Ecuador: Police Harass Mine Opponents

A group of 19 policemen went to Junin on Saturday to allegedly respond to reports that people were planning to burn another property belong to the Canadian mining company Ascendant Copper.

This happened about a month after local mining opponents burned down a building in protest of the company’s activities in the area.

Residents of Junin were celebrating All Kings Day until they were interrupted by what is perceived as nothing more than an act of intimidation by police.

This was the second time in a week police harassed people in Junin. These events suggest that the local police are working with mining interests to intimidate people in an attempt to subdue the massive opposition to Ascendant’s mining activities.

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