Original Source: www.frontlinedefenders.org
On December 4, 2024, six environmental and human rights defenders from Bolívar, Ecuador, will appeal their May 2024 guilty verdict. These individuals, who have tirelessly fought for the protection of their land, faced repercussions for their advocacy against the harmful mining practices introduced by Curimining S.A. The local communities, primarily small farmers, have long sought involvement in consultations regarding the project, only to be ignored by authorities.
Since Curimining S.A.’s entry into their territories in 2006, the defenders have organized peaceful protests to demand participation in the environmental licensing process. Their voices have confronted the Ministry of Environment, Water and Eco-Transition (MAATE) for withholding critical information about mining impacts. Despite rising tensions, the state commenced consultations in late 2023 without adequate notice to potentially affected communities.
In a series of events highlighting the defenders’ struggles, MAATE issued an environmental license for the controversial mining project despite community objections to the consultation’s validity. Curimining S.A. claimed overwhelming local support, yet only a fraction of the community participated in the meeting, raising alarms over the process’s integrity. Concurrently, pervasive irregularities were reported, including misinformation dissemination that undermined the defenders’ efforts.
The six defenders were sentenced in May 2024 to three years imprisonment and significant fines, accused of illicit association with intentions to sabotage mining equipment. Despite this, they have maintained their actions were peaceful and rooted in their constitutional rights to protest and defend their environment. International attention has mounted, with UN representatives expressing solidarity with the beleaguered communities and their leaders.
Front Line Defenders has documented increased threats to human rights in the context of escalating mining activities in Ecuador. They emphasize that the criminalization of these defenders reflects a broader pattern of repression against those advocating for ecological and social justice. As the hearing approaches, the risk of setting dangerous precedents for future actions by human rights defenders looms large.
Front Line Defenders calls on Ecuadorian authorities to drop all charges against the defenders, support their right to free expression, and provide meaningful engagement in decision-making processes affecting their lives and land. This case stands as a testament to the ongoing struggle against exploitation and the urgent need for the protection of human rights activists in Ecuador.
In Ecuador, the escalating tension surrounding mining activities has placed environmental and human rights defenders at significant risk. The defenders from Bolívar highlight the adverse impacts of mining on local farming communities and their right to participation in consultations about projects affecting their rights and lands. The situation reflects broader issues related to the environmental policies of the state, the role of multinational corporations, and the inadequate responses to community concerns, amid rising international scrutiny.
The upcoming appeal for the six defenders encapsulates the critical battle for human rights protection in the face of corporate exploitation. With increasing global awareness, the need for Ecuadorian authorities to uphold their commitments to human rights is paramount. The case not only impacts the individuals involved but also sets a vital precedent for the broader community and their ongoing fight against environmental degradation and the criminalization of activism.
