From August 31st to September 2nd, 2011, the Grand Convention Plaza and Exposition Center witnessed the seventh annual International Mining Fair, organized by the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the Regional Government of Antioquia, and Asomineros (Miners Association Chamber) of the ANDI (National Association of Industries). Outside of the event thoe opposed to the “mining locomotive” – proposed by President Santos –were demonstrating against it.
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A young priest from the mining town of Marmato, in the department of Caldas in the west of Colombia, Father Jose Reinel Restrepo Idairraga, was killed by unknown assailants, according to information given to the local press by the Secretary of the Government in that region, Henry Murillo.
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With gold prices soaring to around USD 1,600 per ounce, Colombia has made a concerted effort to stimulate foreign investment in its mining sector.[1] As a result, the Colombian government has favored multinational mining companies over small to medium scale local miners. While this new gold rush represents a significant source of investment and finance for the federal government, it also helps fund Colombia’s four-decade long civil war.
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In a letter sent to Ronald Pantín, president of Pacific Rubiales Energy, Senator Jorge Enrique Robledo indicated that the Canadian company must not treat the workers who
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After 11 September 2001, U.S. financial assistance to Colombia that previously had been funnelled through the Plan Colombia to fight “narcotics trafficking, was also used to combat terrorism. In October 2001, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the paramilitary groups were added to the list of terrorist organisations.
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In the department of Meta, mostly around the town of Puerto Gaitan, there are some 12,500 subcontracted workers labouring in terrible conditions for companies such as Pacific Rubiales, Ecopetrol, Secolsa. The working conditions are so poor that they violate both ILO conventions and Colombian national law. During July workers began a series of protests to achieve improvements in their work conditions.
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Alliance for Global Justice: The National Encounter for the Land and for Peace has been a success in bringing together so many sectors of Colombian society to talk about peace and a political solution to the conflict. Do you believe that this Encounter will significantly push forward the demands for a political solution by the popular movement in Colombia?
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PBI interviews the president of the Political Prisoner Solidarity Committee Foundation about the prison situation in Colombia.
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PBI interviews Father Alberto Franco of the Inter-Church Justice and Peace Commission about an indigenous Nonam community displaced from its land.
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