We interviewed Andres Indárraga, from CENSAT, Friends of the Earth Colombia, who said the corporation was brought before the Permanent Peoples Tribunal (PPT) in its latest session held in Madrid, Spain.

The city of Bogota has had to invest in “repairing” the damages that this corporation has caused in the margins of Tunjuelo river, “seven times the figure of the royalties obtained” says Andres.

“Some of the reports included the diversion of the river’s basin, the disappearance of one of its sub-basins and atmospheric pollution by Holcim, Cemex and Colombian corporation Fundacion San Antonio, all mining transnational corporations that affect the socio-environmental conditions of the impoverished residents who live by the river”, said the member of FoE Colombia.

Another measure taken by the Secretary of Environment of Bogota is to suspend all activities to modify the river’s bed as a result of the loss of the course of the river and of the impacts on the aquifers and underground waters.

“In the case of Bogota and Friends of the Earth Colombia, this goes to show that we were not mistaken at all by confronting these transnational corporations and supporting the grassroots organizations”, said Andres Idarraga.

Photo: www.elespectador.com