The Honduran private sector railed against proposed reforms, particularly the idea of a ban on open-pit mining.[6] However, following interviews with top Honduran authorities, the Canadian-UK parliamentary delegation found that the Honduran government was willing to deal with a temporary shut down of mining operations in order to bring in a mining law that would better serve the people’s interests.[7]
By May 2009, a new draft mining bill was complete. It would have imposed tax increases in the mining sector, prohibited open-pit mining and the use of toxic substances such as cyanide and mercury, and required prior community approval before mining concessions could be granted.[8] Debate within congress was scheduled to begin August 16, 2009.
On June 28, 2009, President Zelaya was ousted in a military-backed coup. The debate never happened.[9]
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