International Solidarity Statement with Communities and Organizations of Chubut, Argentina affected by mine zoning law

Provincial legislature of Chubut, Argentina votes to allow open-pit mining after two-decades of broad community opposition On December 15, the Chubut provincial legislature, in a surprise session and ignoring citizen demands, voted to allow open-pit mining to take place in the Patagonian region of Argentina.  Pushed through amidst concerns [...]

2022-05-11T17:05:41+00:00December 21st, 2021|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

New oppositions against the “Escobal” mining project owned by the Pan American Silver Guatemala mining company, for violation of the property rights of neighbors of San Rafael Las Flores

Para leer en Español PRESS RELEASE Dated July 15, two thousand twenty-one, the co-owner families of the farm named “El SALITRE”, which is located in the Aldea los Planes, in the municipality of San Rafael las Flores, Santa Rosa, present three administrative options against the license to operate the [...]

2021-09-08T21:24:23+00:00September 8th, 2021|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

195 international organizations denounce latest attacks against members of the Peaceful Resistance to Escobal mine

LEER ESTA PAGINA EN ESPANOL VISIT RESIST ESCOBAL'S WEBSITE January 21, 2021 TO: María Consuelo Porras, Attorney General, Office of the Public Prosecutor, Guatemala Augusto Jordán Rodas Hernández, Ombudsman, Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman, Guatemala Sean McAleer, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Guatemala, [...]

2021-01-21T20:32:01+00:00January 21st, 2021|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

Human Rights Ombudsman makes recommendations on consultation over Escobal mine

A banner reads: "Xinkas: never conquered, eternally respected." Summary of Recommendations from Guatemala’s Human Rights Ombudsman (PDH) on the Court-Ordered Consultation over the Escobal mine A report on the status of the Constitutional Court-ordered consultation with the Xinka people over the future of the Escobal silver [...]

2020-03-28T01:37:13+00:00December 18th, 2019|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

Guatemala’s Highest Court Orders Tahoe’s Escobal Mine to Remain Suspended

Press Release September 4, 2018 Earthworks * MiningWatch Canada * Projet Accompagnement Québec-Guatemala * Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala * Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence Network Late Monday night, the Guatemalan Constitutional Court ruled that [US-Canadian owned] Tahoe Resources’ Escobal mine will remain suspended while the Ministry [...]

2019-12-27T18:38:56+00:00September 5th, 2018|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

Communities impacted by mining deliver message of resistance to Tahoe Resources

Today, the Peaceful Resistance of Santa Rosa, Jalapa & Jutiapa and the Xinca People's Parliament sent a letter to US and Canadian mining company, Tahoe Resources, and their Guatemalan subsidiary, Minera San Rafael, expressing firm opposition to their Escobal silver mine and reiterating their demand for the permanent closure [...]

2019-12-27T17:43:23+00:00August 15th, 2018|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

International community calls for an investigation into the murder of Guatemalan Environmental Activist Estuardo Quevedo

On July 12, 2018, Guatemalan activist Ángel Estuardo Quevedo, a member of the Peaceful Resistance in Casillas which demands the permanent closure of the Escobal silver mine, was murdered while traveling in the municipality of Santa Rosa de Lima. The murder of Quevedo is the latest in a wave [...]

2019-12-27T17:43:42+00:00August 3rd, 2018|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

Xinka People’s Parliament denounces the murder of environmental activist Ángel Estuardo Quevedo

On Thursday, July 12, 2018, Guatemalan activist Ángel Estuardo Quevedo, a member of the Peaceful Resistance in Casillas which demands the permanent closure of the Escobal silver mine, was murdered while traveling in the municipality of Santa Rosa de Lima. NISGUA joins the Xinka People's Parliament in condemning his [...]

2020-01-01T21:04:02+00:00July 13th, 2018|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

Fifty four Guatemalan and international organizations reject US intervention in Guatemalan mining case

Yesterday, 54 organizations from Guatemala, Latin America, United States, Canada and Europe delivered a letter to the U.S. ambassador to Guatemala, Luis Arreaga. The organizations expressed their concern regarding the U.S. government's intervention in the case against Tahoe Resources' Escobal silver mine, a project associated with numerous and well-documented [...]

2019-12-27T18:43:59+00:00June 12th, 2018|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

Forty-six international and Guatemalan organizations call for the restoration of security measures for the Reynoso Pacheco family

Community members demand justice for the murder of 16-year old environmental activist, Topacio Reynoso, outside of the Guatemalan Public Prosecutor's Office in 2014 On March 26, Guatemalan and international human rights organizations called on the Guatemalan state to restore the life-saving security measures for the Reynoso Pacheco [...]

