In a statement, the movement warned that the presence of paramilitaries responds to the beginning of mining operations by the Atico Mining Canadian transnational.

The Front claims that the company is using armed groups to intimidate farmers who oppose its mining project in that jurisdiction.

The members of this community blame the government of Daniel Noboa and the Ministry of Energy and Mines, for failing to comply with legal and constitutional obligations regarding the right to consultation and prior, free and informed consent of communities, indigenous peoples and nationalities to move forward with mining extraction.

abo/mem/nta