Judge Daniel Flores, in the Chilecito department, ruled in favour of a cautionary measure filed by the Famatina city hall so the agreement between the mining company and the provincial government signed in August 21st, 2011 is temporarily suspended.

The mayor of Famatina, Ismael Bordagaray, called it a “historic ruling.”

“The Chilecito court has decided to rule in our favour,” he said happily, and considered this the town's first achievement in the legal battle that has most of its population at odds with the provincial government.

Bordagaray explained that among the various suggestions in the ruling, one urges the company “not to pursue any further exploration in the explosives area until the Glaciers Law is applied in the region.”

The mayor also said he was “satisfied” by what he called “the department’s independence from the provincial government.”