April 28, 2016
Gary J. Goldberg
President and Chief Executive Officer
Newmont Mining Corporation
6363 South Fiddler’s Green Circle, Suite 800
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Via Email
Dear Mr. Goldberg,
The undersigned represent environmental and human rights organizations writing to you to ask that your company end its ongoing harassment of the Chaupe family who live in Tragadero Grande, near the site of the proposed Conga mine in Peru.
We were encouraged to read Newmont’s announcement that the company will not be moving forward with the Conga mine project. This is the right thing to do. As you know, the proposed mine drew massive community opposition from its earliest days, and the Peruvian government even suspended the project in late 2011.
But we are concerned that Newmont has given no indication that it will drop its legal action against Sra. Máxima Acuña, who has been resisting your company’s claims to her land. Recently, she gained new international attention and support when she was awarded the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize.
In the past several years, Máxima has faced all manner of intimidation and harassment, from physical to legal to psychological. She has been beaten and threatened by hired security, who have damaged her crops and portions of her home. This harassment must stop immediately.
We urge you to please withdraw all security personnel from the area and cease any legal action against Máxima, the Chaupe family, or other community members. Please allow Máxima and her family to return to the peaceful life they wish to live.
We believe these actions could go a long way to improving Newmont’s reputation within the region as well as globally.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Leila Salazar-López
Executive Director
Amazon Watch
USA
Charlotte Christaens
Coordinator
CATAPA
Belgium
Jorge Daniel Taillant
Executive Director
Center for Human Rights and Environment
USA and Argentina
Carla García Zendejas
Director, People, Land & Resources Program
Center for International Environmental Law
USA
Patti Lynn
Executive Director
Corporate Accountability International
USA
Rebeca Zuniga-Hamlin
Director
Denver Justice and Peace Committee
USA
Trip Van Noppen
President
Earthjustice
USA
Jennifer Krill
Executive Director
Earthworks
USA
Mary Lawlor
Executive Director
Frontline Defenders
Ireland
Hannibal Rhoades
Communications and Advocacy Officer
Gaia Foundation
UK
Billy Kyte
Senior Campaigner
Global Witness
UK
Anna Cederstav and Astrid Puentes
Co-Directors
Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense, AIDA
USA and Mexico
Sarah Anderson
Director, Global Economy Project
Institute for Policy Studies
USA
Richard Solly
Coordinator
London Mining Network
UK
Charles Roche
Executive Director
Mineral Policy Institute
Australia
Jamie Kneen
Co-Manager
MiningWatch Canada
Canada
Alex Levinson
Executive Director
Pacific Environment
USA
Lindsey Allen
Executive Director
Rainforest Action Network
USA
Michael Brune
Executive Director
Sierra Club
USA
Ross Hammond
US Campaigns Director
Stand
USA
Taren Stinebrickner-Kauffman
Executive Director
SumOfUs
USA
