Ibagué, 11 May 2013
Dear Shareholders,
As you evaluate the development of your mining projects in Colombia, we consider it to be important that, in your analysis, you consider aspects that pertain to an environmental, social and human reality, which most likely will not reach you through those who are managing these projects in our country.
We, the undersigned, are organizations representing many individuals particularly affected by the La Colosa project (located in the municipality of Cajamarca, Tolima). We are also seriously concerned about a government policy that, in partnership with you, plans to carry out large-scale open-pit mining in our region and throughout the Colombian territory.
Since the inception of this government policy, eight years ago, large sectors of civil society have mobilised, to vehemently reject large-scale mining as a development model for our country. This sentiment has become stronger as the impacts of mining, and of the thirst for gold, have become clearer to us. We are highly disturbed about the prospect of a breakdown of social order, peace, territorial sovereignty and equality. We have three central points in our message to you:
