[7] Despite intimidation tactics used by Provincial Governor Luis Beder Herrera, the demonstrators stood their ground until Osisko suspended the project on January 30, 2012.
[7][8] Protesters, including the Mayor of Famatina, Ismael Bardogaray, the local Priest, and an estimated 50% of Famatina's population of roughly 7000, expressed their concern regarding the depletion and pollution of their scarce water resources and massive environmental destruction,[3][5][7][8][9][10][11] common outcomes of open-pit gold mines which use the gold cyanidation process.
[9][10][11][13] In the capital of La Rioja, 10 000 people gathered before the Provincial Government House, demanding the cancellation of the Famatina Project, or the resignation of Beder Herrera otherwise.
[3] In response to the roadblock in January, Governor Beder Herrera sent in a local police squad, which did not engage in repressive action on the protesters.
[5][7][8] This prompted Nobel Laureate Adolfo Perez Esquivel to write the governor a letter reminding him of the population's right to protest and warning him against the use of repression.
They are planning a community consultation program and hope to reassure residents of Famatina about the potential environmental and economic impacts a mining project in their area could have.