Tension in La Cuaba: Community members call for government intervention amid conflict over recycling plant
The situation in La Cuaba, Pedro Brand municipality, has escalated following the persistence of groups blocking access to the land where a recycling plant and solid waste management project will be developed. Faced with the risk of the conflict escalating, community leaders Alex Reyes and Yeison Melo formally requested the intervention of the central government.
This call arises after the Superior Administrative Court (TSA) dismissed the precautionary measure appeal filed by local organizations, who sought to paralyze the construction by suspending environmental permits. The court determined that there were insufficient grounds to stop the work, highlighting that the project has the corresponding legal licenses and that waste management is an activity of public interest subject to state control.
Concern for citizen security
Alex Reyes expressed his alarm at acts of vandalism recorded in the area, pointing to a recent incident where tires were set on fire near a gas station. According to the leader, this type of reckless action puts hundreds of families living in the vicinity in imminent danger.
We are calling on the Government to intervene before a tragedy occurs. It is one thing to protest for a community and quite another to carry out actions that could endanger the lives of hundreds of families.
Alex Reyes, community leader
For his part, Yeison Melo emphasized the need for authorities to restore order. Melo warned that certain groups may be using social unrest for political purposes, diverting the technical debate toward the destabilization of the area.
Institutional stance and call for dialogue
- The Ministry of Environment reaffirmed that the environmental license granted includes strict supervision mechanisms, audits, and constant compliance reports.
- Community leaders emphasized that any opposition must be channeled through institutional channels and not through force.
- Authorities were requested to maintain permanent surveillance in the area to guarantee free transit and the safety of citizens.
Reyes and Melo reiterated that, although communities have the right to express their concerns, it is imperative that respect for the law and safety prevail, advocating for a constructive dialogue that allows for resolving differences without compromising the physical integrity of the inhabitants of Pedro Brand.
