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| President Rafael Correa, during his visit to Quimsacocha. Photo: Presidency of the Republic |
Those who call the popular consultation held on October 2, called by the organizations of the Victoria del Portete and Tarqui Water Systems, “illegal,” “lying,” “manipulation,” “nonsense,” not only do not listen - or do not want to listen - to the voices of the people, but they continue to announce with great fanfare the mining projects in Azuay and Zamora Chinchipe.
The negotiation of the three mining contracts is being carried out illegally, without the approval of the Environmental Impact Studies, nor the Environmental Licenses for the exploitation of said projects, as established by the Mining Law that was promoted by the executive. In fact, the Environmental Impact Studies, paid for and contracted by the mining companies - as in the case of Mirador - are riddled with errors.
Nor has there been a real process of consultation and participation by state authorities. On the contrary, it is the mining companies that illegally make the calls, invitations, manage and control the entire process to expose the supposed benefits of mining, as has occurred with the aforementioned Mirador project. However, Minister Solís goes ahead and declares that “information has been distorted and the population has been lied to in the case of Quimsacocha…” We ask ourselves: who is lying to whom?
In the case of the Quimsacocha moor, the main source of water for the area's populations is at risk, and it is there where the Yanuncay River basin that supplies water to the city of Cuenca originates. This is a compelling argument for recognizing the competence of the water systems to exercise consultation and participation, since they are the most threatened and the most affected by these projects.
The question in the October 2nd referendum in Azuay was: Do you agree with mining in the Quimsacocha water sources? The answer was an overwhelming NO. The residents of Victoria del Portete and Tarqui gave us an example of civility, of defense of the rights of the people of Cuenca, of all the people of Azuay and Ecuador, as they exalt and ratify the priority of the use of water for human use and of commitment to the rights of Mother Nature.
In response to the argument that the question is like asking “if you agree with loving your mother” and that “everyone will say yes”, we tell you, Mr. President, that the question and the results of the consultation are intended to defend Pachamama and protect her from the threats of a polluting and predatory extractive industry. The mining activities in Quimsacocha would indeed be comparable to an attack on our mothers.
His statements during the popular consultation and subsequent visit to Quimsacocha, and the restrictions on the inhabitants of this area who are opposed to the mining project, by means of militarization and criminalization, seem to express:
- fear of exercising the right to resistance,
- fear that the Quimsacocha consultation could be a haughty example for other consultations,
- fear that the rights that are being denied to us will be exercised during the consultations,
However, the politics of fear will not succeed in convincing us that mining is one of the most disastrous activities in the world and that it can only take place with the appropriation of the main sources of water and energy for its operations.
The people of Ecuador recognized water as a Human Right, as well as the Rights of Nature, in their Constitution.
The Magna Carta also states that “in the face of actions or omissions by public authorities or by non-state natural or legal persons that violate or may violate their rights”…individuals and groups may exercise the right to Resistance!
And that's what we're going to do...
ECOLOGICAL ACTION, October 27, 2011
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