 |
| Map of Criminalization for opposition to mining activity in Ecuador. |
In Ecuador, the criminalization of protests in areas of mega-mining projects has increased exponentially in recent years, according to information collected from the Map of Criminalization for Opposition to Mining Activity from OCMAL (Observatory of Mining Conflicts in Latin America).
The information collects data from November 2003 to January 2014 and classifies them into four categories: threats, murders/attacks, prosecution and use of force. In the case of Ecuador, there are reports in all categories of criminalization of social protest, with prosecution being the one that includes the most cases. People who lead the rejection of mining in their communities and territories and fight for their rights.
According to the observatory, social protest - an expression of communities to defend nature - puts at risk multi-million dollar investments by extractive industries, generally driven by transnational companies. For this reason, States increasingly consider social protest as a dangerous, subversive and even terrorist activity.
The criminalization of social protests over mining conflicts is today a continental problem that harms community leaders, activists, authorities and religious people, regardless of the political orientation of governments.
ES_ES 
EN