Provincial assemblies are used in Colombia to create participatory democratic forums. But since central government policy is to encourage mining in addition to claiming rights over the country's subsoil, it remains to be seen whether the legal tools Ceballos is working with can truly be effective.
The crusading lawyer has also initiated class action lawsuits against four multinational mining projects, notably, AngloGold Ashanti's La Colosa project. He is working alone and says he is currently looking for funding to take those cases forward.
"I am also working to help people develop local [self-sufficient] economies," said Ceballos. "With the help of civil society and local authorities we can do this."
Mining analysts have recently talked down Colombia as an attractive proposition for mining due to uncertainties in regulation, including uncertainties over where mining is actually permitted.
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