The mining 'Goliath' Colombian farmers in a battle to save their land

Argiro Tobón, 60, rolls up his sleeves above hands covered in fresh earth. Before him lie the green pastures of Jericó, Colombia, a landscape cultivated by hands like his for generations. "Look at the beauty of this place," says Tobón, fondly known as "Mister". "This is the paradise they want to destroy," he says. "If we have to go to prison, so be it."

- Euan Wallace

Tobón, who has spent years harvesting coffee beans, is among 11 local farmers and environmental activists facing a lawsuit initiated by the South African mining company AngloGold Ashanti.

Accused of kidnapping, theft and personal injury, they were charged after protests against a proposed Quebradona copper mine, which activists believe poses a serious threat to the environment and agrarian economy.

The conflict between the company and local communities has been worsening since the end of 2023. The kidnapping charge stems from an incident that year, when protesters disrupted an unauthorised excavation by AngloGold, contacting the mayor's office, police and local ombudsman, and stopping the miners working. In a similar incident in 2023 more than 150 farmers entered private land where AngloGold was drilling, removed machinery and handed it to the authorities. This led to charges of theft and personal injury, after a miner was bitten by a farmer's dog.

Quebradona is mainly a copper mine that also has notable gold and silver deposits. Marketed as a long-lasting, high-grade and low-cost underground operation, the aim is for it to become Colombia's largest copper mine - strengthening the regional economy, creating jobs and improving infrastructure.

The company's target is to produce about 1.4m tonnes of copper, 1.4m ounces of gold and 21.6m ounces of silver over more than 20 years.