25th November, 2010, San José, Costa Rica – The Costa Rican Administrative Court set a historical precedent in the region yesterday when it annulled the concession granted to Industrias Infinito for the development of the Crucitas Gold Mining Project in Curtis, San Carlos. The Court annulled the concession because it violates environmental regulations, and because of the environmental damage caused by the project.
“We welcome the Court’s decision because it regulates a project that attempted to go against national and international norms,” said Gladys Martínez J.D., lawyer for the Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA). “We congratulate each and every one of the national environmental organizations that participated in this judicial process, and especially our partner organization the Centre for Environmental Law and Natural Resources (CEDARENA), for their undying efforts in defense of the environment” added Martínez.
“We hope that Costa Rica’s example is followed by other nations,” said Astrid Puentes R., Co-Director of AIDA. “Open-pit mines can cause irreparable environmental damage and human rights violations, so compliance with norms and regulations is of the upmost importance,” added Puentes.
In August 2008, AIDA sent to then-President of Costa Rica Oscar Arias a document that warned about the international regulations that the Crucitas Project would violate, given the possible impacts on Nicaraguan territory and the San Juan River. AIDA’s efforts and arguments are in line with the recent Court decision, which reiterates the importance of complying with such regulations. In fact, the Court recommended the criminal investigation of the ex-President Arias for having authorized the project, regardless of norms, through an executive decree.
AIDA is a nongovernmental international environmental law organization that has fought for the prevention of negative environmental impacts from the open-pit-mining industry in South America. As part of its mission to protect people’s right to a healthy environment, AIDA works alongside partner organizations on the continent, as well as with other organizations and communities.
