‘Rastrojos’ threaten communities in western Colombia over illegal mine
‘Rastrojos’ threaten communities in western Colombia over illegal mine
Oct 21, 2014 posted by Emil Foget
Organized crime group “Los Rastrojos” has threatened to kill black and indigenous communities who have called on authorities to shut down an illegally-operated goldmine in the region.
PROFILE: Los Rastrojos
Following protests over an allegedly illegal goldmine ran by armed miners in the village of La Toma, Cauca, regional leaders called on authorities to act and dismantle the operation.
“The illegal miners came six months ago. We have notified the authorities that there’s has been an increase in excavators and armed illegal miners, but the authorities have done nothing,” a community leader who requested to remain anonymous for her own safety told Colombia Reports.
According to the community leader, about 20 excavators are present in the area.
However, instead of receiving support from the authorities, the community leaders decided to remove the excavators themselves after which they received a letter from the Rastrojos in which they were told that “we want a country without people like you. Let us work the mines because they belong to everyone. We are watching to see if you try to take away the machines that don’t belong to you.”
More:
http://colombiareports.co/drug-trafficking-organization-threatens-colombia-communities-protect-illegal-mining/