Indigenous leaders of the Bolivian Amazon denounced the continuation of mining activities in the community of Santa Rosa de Carura, North of La Paz, home of the Leco people.
The Confederation of Indigenous Peoples of the East, Chaco and Bolivian Amazon (CIDOB) and the Coordinating Body for the Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA) called on the Ministry of Mining the close gold mining operations in the area, currently in full operation despite the pandemic.
The operations, they denounced, were established without the free, prior and informed consent of local communities, who were forced to temporarily leave their territory due to the effects on the river's course.
In addition, CIDOB and COICA urged the Bolivian government to prioritize healthcare for indigenous peoples. In s letter to the president, made public on May 22, they wrote: "Our brothers and sisters are dying every day, abandoned to their fate without any medical attention, and now foreigners are allowed to exploit our natural resources, giving them away left and right.”
Competent authorities in mining and environmental issues must control compliance with environmental regulations, demand compliance with environmental licensing for mining activities, and take the actions necessary to protect the rights of indigenous peoples.
