By Meera Karunananthan, Friday, September 16th, 2011he Council of Canadians has signed a joint letter urging the Canadian Embassy in Colombia to support investigations surrounding the death of Father José Reinel Restrepo, a parish priest in Marmato. Father Restrepo was an outspoken opponent to the development of an open-pit gold mine by Medoro Resources mine (which recently merged with Toronto-based Gran Colombia Gold). The Canadian Pension Plan has $6 million worth of investments in the company. The mining project would require the relocation of the entire town of Marmato. On September 2, the 36-year-old priest was shot dead while out on his motorcycle.
As the letter states, “Echoing the demands of committees, associations and Indigenous councils in Marmato and Caldas, we urge the Canadian Embassy to cooperate with all investigations into this matter in order to ensure that the facts surrounding Restrepo’s murder are brought to light. The Embassy should also encourage the company to cooperate fully.” To read the letter, please go here.
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