100,000 turn out for Cuenca’s ‘Great March for Water’

Tuesday’s “March for Water” began at Plazoleta San Roque on Av. Loja, with marchers crossing the Rio Tomebamba into the historic district.

A week ago, the organizers of the protest march against the Loma Larga gold mine estimated the event would attract 20,000. On Sunday, they revised the number to 30,000 or 40,000. They were wrong on both counts.

Residents from the area where the Loma Larga mine would have been located led Tuesday’s march.

Based on drone images, television station Telerama estimated the turnout for Tuesday’s “Great March for Water” to be 100,000. Another count by Radio Quito put the turnout at 120,000.

“We are amazed and very happy about all the people who came out today,” said Monica Iglesias of the Cabildo Popular por el Agua. “What is really important is that the march sends a powerful message to Quito: Don’t mess with Cuenca’s water! We are pleased the government has decided to end the Loma Larga project but what we demand is that the mining license be cancelled and for Quimsacocha to be declared a protected area.”

Many expats joined the march, expressing their opposition to Loma Larga and defending Cuenca’s water.

Despite the larger than expected numbers, the march was orderly and peaceful. Thousands of marchers gathered near the Plazoleta San Roque on Av. Loja at 9 a.m., with much of the crowd joining from Avs. 12 de Abril and 3 de Noviembre.

Residents from the area near the proposed mine site on the Quimsacocha páramo led the march.

Among the marchers were Cuenca Mayor Cristian Zamora and Azuay Province Prefect Juan Cristóbal Lloret who agreed with organizers that the massive crowd made a statement that cannot be ignored by the national government.

Many marchers developed their own protest slogans, even some that rhymed.

“We expressed ourselves as the fifth river of Cuenca, a river of people with a rebellious spirit, which proclaims to the nation that Cuenca demands to be respected,” Zamora said.

He added that the march was the largest protest in the city’s history. “We’ve had marches of 10,000 and maybe 20,000 in the past, but this is the biggest ever,” he said.

During the march, leaders made a stop at the Azuay Court of Justice on Calle Sucre, delivering a petition accusing government officials with non-compliance of a 2023 court order. According to attorney Yaku Pérez, the officials should be held accountable for granting a “fraudulent” environmental license to Dundee Precious Metals to develop Loma Larga. “These people ignored all the stipulations required by the order,” he said.

The procession crosses the Rio Tomebamba and heads into the historic district.

Among Tuesday’s marchers, were representatives of more than 50 local governmental, professional, civic, social and indigenous organizations. Thousands of students from the University of Azuay, the University of Cuenca, Catholic University and the Salesian Polytechnic University joined the march as well.

Also among the marchers were hundreds of foreign residents, many carrying signs announcing their support for protecting the city’s water.

Following the march, Zamora said the march served its purpose of protecting the heritage of Cuenca. “Our ancestors have given us what we have today, and we intend to pass this on to our children. Cuenca has spoken clearly and forcefully. The Loma Larga project is not going to happen.”