Paraguay: Residents Sabotage Mining Company’s Property

from No a La Mina

translated by Earth First! Journal

The mining company LAMPA (Latin American Minerals Paraguay), local subsidiary of a Canadian firm, denounced that the people of Paso Yobái, in the Department of Guairá, are violating their properties. The residents demand that LAMPA leave and that the government cancel their licenses for gold extraction. The firm has ten years operating there, in possession of over 6,000 hectares, and extracting the metal since 2012.

Juan Carlos Benítez, president of LAMPA, commented that on March 30 over 600 people from Paso Yobái and surrounding neighborhoods protested in a violent manner, breaking the buildings’ windows and shooting some private company vehicles. He added that important politicians are inciting residents to act in this way.

He assured that the order to evict the mine is an open violation of the law, since LAMPA is up to date regarding obligations to the state, having paid fees and royalties in a timely manner for the work done in their franchised properties. He said the concept of fee for operation and maintenance of the land was paid in the amount of $300,000 to the Treasury. It also paid a royalty for gold production equivalent to 5% of the final price at which [it] is sold. Benitez said the governor of Guaira, Rodolfo Friedmann, and departmental councilor Oscar Chavez are supporting the protesters.



It is important to note that the people of Paso Yobái have served as informal miners for a long time, and their problems with LAMPA (and other mines) encompass a large amount of data. In 2012, the company ceded 500 hectares to the benefit of the people, to find peace and be able to work.

LAMPA’s owner is seeking protection from state officials as he reminds of his previous investments of over $20 million into the country.