To my mind it all goes back to last year. I believe that there were three way meetings starting in Nov/Dec, between Aurelian, Kinross, and the Ecuador government. Sometime in January there was an agreement between the three, Kinross was already a trusted player in Ecuador. But in order for Kinross to afford Aurelian the ARU share price had to drop drastically. The plan was hammered out sometime in the Jan/ Feb period. Keith Barron was told, if you don't like it, get out,and he did. The BoD were advised that if they want to protect their interests they better start selling now, sooner rather than later, as we don't want to make it too obvious.

The cease work order on 18 April was designed for one reason only, and that was to drop the Aurelian share price to an acceptable level for Kinross. There was no need to go through this rigmarole to regain control of concessions as we were led to believe.

The draft Mining Law that was leaked in June and the positive statements by P.A. were simply to keep the suckers (thats us guys & gals) sucked in. The 15m shares at $4.75 was simply insurance that things go smoothly. I believe that PA and the BoD were strictly pawns in this game, they had been told by Correa that this is the way it is going down whether they liked it or not. Their options were a payoff to keep their mouths shut. Newmont, Barrick, et al had been informed that if they interfered the government would make their life miserable in Ecuador (You don't f**** with the Latino Machismo, especially in their own country).

Why Kinross was selected I don't know, perhaps during their two years or so in country they had managed to establish some special relationship with Correa and company. Lets say, help in financing a Presidential election bid, who knows.

What's really pissed Tye off, is this 'fly in the ointment', called the Agoracom ARU Forum. The best laid plans of mice and jerks, can really get screwed up.

I've just let my imagination run free here, all to be taken with a pinch of salt.