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Mining Resistance in Ecuador threatened
From a colleague's appeal for support:
It appears that Intag region is under a state of siege by special units of the Ecuadorian national and provincial police. We have reports that the police have accompanied workers contracted by the national mining company to conduct preliminary work for starting the mining process. Reports also indicate that the police have established check-points at all the entrance points into the region in order to prevent solidarity activists from entering the region, as well as the media. We understand that throughout the region the police have created road blockades in order to search travelers and detain suspected "environmentalists." It appears to be a mid-level state of siege, something short of sending in the military to occupy the region. We do not have reports of arrests or injuries, although I am suspecting this scenario is very much possible.
More information, as well as links to donate to efforts such as maintaining a presence of international human rights observers, is available through the Intag Solidarity Network.