Last Tuesday, within the Chamical area, the opening of a Technical College took place. A group of anti-mining assembly members tried to demonstrate at this event but were stopped by security forces, causing a brawl. After much discussion they were allowed to stay but had to congregate at a great distance from where Governor Luis Beder Herrera stood. At the end of the official opening, the provincial governor quickly makes his exit through the back door of the building.

Source: Mirador FM

2/3/2011

Curiously, Governor Luis Beder Herrera organised the inauguration ceremony himself, having previously stated that radical elements were not invited and omitting to invite National Representative Julio Cesar Martinez who was actually present by the invitation of the Head of the College.

A large security operation took place before this event from the early hours of the morning, by the provincial police which included members of the BAO team. In addition, we know that from the day before, the investigation brigade at Chamical visited the homes of members of the Llanos assembly asking them not to demonstrate with any banners against Metal or uranium mining, as sources say that Governor Luis Beder Herrera dislikes such banners and demonstrations.

Following this news, an assembly member hung a banner on his own property with slogans against mining pollution. The same brigade, force entry into his private dwelling to remove it.

Then, on the day of the official opening of the college, Assembly members gather at the event but are stopped from demonstrating by the security forces there, causing a struggle and then tearing up their placards. After much discussion and shouts of “we wish to exercise our rights to freedom of expression”, they are allowed to stay but at a great distance from where Governor Luis Beder Herrera stands. At the end of the ceremony, the provincial governor quickly makes his exit through the back door of the building while opposite the front of the college, over one hundred locals from Chamical send him off with chants of: “Men of goodwill use the front door while only rats use the back.”