2019-12-27T17:44:00+00:00March 27th, 2018|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

Guatemalan communities denounce Tahoe Resources for trying to provoke conflict during suspension of Escobal mine

Members of the Peaceful Resistance of Santa Rosa, Jalapa, and Jutiapa at a press conference in front of the Guatemalan Constitutional Court on February 21, 2018. The following article was co-written by MiningWatch Canada, Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA), and Earthworks. It has [...]

2018-03-06T15:12:34+00:00February 22nd, 2018|Escobal|

Peaceful resistance movement and Xinca Parliament call for the permanent closure of the Escobal mine

Peaceful Resistance of Santa Rosa, Jalapa and Jutiapa member from Santa Rosa de Lima speaks to the press during a conference held at their second permanent resistance camp in front of the Guatemalan Constitutional Court on November 29. Community members from Santa Rosa, Jalapa and Jutiapa have been [...]

2019-12-27T17:44:17+00:00November 30th, 2017|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

NISGUA’s 2017 tour speaking tour brings together youth organizers in defense of life

NISGUA partnered with Jalapa-based youth organization, Youth Organized in Defense of Life (JODVID), for a 16-day U.S. speaking tour, “Guatemalan Youth in Defense of Land and Life.” Together we helped raise awareness about the community and youth forces that have organized in resistance to Tahoe Resources' Escobal silver mine in southeastern [...]

2019-12-27T17:44:35+00:00November 21st, 2017|Defense of life and territory, Escobal, Tour|

In their own words: JODVID on the the importance of youth leadership in the movement to defend life and land

[En español aquí] A week ahead of the launch of our 2017 speaking tour, “Guatemalan Youth in Defense of Land and Life,” NISGUA sat down with the invited organization to learn more about the young activists who form part of the environmental justice organization, JODVID – Youth Organized Youth in [...]

2019-12-27T17:45:08+00:00September 29th, 2017|Defense of life and territory, Escobal, Tour|

Tahoe Resources lobbies U.S. and Canadian governments to intervene over Guatemalan court decision to suspend Escobal mine

Thousands gather outside Guatemalan Supreme Court on August 28, 2017. Photo credit: Jose Pablo Chumil The following article was co-written by MiningWatch Canada and Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA) with support from former NISGUA staff, Ellen Moore. Tahoe Resources is lobbying U.S. and [...]

2019-12-27T17:45:24+00:00September 1st, 2017|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

Two days after massive protest, police attack peaceful resistance camp

In the early morning of July 21, the Guatemalan National Civil Police (PNC) carried out a second violent attack on the peaceful encampment in Casillas, where community members have expressed their resolute opposition to the presence of Tahoe Resources’ Escobal silver mine. Since June 7, community members from six municipalities [...]

2019-12-27T17:45:37+00:00August 17th, 2017|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

Smear campaign launched against opponents to Tahoe Resources’ Escobal project, after mine licenses suspended

The following article was co-written by MiningWatch Canada and the Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA).  Following the suspension of two of Tahoe Resources’ mine licenses in Guatemala on July 5, Tahoe Resources’ suppliers, workers and the Guatemalan Industrial Association have engaged in a smear campaign [...]

2017-12-08T21:14:48+00:00July 18th, 2017|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

Tahoe Licenses Suspended for Lack of Consultation with Indigenous Communities, While Company Denies Indigenous Presence and Opposition 

July 7, 2017 (Oakland/Reno/Ottawa/Tatamagouche/Toronto) On Wednesday July 5, the Guatemalan Supreme Court of Justice announced that it was temporarily suspending two of Tahoe Resources’ mining licenses until a suit against the Ministry of Energy and Mines is resolved for discrimination and lack of prior consultation with Indigenous Xinka communities [...]

2019-12-27T18:11:18+00:00July 10th, 2017|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

Immediately following police violence on Thursday, community members return to peaceful encampment in Casillas

On Thursday, June 22, riot police used tear gas to disperse communities protesting the negative impacts of Tahoe Resources’ Escobal mine. For three weeks, representatives from six municipalities neighboring the mine have maintained a peaceful encampment along the highway in the town of Casillas, 15 kilometers from the entrance to [...]

2020-01-01T21:24:48+00:00June 27th, 2017|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

Police use violence against community members during a peaceful demonstration against Tahoe Resources’ Escobal mine

Since June 7, communities have maintained a 24-hour encampment along the highway in the municipality of Casillas, 15 kilometers from the Escobal mine of U.S.-Canadian company Tahoe Resources. Blocking only mine-related traffic, they are denouncing the negative impacts they experience on a daily basis since Tahoe Resources came to the [...]

2020-01-01T21:25:03+00:00June 23rd, 2017|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

Statement from the peaceful resistance to Tahoe’s Escobal mine, currently blocking mine-related traffic in Casillas

For more than five years, communities surrounding Tahoe Resources’ Escobal mine in southeastern Guatemala have opposed the project operating in their territories. Through 18 community and municipal referenda, multiple legal actions, and different sits-ins, encampments, and protests, impacted communities continue to show that Tahoe Resources has no social license for its project. [...]

