Communities denounce forced labor in San Miguel Ixtahuacán

CALAS and Plurijul denounce mayor of San Miguel Ixtahuacán Photo: Breaking the Silence Press Conference Communiqué Article 4 of the political constitution of the Republic of Guatemala establishes that no person can be subjected to servitude or any other condition which undermines their dignity. On January 8, 2014, five [...]

2019-12-27T17:39:27+00:00February 7th, 2014|Defense of life and territory, Huehuetenango|

ADH statement in solidarity with Barillas political prisoners and the people of Sipakapa

On January 14, the people of Sipakapa joined together to take action in denouncing the granting of the Los Chocoyos mining exploration license to Goldcorp Inc. Earlier this month, the Sipakapa Maya Council, together with the Western People's Council (CPO), filed a legal complaint against the Ministry of Energy [...]

2019-12-27T18:27:58+00:00January 23rd, 2014|Defense of life and territory, Huehuetenango|

Communiqué denouncing recent repression in Northern Huehuetenango

On September 28, conflict erupted again in Northern Huehuetenango in response to the imposition of Spanish-owned Cambalam hydro-electric project in Santa Cruz Barillas. Despite ongoing criminalization and repression, community members continue to demand respect for the 2007 community consultation rejecting large-scale development projects in their territory.During his September 3 [...]

2019-12-27T18:28:28+00:00October 2nd, 2013|Defense of life and territory, Huehuetenango|

Communities in Totonicapán and Quetzaltenango hold community referenda on mining

"The Council of Ancestral Authorities of the 31 communities of Momostenango welcomes you to the good faith community consultation" (All Photos: NISGUA) On Sunday September 1, the municipality of Momostenango held the third community consultation in the department of Totonicapán. In all three referenda in Totonicapán, as well as [...]

2019-12-27T17:21:19+00:00September 13th, 2013|Defense of life and territory, Huehuetenango|

Guatemalan Indigenous Organizations File Complaint over Mining Law with Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

Sources: Western Peoples' Council (CPO) - Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA) - MiningWatch Canada – Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) (Guatemala City/Ottawa/Washington) Tuesday, Guatemala's Western Peoples' Council of Mayan organizations (CPO) filed a petition with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) alleging that the [...]

2019-12-27T18:42:37+00:00September 3rd, 2013|Defense of life and territory, Escobal, Huehuetenango, La Puya|

The Council of Maya and Xinca Peoples denounces the Guatemalan State in the IACHR

The Council presents their demand on September 3, 2013. Photo: CPO THE COUNCIL OF MAYA AND XINCA PEOPLES DENOUNCES THE GUATEMALAN STATE IN THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS On February 28, 2013, the Guatemalan Constitutional Court dismissed the Council’s challenge of unconstitutionality filed against the mining law on [...]

2019-12-27T18:28:52+00:00September 3rd, 2013|Defense of life and territory, Escobal, Huehuetenango|

Urgent Communique: Detention of Leaders from Santa Cruz Barillas

On Tuesday, August 27, Saúl Aurelio Méndez Muñoz and Antonio Rogelio Velásquez López, community leaders opposed to the imposition of the Cambalam hydroelectric project, operated by Hidro Santa Cruz, property of Spanish company Hidralia S.A., were arrested outside of a Guatemala City courthouse. Saúl and Antonio had traveled to [...]

2019-12-27T18:21:00+00:00August 29th, 2013|Defense of life and territory, Huehuetenango|

Declaration of the Second Gathering of the Q’anjob’al Nationalities

On August 21 – 23, leaders and representatives of twenty Maya Q'anjob'al communities in northern Huehuetenango and Chiapas, Mexico, gathered in San Juan Ixcoy, Huehuetenango to discuss the ongoing imposition of large-scale development projects on their territory and to continue generating strategies for unified resistance moving forward. The three [...]

2019-12-27T17:21:36+00:00August 28th, 2013|Defense of life and territory, Huehuetenango|

Gains for communities defending life and territory as mining takes a hit in Guatemala

On July 22, a Canadian court ruled that Hudbay Minerals will stand trial in Canada for violence, including murder and rape, carried out by employees of its former Guatemalan subsidiary, Compañía Guatemalteca de Níquel S.A. (CGN). The struggle to hold this Canadian mining company responsible for human rights abuses [...]

2019-12-27T17:47:11+00:00August 20th, 2013|Defense of life and territory, Huehuetenango|

Indigenous organizations denounce proposed mining moratorium

In a televised program broadcast from outside Tahoe Resources’ conflictive Escobal mine project, President Otto Pérez Molina announced a proposed two-year moratorium on the granting of new mineral mining licenses. A similar moratorium put in place under the Colom presidency was lifted under the Molina administration, allowing for the [...]

Sipakapa celebrates 8th anniversary of community consultation

On June 18, the communities of Sipakapa, a municipality affected by GoldCorp's Marlin Mine in Western Guatemala, celebrated the eighth anniversary of one of the first community consultations in the country. Today, more than 70 community consultations on natural resource exploration and exploitation have been carried out throughout Guatemala. [...]

