Chilecito, La Rioja, Thursday June 7, 2007
In the face of statements by Minister of Government of the province of La Rioja
Lazaro Fonzalida to suspend the popular consult (scheduled for July 29) because
according to him there is no reason for it because of the supposed abandonment of
Barrick Gold from the Famatina project, and that the law would remain "abstract,"
(www.elindependiente.com.ar), the Assemblies of the people of Famatina, Chilecito,
Capital, Pituil and Chaarmuyo suspect a BETRAYAL by the current government of the
province who are maintaining a discourse �in tune� with the citizen assemblies,
and today are suddenly changing their discourse and talking about "mining with
control" and trying to mock the people, the Coordination expresses its repudiation
and emits the following communication:
   
Coordination of the Citizens Assemblies for Life
Press Release
   
  Many voices have been heard from this group of informed citizens, who, worried and
committed to the defense of life and of our natural resources, initiated a
struggle against all odds to prevent the open-pit mining exploitation  of the
Famatina Range.

  Throughout this struggle, we have confronted those who have tried to discredit us
and silence our voices, as well as a public who is joining and supporting us
because they understand that social resistance is the only instrument to make our
rights heard, although we live in a democracy.

  We are in a decisive stage of our struggle.  The moment has arrived for each one
of us to assume, with honesty and responsibility, the role that corresponds to
them.

  As citizens, we demand that our political leaders take a clear, concrete and
coherent posture in defense of life and of the natural resources, a posture that
should translate into actions that benefit the people and not he multinational
corporations and some few who are making million dollar businesses by compromising
the future of our next generations.

  We do not and will not accept double discourses, nor betrayal, and we will not
come now and talk about "mining with monitoring" or "vigilance" because this is
the same as to talk about "responsible mining", a term used by the multinational
companies to make us believe that they do not produce contamination.
  There are overwhelming cases where the State never could control activities of
this type, such as Bajo la Alumbrera (Xstrata in Catamarca), Veladero (Barrick in
San Juan), Curtiembre Yoma (Nonogasta), waste dumps, etc.  How many examples do we
need? 

  Politicians and Riojanos all, NOW IS THE TIME!  We have in our hands hte power to
decide our own destiny.

  From the Coordination of the Citizens Assemblies for Life, we warn that we are not
going to give up our struggle, we are not going to bend.  With or without the
popular consult, with public officials corrupt or committed to their people, we
will continue forward, and with every blow, we will respond, strengthening our
methods until we reach our objectives.

   
We reaffirm once more, 
that FAMATINA CANNOT BE TOUCHED.
Press Release:
   
  The Assemblies of the people of Chilecito and Famatina denounce that Barrick Gold
is continuing their plan of disarticulating the social movements and continues
manipulating with the political parties speculating with the upcoming elections. 
Days ago, it has come out in the press that an ex-owner of a radio, from San Juan,
known by the name "Perro Ju�rez" has been visiting the medias trying to seduce,
with plenty of money, journalists in order "to twist the will of the people and
put them in favor of mining."
   
  We alert all to this situation and repudiate the actions of the megamining
companies, who are acting according to a plan designed for Latin America, and that
already is being carried out in Esquel, San Juan and Catamarca.
   
  COORDINADORA DE ASAMBLEAS CIUDADANAS POR LA VIDA CHILECITO
  Vecinos Autoconvocados de FAMATINA, PITUIL, CHA�ARMUYO Y CAPITAL