- Write by:
-
Sunday, April 14, 2024 - 23:14:17
-
106 Visit
-
Print
Representatives from the Peñas Negras Indigenous community, in northwestern Argentina, clashed with heavily armed police officers who were escorting Elevado Gold personnel up the Alto de Salle hill, in the Catamarca province.
The hill, situated more than 4,000 metres above sea level north of the department of Belén, almost borders the province of Salta and hosts the Alto El Mulato mining project.
As the executives from the Australian miner and the police were heading up, residents blocked the way, arguing that the project was moving forward without their free, prior and informed consent.
They rejected the fact that the Catamarca Mining Ministry renewed the company’s exploration permit, even though the community agreed in a public assembly that it would not consent to the mining project.
As the skirmish was taking place, the Belén public prosecutor, Marina Villagra, ordered the provincial police to take action. They shot the protesters with rubber bullets and severely hurt 80-year-old resident Félix Escalante.
According to local media, this is not the first confrontation between police and Peñas Negras residents.
On March 27, the local chief, Sebastián Gutiérrez, and other community members took the complaint to the Belén Prosecutor’s Office. They exposed a series of violent situations they have been victims of and said that both police and people from other communities hired by the company visit the area regularly to confront and harass them, as well as to destroy their property and steal their farm animals.
The chief also said that he requested a hearing with the Catamarca Security Secretariat but received no response.
“We denounce that the Province is complicit in this violent situation that the Indigenous Community of Peñas Negras is enduring,” a communiqué issued by the local leaders reads. “Our rights to prior, free and informed consultation and self-determination are being disrespected.”
Short Link:
https://www.miningnews.ir/En/News/628264
![Zimbabwe may sell 40% stake in a key gold mine to raise capital](/Incsys/Photo.aspx?image=/Uploads/News/20240723142307013.jpg&width=236&height=180)
Zimbabwe’s state-owned Kuvimba Mining House is broadening its search for equity partners and financiers for its gold and ...
![Zijin Mining to take 9.9% stake in Montage Gold](/Incsys/Photo.aspx?image=/Uploads/News/20240723133352629.jpeg&width=236&height=180)
Canadian miner Montage Gold on Tuesday said Chinese mining firm Zijin Mining Group would take a 9.9% strategic stake in ...
![Barrick’s quarterly gold and copper output edges higher](/Incsys/Photo.aspx?image=/Uploads/News/20240723132357352.jpeg&width=236&height=180)
Canadian miner Barrick Gold’s second-quarter gold output edged up by almost 0.9% from the previous three months, helped ...
![Uganda is latest African nation eying gold as currency shield](/Incsys/Photo.aspx?image=/Uploads/News/20240721171313065.jpeg&width=236&height=180)
Uganda plans domestic gold purchases to build foreign exchange reserves and limit risks on reserve investments, becoming ...
![Mexico mining investment seen stable at $5 billion in 2024](/Incsys/Photo.aspx?image=/Uploads/News/20240721154501909.jpeg&width=236&height=180)
Mining investment in Mexico should remain largely stable in 2024 compared to last year at around $5 billion but new ...
![IRH mining dealmaker met with Congo gold smugglers, UN says](/Incsys/Photo.aspx?image=/Uploads/News/20240721154015640.jpeg&width=236&height=180)
A businessman who has been leading a push into mining by Abu Dhabi’s largest listed company has been cited for having ...
![Global gold ETFs saw second month of inflows in June, says WGC](/Incsys/Photo.aspx?image=/Uploads/News/20240719185723536.jpg&width=236&height=180)
Global physically backed gold exchange traded funds (ETFs) saw the second consecutive month of inflows in June due to ...
![Conflict in Congo threatens trade in key metals, UN experts say](/Incsys/Photo.aspx?image=/Uploads/News/20240719185451534.jpg&width=236&height=180)
Companies buying metal sourced from central Africa could be exposing themselves to United Nations sanctions for ...
![Canada’s move to protect mining sector shields takeover targets](/Incsys/Photo.aspx?image=/Uploads/News/20240716150153105.jpeg&width=236&height=180)
Canada is making it harder for foreign firms to acquire domestic mining companies by imposing measures that could ...
No comments have been posted yet ...