Franco Colaiacovo, acting as company limited by shares and limited liability company (Franco Colaiacovo Gold and Gold Sapa Holding Srl). Franco Colaiacovo Gold Sapa controls, among other companies (http://www.fcgold.it/Holding/Profilo.aspx), 25 percent of Gruppo Financo, holding Colacem and Colabeton reference, the top three most important Italian producers of cement and concrete, 50 Nextrend percent, a company that controls the 3.175 percent Investements Charme, closed investment fund specializing in luxury goods; Goldlake Italy, an investment company in the mining of metal extraction based in Italy and which has a controlling share IP Goldlake society dedicated to the process of exploitation of alluvial gold with a refining plant in Arezzo, Italy.
By: Giorgio Trucchi
In its operations in Honduras, Goldlake Group relies on the cooperation of local subsidiaries: Eurocantera specializing in exploration and mining of gold and Five Star Mining, Honduran society has major mining concessions for the extraction of iron oxide.
According to the fundamental principles of Gold Holding, the company notes the centrality of the person, rooting the territory as an element of competitiveness and policy management for corporate social responsibility. He has also written, as they always do transnational business ethics code proposed in respect to fundamental rights, transparency, fairness, environmental protection and ongoing training, among many others.
However, these principles do not seem to have good depth among the members of the Agricultural Cooperative 'Union and efforts "Agalteca, small rural center located in the eastern part of the department of Francisco Morazán, where Goldlake Five Star Mining Group opened for mine exploration and production of iron oxide, the main component of the mineral magnetite and indispensable in the production of cement.
"The mining company is causing serious harm to the cooperative and community itself Agalteca since excavations reach our properties where we have our crops. Also, it directly affects the river and the streams where the water clings to drink, and irrigation projects for tilapia fish farming - Rigo told Martin Lopez, a member of the cooperative -.
At first the concession was covering an area of 7 hectares, yet it seems that the coup took the company so that it extended the area to dig.
Throughout this area there was a very dense forest that was partly destroyed, which resulted in an obvious decrease in river flow. Additionally, the company tried to impose on our property movement of the trucks that carry the material removed, damaging our crops, fences, and endangering people passing along the road, as drivers do not respect in any way speed limits.
According to Lopez, the work of removal began 8 years ago when the mining concession was granted to an American businessman and one Honduran. Subsequently, the Honduran partner decided to sell his share and more Goldlake Group acquired 50 percent of the company. It was then that the manager of the company, Mr. Alessandro Morroni, an Italian national, began to harass members of the cooperative.
"It's a person one can not speak to. He believes to be superior and r belittles and offends you constantly wanting to impose his views upon you, without taking into account the decisions of the cooperative. However - continued the cooperative member 'Union and Effort "- there is nothing to negotiate, because the future of our children is not negotiable."
The conflict escalated in July 2009 when several members of the cooperative decided to put a stop to the claims of the Italian company and closed the entrance to their property, preventing entry of the trucks.
"We took the access gate to our property for 38 days. The company offered me money to convince my partners to give up the fight. Given my rejection the pressures began , harassment and death threats and several colleagues were beaten.
Finally the police intervened to support the company and violently evicted us. I immediately advised the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Honduras, CODEH, and now they are following up our case, "said Rigo Martin Lopez.
The cooperative members also denounced attempts Goldlake and Five Star Mining Group to "buy consciences" in the community, as almost one hundred people work at the mine and convinced dozens of people to buy trucks, assuring them they will guarantee work in the transportation of the extracted material, but without any guarantee to cover the debt owed to banks.
Thus - explained the cooperative's members - the company has succeeded in breaking the unity of the community and partly to isolate members of the cooperative, as a downsizing or closure of open pit mining project would seriously affect a number of local families.
"This strategy of the company, the systematic propaganda against us and acts of violence and harassment - has continued Lopez - has led to concern among members of the cooperative and individual conflicts with the community. Several members were beaten and one leg was shot.
The land: another conflict
The community holds an Agalteca ancestral domain that grants full rights to about 6,800 acres.However, with the passing of the years most of these lands were purchased by families belonging to the groups of political, economic and military of the country, and the remainder went inexplicably at the hands of the Central Bank of Honduras.
Years later, the National Agrarian Institute, INA, entitled 150 hectares for the community, while another 200 were "taken" and close to planting projects, thus creating a conflict with the Central Bank. Apparently, this institution was talking to Goldlake Group for the sale of these lands, thus opening the door to a possible expansion of the mining project.
"The law prohibits state institutions have arable land and President Manuel Zelaya began to pressure the Central Bank president to pass this land, about 560 hectares, the INA and that this institution the title in favor of our community. Unfortunately we were in the process when the coup came, and everything froze.
Now we have to start all over again and press for the new director of INA resume our record and we met, "López.
http://ellibertador.hn/vivvo_general/Noticias/375 vivo 3.htm
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