A judge has suspended all activities by mining companies in nearly 50,000 hectares of indigenous lands in northwest Colombia, reported local media.
In an “unprecedented” ruling, all mining and exploration activities in 49,421 acres of territories belonging to indigenous Embera Katio communities have been halted for up to six months due to a failure to consult and protect the communities, according to El Tiempo.
“[This decision] only seeks to prevent the continued violation of the rights of indigenous peoples on their territory [arising from] disproportionate use by people outside the community, and the violence that has been occurring in the area, of which there is much evidence, ” said the judge.
The injunction covers an area known as the Alta Andagueda in Choco and Antioquia departments. The companies affected include multinational gold miner AngloGold Ashanti, working in the area with Continental Gold, and Colombian company Exploraciones Choco Colombia.
See http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/28152-colombia-halts-mining-multinationals-in-indigenous-territory.html.