Alert Issued: Potential Severe Human Rights Abuses at Santacruz Silver's Bolivia Mine before Annual General Meeting

In the highlands of Bolivia, the Bolivar Mine operated by Santacruz Silver has become a source of tension and concern for the Ayllu Acre Antequera community. This Indigenous group, who govern their ancestral land communally, have raised a series of issues regarding human rights, environmental protection, and the violation of their cultural heritage.

Recent reports detail attacks, threats, and criminalization against Ayllu members who oppose the mine, including a 2024 attack on a group of women maintaining a peaceful blockade. As a result, some women have been forced to flee their homes and remain displaced due to ongoing safety concerns. The Indigenous authorities of the Ayllu have also faced criminalization in an attempt to silence their public denunciations of the mine.

The Ayllu Acre Antequera and their partner organizations demand recognition of their territorial rights, environmental protection, respect for their cultural heritage, and the mitigation of negative health and ecological impacts caused by mining activities. These demands often call for Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) and reparations or the cessation of harmful mining operations.

Santacruz Silver is also expected to uphold human rights, prevent irreparable harm to the environment and Indigenous culture, and rectify past harms. The company is requested to guarantee the protection and safety of nearby communities and human rights defenders.

The Bolivar Mine, located on the Ayllu's ancestral territory, has raised environmental concerns due to its water usage and contamination of the surrounding land and water sources. The mine uses vast quantities of water and has reportedly contaminated the Antequera River, causing health and environmental concerns, economic impacts on the local community, and affecting subsistence agriculture and livestock.

Technical studies have found elevated levels of heavy metals in the Antequera River, and community members report mismanaged mine waste, known as tailings, that gets picked up and blown around by the wind. The company is required to present a plan to clean the Antequera River and prevent future spills of contaminants from the mine into the watershed.

In addition, Santacruz Silver is asked to comply with the mining contract signed with COMIBOL and established in Bolivian law No. PL 345/2013-2014, specifically Clause 28 and Article 347 of the Bolivian Constitution. The company is also requested to publish the results of an independent review and investigation of the tailings facilities of the Bolivar Mine.

A report submitted by the Ayllu Acre Antequera to Santacruz Silver documents numerous human rights violations, including the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent, right to health and a healthy environment, right to freedom of expression, right to live in safety, right to non-discrimination, cultural rights, and the right to belong to an Indigenous community.

For those seeking more detailed and up-to-date documentation on the Bolivar Mine and the Ayllu Acre Antequera community, it is recommended to consult reports and publications from human rights organizations and environmental NGOs focused on Bolivia and mining, such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, or the Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA). Additionally, reviewing precautionary measures or case documents from bodies like the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) can provide valuable insights.

Local Indigenous organizations and community groups in Bolivia often publish statements, demands, and documentation on mining impacts. Academic or investigative journalism focused on Bolivia’s mining sector and its social-environmental conflicts can also offer valuable perspectives. Legal or public hearings involving these communities and companies sometimes appear in OAS, UN, or regional watchdog reports.

Alert Issued: Potential Severe Human Rights Abuses at Santacruz Silver's Bolivia Mine before Annual General Meeting