We express our rejection of the blockades that have affected access routes to our operations around the town of Tauramena since last Monday. These actions led by a small group of people have persisted despite efforts by us as well as institutions to promote dialogue.
We respect the free exercise of the right to public and peaceful demonstration. However, we reject the conduct of people who despite being given guarantees for dialogue and the mutually acceptable resolution of differences resort to blockades that affect fundamental rights – such as work and free movement – of people from the community, our employees and those of contractors.
The blockades prevent the normal development of our activities, and with some of our contractors we have had to suspend the request for services as a result. Considering that working as normal has not been possible, several of these contractors have been forced to suspend their employees’ contracts for as long as the blockades continue. Contractors will neither be able to make salary payments during this period nor recognize any type of retroactive payment, negatively affecting more than 380 families in the region.
We call for the respect and protection of the rights of all citizens, including workers, and we reiterate the call to demonstrators to use dialogue as the only mechanism to manage and resolve differences, without recurring to actions that not only cause economic losses to the Company but also reduce royalties payable to Tauramena and the department of Casanare.
