The Andes
May Day mining disaster in Colombia
An unknown number of miners—perhaps as many as 40—were buried alive as an illegal gold mine collapsed at El Palmar, in Colombia's southern region of Cauca.
Tag: informal mining
The Andes
Bolivia: three dead in miners’ protests
Three were killed as thousands of independent miners blocked highways across Bolivia to protest a pending law that would impose restrictions on their cooperatives.
The Andes
Peru: artisanal miners block highways again
Informal miners have for days been blocking the Pan-American Highway on Peru's coast to protest the end of the "formalization" process for titling their claims.
Mexico
Michoacán crackdown on narco-mineral nexus
Mexican authorities seized 119,000 tons of iron ore at Michoacán's Pacific seaport of Lázaro Cardenas, following tips about drug cartels exporting black-market ore to China.
Inner Asia
Mongolia: ecologist gets 21 years for ‘terrorism’
Mongolian ecology activist Tsetsegee Munkhbayar was sentenced to 21 years in prison for "acts of terrorism" after his arrest at a protest against uranium mining.
Africa
French troops to Central African Republic
France is escalating its military mission in the Central African Republic, airlifting troops and equipment to the capital Bangui ahead of an anticipated UN-backed intervention.
The Amazon
Ecuador: deadly clash in anti-mining operation
Indigenous leaders in Ecuador's rainforest accuse the army of forging evidence in the death of a Shuar man during an operation against outlaw gold-miners.
Africa
Congo: Katanga next for mineral boom —and war?
Following defeat of the M23 rebels in the war-torn east, the DRC is touting an imminent mineral boom in southern Katanga—despite a spreading separatist insurgency.
The Andes
Peru: government ultimatum to illegal miners
Peru's government has issued an "ultimatum" to small-scale miners, threatening to dynamite their equipment if they do not clear out of the remote areas where they operate.
The Andes
Bolivia: indigenous power at issue in hunger strike
Six dissident Aymara leaders held a hunger strike at the doors of the Bolivian congress building as lawmakers debated a bill on assigning legislative seats to ethnicities and regions.
Southeast Asia
Blood jade empire as Burma warlords diversify
Burma’s military and the rebel Kachin Independence Army vie in control for a semi-underground jade industry in the northern jungles, with the exports going to China.
The Andes
Peru: deadly attack on family of miner leader
The wife and infant son of a local leader of independent artisenal miners were assassinated in the community of Pamputa, Peru—with suspicion falling on mining giant Xstrata.