2020-01-01T21:25:09+00:00June 21st, 2017|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

Communities maintain peaceful demonstration in protest of negative impacts of Tahoe Resources’ mine in Guatemala

Featured photo credit: Jorge Tobías Pineda Herrera Since June 7, 2017, communities surrounding Tahoe Resources’ Escobal mine in southeastern Guatemala have maintained a 24-hour peaceful protest of mine-related traffic. They are denouncing the constant tremors they believe are the result of mining activities, the constant heavy truck traffic, and the [...]

2020-01-01T21:25:17+00:00June 15th, 2017|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

Lawsuit against Tahoe Resources cleared for trial in Canada, ‘Tip of the Iceberg’ with regard to risks 

June 12, 2017 (Ottawa/Oakland/Tatamagouche/Toronto/Washington D.C.) An investor alert released today warns that historic developments in the lawsuit against Tahoe Resources in Canada is just one indicator of serious risks surrounding its Escobal silver mine in Guatemala. On Thursday, June 8th, the Supreme Court of Canada denied Tahoe Resources leave to [...]

2020-01-01T21:25:34+00:00June 12th, 2017|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

Six police officers on duty when former head of security for Escobal mine fled house arrest sentenced to multiple years in prison

Featured photo credit: CALAS With files from the Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence Network.  On June 1, Guatemala trial Judge Verónica Ruíz convicted six members of the National Civil Police for breach of duty. All six officers were responsible for the custody of Alberto Rotondo Dall’orso, former head of security for [...]

2020-01-01T21:25:41+00:00June 8th, 2017|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

British Columbia Securities Commission Asked to Investigate Mining Company’s Failure to Disclose Material Facts to Investors

Justice and Corporate Accountability Project (JCAP) – Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA) – Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence Network (BTS) – MiningWatch Canada – Diocesan Committee in Defense of Nature (CODIDENA) (Guatemala City/Oakland/Toronto/Ottawa/Tatamagouche) – While a civil lawsuit moves forward in British Columbia courts against Tahoe Resources [...]

2020-01-01T21:25:59+00:00May 31st, 2017|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

Movements resisting resource extraction are being met with targeted violence

Over the last several decades, transnational resource extraction companies have flocked to Central America. Licenses to construct hydroelectric dams, exploit minerals, or build the necessary infrastructure to make these types of projects possible are being granted by national governments in the region at an alarming rate. With little transparency, [...]

More than 2900 concerned individuals from 59 countries ask Guatemalan Public Prosecutor’s Office to investigate murder of environmental defender

Press release May 17, 2017 (Guatemala/Oakland, CA/Tatamagouche, NS) -- On Wednesday, a letter was delivered to the Public Prosecutor’s office in Guatemala on behalf of more than 2,900 people requesting an immediate and thorough investigation into the murder of 16-year-old Topacio Reynoso Pacheco and the attacks against her father, Alex [...]

2020-01-01T21:26:15+00:00May 17th, 2017|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

International organizations celebrate precedent-setting step toward justice in civil suit against Tahoe Resources in Canada for violence in Guatemala

January 27, 2017 (Guatemala/ Montreal/Ottawa/Reno/Tatamagouche/Toronto/Washington, DC) Canadian and US civil society organizations wholeheartedly welcome a British Columbia Court of Appeals’ decision that Vancouver is the preferred forum for a civil suit to be heard against Tahoe Resources concerning violence against peaceful opposition to its silver mine in Guatemala. Announced [...]

2019-12-27T18:39:09+00:00January 27th, 2017|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

Mataquescuintla reaffirms its commitment to uphold the results of the 2012 consultation that rejected mining

Four years ago, residents of the southeastern Guatemalan municipality of Mataquescuintla held a municipal referendum in which 98.42% of participants voted against the presence of resource extraction projects in their territories. This past Friday, the municipality re-affirmed its commitment to uphold that decision and continue to stand up against [...]

2019-12-27T17:14:10+00:00November 16th, 2016|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

Murder of Young Assistant from Guatemalan Environmental Organization is Evidence of Escalating Risk to Human Rights Defenders

November 16, 2016 (Ottawa/Toronto/Vancouver/Reno/Washington/Guatemala) North American organizations are dismayed and deeply troubled by the execution-style murder of 22 year-old Jeremy Abraham Barrios Lima, assistant to the director of the Guatemalan Centre for Legal, Environmental and Social Action (CALAS), on Saturday in Guatemala City. A group of Canadian and US [...]

2019-12-27T18:39:20+00:00November 16th, 2016|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|
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