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IMC: THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING A FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE MINING MINISTER OF MINES

In the front seat of Women Defending Pachamama in Cuenca conference was held press on the Rio Blanco mining project, called by the Popular Defense Coordinator Molleturo (CPM), the National Coordinator for the Defense of Life and Sovereignty (CNDVS) and the Women's Front.

Spokesmen for the convening organizations reported that the company Mireral International Corporation BMI, attempts to socialize their mega Rio Blanco gold project, whose concessions are unwise, therefore illegal and illegitimate, so that there can be no socialization, on the contrary it should have applied the mining mandate (Art. 1 and 3) and have extinguished these concessions.
However this did not happen because the government did not want to touch the transnational mining companies, and has placed more people involved directly with the companies in key positions in the Ministry of nonrenewable resources. Such is the case of the current Minister of Mines Federico Auquilla who was regional manager of the International Mineral Corporation (IMC) and its subsidiary San Luis Minerals.

Auquilla also served as Regional Director of Mines of Azuay and then catapulted him earlier this year to replace Vice Luis Bustamante who "... presented the resignation, due to little progress in a number of mining contracts that were to begin in December." (eltiempo.com.ec, 01/23/2011) This was a "lucky" to the IMC as Auquilla has given priority to negotiations with the companies that have projects "stars" supported by the government, including White River just BMI, to the extent that they are complying with the latest requirements, this is the socialization of Environmental Impact Assessment for the exploitation phase, and proceed to sign the contract with the State as soon as possible.

The concern is greatest when it is known that in 2008 the IMC had a serious dispute with former workers from the communities of Rio Blanco, Cochapamba, Yumate and Llano Largo, who conducted a four-month strike and earned him labor trial mining for breach of their settlements, and despite all this, "coincidentally" since Vice Auquilla took in January this year, accelerated negotiations and paperwork for their operating permits.

Fernando Mejía Member of the Board of CNDVS said you can not just bury the constitutional violations and rights communities committed to awarding concessions without prior consultation, as established by the previous constitution, why was issued Constituent known as mining mandate, which was never implemented, and it is understandable due to vested interests, as evidenced by the fact that the former manager of the company is current BMI Deputy Minister of Mines.

Meanwhile Juan Chuñir Coordinadora Popular de Molleturo said yesterday that it delivered a letter addressed to Gustavo Morejon, Provincial Director, Ministry of Environment, which has returned to request a certified copy of the process Prior Consultation with communities with a history of that in 2008 the CNDVS filed a complaint with the National Ombudsman for more than a year that took this step, never filed paperwork for prior consultation. (See attached letter).

Gutama

Rosa, for his part said that besides the failure of prior consultation, the company has concessions in the buffer area of \u200b\u200bCajas National Park, so it ought to apply the mining mandate on Article 3, and declare the extinction without financial compensation for concessions for the IMC, which are within the buffer zone of a major national parks Ecuador.

Maria Herlinda Gutama, Vice President Front Women Defending Pachamama said you can not leave unpunished violations by the IMC and it will continue to demand ever Molleturo communities were consulted.

Jadan

Manuel Suro community, for its part said that most of the IMC in their communities have a problem with Ecuadorgold mining, and therefore is asking the Ministry of Environment also the documentation process Prior Consultation mandatory that the State had to do for the delivery of concessions.

The representatives of the organizations indicated that in addition to eventually require the Ministry of Environment not continue to abuse their rights trying to socialize a project whose concessions are unwise, and must be served under the Mining Mandate.

COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT CNDVS