Leaders from Muzo (Boyacá) request protection from the authorities in the face of escalation of violence in the region

After the death of Alcibíades Moreno, who was a spokesman for artisanal guaqueros in Muzo, who led initiatives for members of communities linked to the sector to work in the barren or leftover areas of multinationals based in that region, social leaders called on the authorities to protect their lives from the emergence of threats against them that have arisen in recent weeks.

In context | Family of the murdered emeralder asked for clarity in the investigation so that there is no impunity - Infobae

“We previously reported the threats that were being made to us because of our work with the community and they did nothing for us and today it is sad to see that our colleague is no longer there, murdered at home by criminals who did not think he left three children alone,” indicated a document signed by several actors in the sector. sent to the Police, the National Protection Unit (UNP) and the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation, cited by EL ESPECTADOR.

The demands for preserving their lives are specific: transport and accompaniment by the National Police on their journey, in order to avoid further human losses in Muzo, an area internationally recognized for its emeralds but also for the different “green wars” that occurred in its territory.

In this way, the signatories informed the authorities of their needs: “We don't want to mourn another colleague and we don't want to see more children without their parents. We are people of peace and here there are these Colombians who also deserve to live quietly.”

The murder of Alcibíades Moreno increased the risks of guaqueros and barequeros in this area of central Colombia, but the warnings have not hindered the social leader's relatives from crying out for justice. After the events, Colonel Giovanni Puentes assured that units of the Police and the Prosecutor's Office “are still carrying out fieldwork to collect the evidence to determine the whereabouts of the murderer or murderers”.

Despite the demand of social leaders to preserve their lives, the export business of the gem is on the rise, as DANE reported last February.

International demand has not only allowed exports of Colombian emeralds to rise by 35%, but it also means an amount that is three times higher than that recorded in 2020, when sales were affected by the pandemic.

In economic terms, this represents sales of more than $129 million, a figure well above the 42 million reported in 2020, which, according to Guillermo Galvis, president of the Colombian Association of Exporters of Esmeraldas (Acodes), represented a contraction in exports.

At that time, there was the most negative performance in history in the industry, with a drop of more than half in sales of raw ore and a 69% reduction in exports of the cut product.

For this reason, although there are no consolidated records of emerald production in 2021, the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) estimates that mining was in the order of 1.7 million carats, higher than in 2020, which was 1.5 million carats.

“The growing demand for luxury products at a global level, which has come hand in hand with the reopening of economies (such as the subject of jewelry), has allowed the emerald sector to go through a good time in the last year, which is being driven by high levels of consumption, where auctions of these stones and appetite have again been seen for these reasons it has resurfaced in Asian countries,” explained Nicolás Arboleda, leader of the mining and metals area at Baker McKenzie for PORTFOLIO.

In context | Exports of Colombian emeralds: a business in the rage - Infobae

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