The military continues with operations in the Yutzupino sector, in Napo, where environmental damage has been detected due to gold mining in the area. The uniformed men began an intervention against illegal mining over the weekend.
People who came from other provinces to work in that area began to withdraw from the site in the presence of soldiers.
Officials from the Ministry of Government, the Ministry of the Environment and the Prosecutor’s Office remain in the area to verify the removal of machinery that apparently carried out mining activities. The authorities indicate that there were more than fifty pieces of machinery in the area.
The government reaction came after complaints from the population, who days ago warned that mining activity was being carried out illegally and that it was affecting the water basins of the Amazon.
Over the weekend, the Minister of Government, Alexandra Vela, and the Minister of Defense, Luis Hernández, also attended the site. 1,600 uniformed personnel from both the Armed Forces and the Police had been deployed in the area.
The inhabitants of the community had denounced that they were extracting about 500 grams of gold a day, which could represent about 25,000 dollars a day. The activity is estimated to have taken about six months.
In recent days, a march had been held in Napo to stop mining activity, as devastation was noted.
Vela indicated that they talked with the inhabitants to reach agreements and that the operation was aimed at preventing illegal mining from taking place.
“The machinery has been withdrawn from the place and reestablish control over the territory, this is the first step,” he added.
Fausto Salinas, director of Citizen Security of the Police, clarified that since 05:00 on Sunday there were no incidents inside and that there was only one altercation since the citizens tried to enter and recover goods. One vehicle was hit on the windshield.
The officer indicated that 16 raids were to be carried out on homes as part of the proceedings. Other flights were also carried out to detect more sites intervened by illegal mining.
Minister Vela indicated that they will take legal action through the Attorney General’s Office to continue with the second phase of intervention.
“The objective of the Government is to guarantee respect for nature, that the river is kept in good condition, that there is clean water for all, so that there is no poisoning and damage to the health of the inhabitants,” Vela clarified.
In social networks, activists and residents who use the Yutzupino River report that there were clashes and that the evicted people damaged several military vehicles.
They also denounced an alleged leak of information, since some miners began to remove their machinery at night and at dawn, before the military entered the area. They ask that the Prosecutor’s Office act ex officio and immediately.
Ecologists, inhabitants and defenders of the rights of nature have denounced for some time the damage that mining would be causing to the rivers or water basins in the area. (I)
Source: Eluniverso
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
