Response by Cerrejón coal
November 30, 2020
Cerrejón wishes to thank the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC) for the opportunity to respond to the comments made by the José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers' Collective (Cajar) and some leaders and traditional authorities of the Provincial Indigenous Reservation regarding compliance with Constitutional Court ruling T-614 of 2019 on the engagement Cerrejón has done with this community and the response given recently by the company to the United Nations group of Rapporteurs. …Regarding the statement from this NGO and from some community leaders, Cerrejón wants to express that, within the framework of its social management plan, the company maintains a relationship with the communities neighbouring its operation based on the principles of good faith, transparency and participation, including the Provincial Indigenous Reservation. Likewise, it seeks to act in a manner that respects the law, the standards adopted by the company, and the autonomous decisions of the indigenous communities as well as their traditions and customs…Cerrejón respects the internal differences that exist in the community and the decision of a small group of families, leaders and traditional authorities to not participate in the talks led by the Town Council with the other authorities, which led to the initial agreement reached between Cerrejón and the community.