Violence against unarmed protesters in Buenos Aires Ecuador as Hanrine Ecuadorian Exploration and Mining S.A. comes to town

The townspeople of Buenos Aries (Ecuador) met with excessive violence when protesting against mining and the incursion of the police on their land Between 2016 and 2018 a cash-strapped Ecuador sold around a third of the country's land mass to multinational mining corporationswithout consultation with traditional owners, as required by Ecuador's constitution. Around 40 per cent of those concessions were bought  by Australian mining companies or their subsidiaries despite the legal uncertainty created by the Ecuadorian government's failure to consult with owners. Concerned about the damage to land and water caused by mining in neighbouring areas, the people of Buenos Aries in northwest Ecuador have tried to prevent Hanrine Ecuadorian Exploration and Mining S.A. from coming into their town and onto the land designated for Hanrine mining operations. Liz Downes is a researcher and campaign organiser with the Rainforest Action Group Melbourne/Naarm which has been documenting events in Beunos Aries over the past few years. Liz describes the most recent developments in the town and the need for immediate action.