Morales annuls mining, banking and investment laws in Bolivia http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2011/05/morales-annuls-mining-banking-and.html

At a mass rally Sunday in the Coliseum in Huanuni, Bolivian Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera urged Huanuni miners to "take control" of the leadership of the Miners' Federation to promote state mining and economic activity in Bolivia. He also called on miners to "preserve and protect" the struggles of indigenous peoples, workers and peasants which "form the backbone of our country." Last month Bolivian mining unions asked the state to "recover" the silver, zinc, lead and tin mines currently operated by private companies.

However, Deputy Mining Minister Hector Cordova told Bloomberg that a new mining bill to be sent to the Bolivian Congress won't substantially change contract conditions for Coeur d'Alene Mines, which operates the nation's largest pure silver mine, San Bartolome; Pan America Silver's San Vincente silver mine;and Orvana Minerals.Nevertheless, he said the government will seek to renegotiate contracts with Glencore International,

whose Sinchi Wayra subsidiary controls five small and medium-size mines in Bolivia, including Porco, and will sign a contract with Sumitomo Metal Mining, which operates the San Cristobal silver-lead-zinc mine.Cordova told Bloomberg that the new legislation is aimed at giving state miner Comibol a controlling interest in joint ventures and forces companies to return mining concessions which aren't being developed.Meanwhile, the new mining law will require mining companies "to pay a little more in royalties because metals prices have risen," he added.