Dominican bishops reject attacks by Barrick Gold mining company and army against priests and communities

The Dominican bishops expressed their “strong disagreement” with “the recent acts of aggression perpetrated by the mining company Barrick Gold” against priests and communities, carried out “with the support of the National Police and the Army of the Dominican Republic.”

In a statement Published on January 9, the bishops rejected these actions against “against the Arroyo Vuelta community, in which five communities in the area, belonging to the municipal district of Zambrana, municipality of Cotuí, are also involved.”

These communities were protesting against the entry of heavy machinery from the Barrick Gold mining company to build a tailings dam—a place where mining tailings are stored—which implies the relocation of several local communities.

“These events, characterized by the disproportionate use of force, the violation of human rights and the disrespect for the dignity of people, where two priests and several people from the aforementioned communities have been injured, are unacceptable in a state of law. that must guarantee justice, peace and respect for citizens, especially the poorest and most unprotected. “It is urgent to say no to the strategy of fear!” urged the Dominican bishops.

“The Catholic Church, faithful to its mission of defending life and human dignity, repudiates any action that violates the fundamental rights of the affected communities and stands in solidarity with the actions of our brother bishop of La Vega, Monsignor Carlos Tomás Morel Diplán, also president of the National Pastoral Commission for Ecology and Environment,” the text continues.

“It is inadmissible that the desire for profit takes precedence over the life and tranquility of the affected families in the area,” the bishops’ statement states.

The Dominican prelates encouraged dialogue and to investigate the reported events “with impartiality” to punish those responsible, while inviting the international community to show solidarity with those affected and the faithful to pray for peace in the country.

What happened in the Dominican Republic?

In a video that was broadcast on social networks on January 8, Father Johnny Durán, from the Santo Cura de Ars church in the Diocese of La Vega, points out that “this has been a disaster, the army has come to overwhelm (…) here people are being divided with both hands, here it doesn’t matter who it is. “We are trying to mediate and that is how we are.”

With his face beaten and bloody, the priest indicated that “the police, following orders from the Barrick (mining company) today came here to the community and invaded the community (…) here they are throwing stones, bombs, we try to avoid this, we try to dialogue but “The authorities went to kill.”

After pointing out that the community “is unarmed” and wants to be heard, the priest said that Juana Barceló, president of Barrick Gold, had given the order for the armed forces to enter, while the man recording the video affirms : “we hold the president of the Dominican Republic responsible because he is the one who authorized this violent incursion.”

Colonel Diego Pesquiere, spokesman for the National Police, pointed out regarding the priest Durán that “the aforementioned blow was not caused by police or military agents,” but by a protester.

Ricardo de los Santos, senator of the Sánchez Ramírez province, explained that the Barrick Gold mining company and the members of the communities will meet on Monday, January 13, in a meeting in which the Ministry of Energy and Mines and representatives of the Church will also be present. Catholic.

According to the newspaper Dominican El Díathe senator considered that “it is possible to reach agreements where all parties win, guaranteeing that communities receive a fair price for their goods, while the company can carry out the necessary expansion and growth processes.”