The Churches and Mining network expresses its solidarity with the Shuar indigenous people of Ecuador who have faced severe retaliation and violence in recent years as a response to their fight against the negative human rights and environmental impacts of mining activities on their territory.
The latest incident took place on December 20, when Acción Ecológica, an organisation that has been defending human rights and the environment for more than 30 years, was notified by the Ministry of the Environment that an administrative action has been initiated to close down the organization because it had purportedly deviated from its original objectives and mission.
Churches and Mining considers this action to be retaliation for defending human rights and opposing the mining project of Ecuacorrientes S.A. for its detrimental consequences.
Read the statement here.