Ecuador indigenous group looks to nullify presidential decree to unlock mining projects9 Jun 2023 09:06
Ecuador’s main indigenous peoples’ confederation Conaie is looking to nullify a presidential decree that regulates the environmental public consultation process.
The president of the organization, Leonidas Iza, said in a press conference that the organization together with Frente Nacional Antiminero (national anti-mining front), will file a lawsuit against the decree before the constitutional court on June 13.
That date marks one year since the protests against the Guillermo Lasso government by indigenous groups erupted and which, according to official data, cost the country some US$1bn.
The decree was issued on May 31 by President Lasso and would help unlock a series of projects in various sectors, including the US$250mn Curipamba copper-gold project and the US$176mn La Plata polymetallic project.
The indigenous and anti-mining groups plan to carry out marches against the decree next Tuesday in various provinces and in capital Quito and go to the constitutional court to request that the decree be declared unconstitutional.
Fernando Benalcázar, a board member of Latin American mining organization Olami and former undersecretary of mines, told BNamericas that if the Lasso government does not stand firm in the face of the protests, the situation could get complicated and slow down the progress that is expected with the decree.
"The stability of the processes may once again be threatened and a detrimental environment may be generated for the sector, in the midst of the political instability that the country is experiencing," said Benalcazar.
On May 17, Lasso invoked a constitutional article to dissolve the national assembly, call early elections and govern by decree in the interim.
On August 20, Ecuadorans will go to the polls to elect a president, vice president and all 137 legislators, who must serve until May 2025 when a new government and legislators will take office who will be elected at the beginning of that year.
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