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Saturday, August 2, 2014

Colombia: Violence, illegal mining threaten Pacific region

Illegal mining carried out in the San Juan River region is also impacting the Alto Baudó municipality, according to Guerrero.
“The rivers in Chocó pass through the different sub-regions. So, if portions of a river are contaminated with mercury, other areas also will be affected,” Guerrero said.
Traditionally, Baudó hasn’t been a mining region, but rather a coca cultivation region, according to Guerrero.
Informal and illegal mining, as well as criminal mining – which helps finance the conflict’s illegal armed groups – are occurring in Chocó department, according to the Office of the Ombudsman.
The use of mercury in the extractive process of gold mining has contaminated the Atrato, San Juan, Andágueda, Apartadó, Bebará, Bebaramá, Quitó and Dagua rivers, the Office of the Ombudsman reported.
http://infosurhoy.com/en_GB/articles/saii/features/society/2014/08/01/feature-01

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