...Yamana and its partners announced the combination of Minera Alumbrera and Minera Agua Rica to form the MARA Project in late 2020. MARA will rely on processing ore from the future Agua Rica mine at the existing Alumbrera plant in the Catamarca Province, Argentina. The new and combined project design minimizes the environmental footprint of the project in consideration of the input of local stakeholders. Permits, social license, project status and delivery of benefit...Our primary objective over the past several years has been to engage, to listen and to understand the range of views within the community so that we can work to incorporate all views into the project...Engagement has been carried out through site visits, community seminars and a formal social consultation process which supported the permitting for the current authorized environmental baseline and exploration activities. As a result of our openness and transparency, and because of the commitments we have made, we have built support for MARA in Andalgalá and Catamarca to advance the field activities related to the Feasibility Study and the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the project...In contrast to the negative media articles cited, there have been demonstrations of support for MARA and for mining in general, both prior to and following the events of April 10...[W]e are complying with all legal requirements, and we conduct these activities with the highest standards of health, safety and environmental performance, including our strict COVID-19 protocols...We were shocked and deeply disappointed by the violence perpetrated against the local Agua Rica project office...[V]iolence can never be excused or justified and we respectfully call on all parties to renounce the use of such lawless tactics...