In a press conference the National Roundtable Against Metallic Mining expressed the need to be “alert and continue articulating the resistance movement in defense of our land, in the face of Oceana Gold’s foolish decision to stay in the country.”

Even though the Legislative Assembly approved the Law Prohibiting Metallic Mining with 69 votes on March 29, 2017, the mining company refuses to leave the country, arguing that “they will allocate the area for other productive options.” The Roundtable declared this statement a threat, and that Oceana Gold is simply trying to take advantage of the situation by modifying or reversing the law after the new electoral campaign.

The Roundtable denounced the role of the Attorney General in this process, who said in a statement that the company and the state reached “an agreement” in order to get the $8 million dollars ordered by the International Tribunal paid.

Vidalina Morales, President of ADES said the situation is worrying, “They refuse to leave the country. They refuse to leave the communities. This is worrisome because we know a new critical moment is coming, and they will be involved in all of the electoral contests.”

The Roundtable called for everyone to stay alert so that the mining company cannot reverse all of the advances achieved by the people.