Fierro Urco: water and freedom by David Diaz // Diego Maldonado

Public Project

Fierro Urco: water and freedom

Copyright David Diaz // Diego Maldonado 2024

Updated Jul 2021

Location Loja, Ecuador

Topics Activism, Climate Change, Conservation, Human Rights, Latin America, Photography, Photojournalism, Water

On October 15, 2020, Jovita Curipoma and her husband Juan Angamarca - both seniors - along with Salomón Tene and Jhon Morocho were arrested at their homes. The four community leaders of the parish of Gualel in the province of Loja and members of the Committee for the Defense of Water and the Páramos in the area were accused of an alleged flagrant crime for the attack, resistance, and damage to the property of others after a vehicle of the Guayacan Gold mining company was set on fire in a confrontation between community members and mining company personnel.

During the arrests, one of the leaders was attacked by a Guayacan Gold worker. To express their concerns, on the morning of June 21, 2021, the community members led a peaceful march from Gualel to the city of Loja. It was a 91km walk The march went through the different parishes affected by the mining project. Now, the defendants are known as "the 14 from Gualel" are awaiting a preparatory hearing for their trial.

Published in GK.city

El 15 de octubre de 2020, Jovita Curipoma su esposo Juan Angamarca —ambos de la tercera edad—, junto a Salomón Tene, y 11 comuneros más fueron detenidos y judicializados. Ellos son dirigentes comunitarios de la parroquia de Gualel en la provincia de Loja e integrantes del Comité de Defensa del Agua y los Páramos de Fierro Urco, fueron acusados de presunto delito flagrante por ataque, resistencia y daño al bien ajeno, después de que un vehículo de la minera Guayacan Gold fuera incendiado en un enfrentamiento entre comuneros y personal de la minera.

Las tensiones entre los comuneros de Gualel y las mineras comenazaron hace varios años después de que el Estado otorgara alrededor de 28.000 concesiones mineras en los páramos de Fierro Urco —compartida por las provincias de Loja y El Oro—. Allí se encuentra la Estrella Hídrica, donde nacen los ríos más importantes de la región sur: Guayabal, Santiago, Tenta, Ambocas, San Luis y las sub cuencas del río Catamayo, Santiago, Jubonoes y Puyango. Ahora, los acusados denominados como “los 14 de Gualel” se encuentran a la espera de una audiencia preparatoria de juicio.

Publicado en GK.city

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