“Cerrejon’s comments on publication from Jose Alvear Restrepo Lawyers Collective on alleged eviction threat to rural families” – 25 November 2021

Cerrejón welcomes the invitation from the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC) to respond to a press release published by the NGO José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers Collective (CAJAR) on alleged threats of eviction to rural families living near the banks of the Ranchería River.

Regarding this we would like to clarify that the property referred to is called Nueva Idea and has been owned by Cerrejón since 2016. This property was purchased from Mrs. Maria Rosa Hernández, following legal due diligence and land acquisition due diligence established by current Colombian regulations. In turn, Mrs. Hernández acquired the property by means of an award decision issued in 2010 by the Colombian Institute for Agrarian Reform (Incora). It is important to clarify that during the process of negotiating the property with Mrs Hernandez, Cerrejón conducted the necessary in-person and visual inspections to determine that there was no occupant or occupants inhabiting the property on an ongoing basis. Once the property was acquired by Cerrejón, it was illegally occupied on three occasions, the first two times by a single person and the third time by three adults, and not by communities or groups of families as indicated in the press release. 25.11.21 Cerrejón response to BHRRC