In the province of El Oro, provincial environmental enforcement officers and members of a military mounted brigade raided illegal mines in the Birón River área. 

The miners, who call themselves “artisanal miners,” contaminate the water source without regard for regulations. The one kilometre stretch of land where they operated is scarred by the tracks of heavy machinery. The miners extract quartz which can be processed for gold or silver.

At the five-hectare camp that was raided, the officers confiscated four backhoes, several dredging pumps and other equipment. The workers tried to hide their machinery in the brush when they were surprised by the military action, but the officers were too fast.

“We’re enforcing the law. The law says you cannot mine in riverbeds,” said Darwin Poma, an environmental sheriff with the province.

Mining camps in this province are clustered near Machala and Santa Rosa. More than 300 people live in the San Carlos community, and 90 percent of them make their living in illegal quartz mining. The government’s objective is to concentrate mining activity so it’s carried out by large consortiums and corporations, and phase out informal miners.

“Take all the mining equipment you want, but do something to create jobs on this site. So many people make their livings on this, but they won’t give them permits,” said one woman.

The community tried to prevent the officers from leaving by blocking the road, but the Armed Forces cleared the blockade.

Major Samer Pulle, of the Armed Forces’ Santa Rosa mounted brigade, co-ordinated the raid and confirmed the pollution of the river.

“It’s a blatant environmental crime. The holes left in the riverbed are in plain sight,” he said.

In another operation, the same officers suspended a tailings processing plant that was operating without permits.

Pollution from the plant was affecting three parishes. Complaints were presented last year by a beef farmer’s association, and the plant was closed. But it was reopened despite the “closed” stickers government officials placed on the doors.

The plant belongs to the Chinese corporation Zijin, whose representatives on site said the correct permits are in process. The officers placed new “Closed” stickers on the doors anyway.

Original story