañía minera concesionaria en Imbabura que además de grabar encubiertamente conversaciones privadas del ministro Acosta en la Gobernación de Imbabura; planifica y financia las manifestaciones contra el gobierno en la ciudad de Ibarra, el pasado viernes 20 de abril, en la que tambien participo activamente un ciudadano extranjero, vicepresidente de dicha companía. (….)
Para ver el original ingrese a: http://www.menergia.gov.ec:8081/noticias/secciones/news/list.do?reqCode=doView&nid=19
Por otra parte, el 3 de mayo, el Ministro le envio a James Stonehouse, vice presidente de Ascendant, un oficio acompaniado de fotografIas de la protesta del 20 de abril aludido en el comunicado de prensa del 2 de mayo. En las palabras del Ministro:
-Con base a las fotografias adjuntas, que fueron tomadas en la ciudad de Ibarra el 20 de abril pasado, sorprende que un ciudadano extranjero participe en actos politicos en contra de funcionarios del Estado Ecuatoriano.
Es de total responsabilidad de su empresa el manejar adecuadamente y bajo absoluto respeeto del ordenamiento juridico ecuatoriano las relaciones con sus empleados y ex-empleados sin que esta responsabilidad sea transferida a ningun otro ente o institución.
Por tanto, considero inaceptable la utilizacion de las necesidades vitales de ex-trabajadores de la compania ASCENDANT COPPER para fines de activismo politico y sobre todo, que este tipo de acciones apartas de la ley sean u pretexto para no cumplir con los compromisos laborales que le corresponde a su empresa con las personas despedidas-
Translated May 3rd document:
Ministry of Energy and Mines
Republic of Ecuador
Official Document number 0434 DM 0706142
Quito, May 3 2007
Mr. James Stonehouse
Executive Vice President
Ascendant Copper
To whom it may concern,
Based on the enclosed photographs, which were taken this past Friday, April 20th in the city of Ibarra, it is surprising to find a foreign national participating in political activities against functionaries of the Ecuadorian government.
It is the responsibility of your company to adequately manage, under complete respect of the judicial system, the relationships with your employees and ex-employees, without this responsibility being transferable to any other entity or institution.
Therefore, I consider it unacceptable to exploit the essential necessities of ASCENDANT COPPER ex-employees for political activities purposes and, moreover, that these kinds of unlawful activities would be a pretext for not abiding by labor commitments corresponding to your company and the persons fired.
Sincerely,
(Original signed by)
Alberto Acosta
Minister of Energy and Mines
Cc Dra. Maria Fernanda Espinosa
Minister of Foreign Relations, Trade and Integration
Dr. Gustavo Larrea
Minister of Government and Police
Dr. Antonio Gagliardo
Minister of Labor and Employment
Dr. Alexis Mera Giler
General Legal Secretary, Presidency of the Republic