2019-12-27T17:21:54+00:00June 20th, 2013|Defense of life and territory, Huehuetenango|

International community calls for Rubén Herrera’s immediate release

More than one year after President Molina declared a state of siege in Santa Cruz de Barillas, repression continues against community leaders resisting the Cambalam hydroelectric project, operated by Spanish owned Hidro Santa Cruz. Violence and criminalization against leaders defending territory and the right to self determination has been [...]

2019-12-27T18:21:39+00:00May 23rd, 2013|Defense of life and territory, Huehuetenango|

Take Action: Demand Guatemalan Authorities Halt Criminalization and Persecution of Political Prisoner, Rubén Herrera

Rubén Herrera of the ADH Photo: James Rodríguez, mimundo.orgSign the petition condemning the capture of Rubén Herrera and calling for his immediate release. Since Friday, March 15, human rights defender and member of the Departmental Assembly of Huehuetenango for the Defense of Natural Resources (ADH), Rubén Herrera, has been unjustly [...]

2019-12-27T18:21:54+00:00April 17th, 2013|Defense of life and territory, Huehuetenango|

Rubén Herrera, member of the Departmental Assembly of Huehuetenango (ADH), Arrested in Barillas Case

URGENT COMMUNIQUE from the Departmental Assembly of Huehuetenango in Defense of Territory (ADH) *Official Translation by NISGUA Spanish below It is with great concern that we share the unfortunate news that today, March 15, at 7:30 in the morning, Rubén Herrera, a member of the coordination of the ADH, [...]

2019-12-27T17:36:56+00:00March 15th, 2013|Defense of life and territory, Huehuetenango|

CPO Denounces Delay in Ruling on Guatemala’s Mining Law | Statement by the Western People’s Council

In July 2012 Guatemala’s Constitutional Court heard a landmark case challenging the constitutionality of the 1997 Mining Law. The legal action, presented by the Western Peoples’ Council (CPO), contends that the current law is unconstitutional because it fails to fulfill national and international mandates that require the State to [...]

2019-12-27T18:31:04+00:00February 28th, 2013|Defense of life and territory, Huehuetenango|

Across Guatemala: Communities Continue to Defend Their Right to Life

In September of this year NISGUA reported on the series of violent attacks against community members in San Rafael Las Flores, Santa Rosa and Mataquescuintla, Jalapa who were peacefully resisting the advancement of the Escobal silver mine project. The Escobal mine is operated by Minería San Rafael S.A. a [...]

2019-12-27T17:47:32+00:00December 17th, 2012|Defense of life and territory, Escobal, Huehuetenango|

“Another blow to the Maya people, in the style of Mano Dura”

"Population of Totonicapán holds a wake for 6 campesinos killed during confrontation yesterday" Source: AFP Another blow to the Maya people, in the style of Mano Dura Statement by the Departmental Assembly of Huehuetenango October 4, 2012 The Departmental Assembly of Huehuetenango -ADH- before national and international public opinion, [...]

2019-12-27T19:03:34+00:00October 5th, 2012|Defense of life and territory, Huehuetenango|

Tribunal 2012: “We are defending the life of all humanity with our struggle”

Participants listen as the international tribunal pronounces its final sentence. Graham Hunt On July 14 and 15, 2012, participants from throughout Mesoamerica and North America gathered in San Miguel Ixtahuacán, in northwest Guatemala, for the first ever International People's Health Tribunal.  Over two days, the panel of judges listened [...]

2019-12-27T17:39:53+00:00July 16th, 2012|Defense of life and territory, Huehuetenango|

Mobilizing for Goldcorp’s 2012 Meeting of Shareholders

NISGUA, in coalition with our Guatemalan and international partners, prepared  actions, events and materials for Goldcorp's Annual General Meeting of shareholders held on April 26, 2012 in northern Ontario.  Alfonso Jiménez Morales participated in events as a representative of the Departmental Assembly of Huehuetenango (ADH), which some of you will remember [...]

We are all Barillas – Statement of the Western Peoples’ Council

Unofficial translation by NISGUAComunicado original en español¡In Defense of Life, Territory, Mother Earth and the collective Rights of our Peoples!  “WE ARE ALL BARILLAS” No to the submission of the Guatemalan state to multinational companies.  Yes to life.To: Our indigenous brothers and sisters around the worldAnd the national and international [...]

2020-01-01T21:27:01+00:00May 11th, 2012|Defense of life and territory, Huehuetenango|

*URGENT COMMUNIQUE*

*URGENT COMMUNIQUE*To the national and international public, regarding the recent events in the municipality of Santa Cruz Barillas Huehuetenango, WE DECLARE:Yesterday, at around one o'clock in the afternoon, armed men ambushed three community leaders as they returned from the municipal center to their nearby community of Posa Verde, where the [...]

Take Action! Sign Petition on Goldcorp’s Marlin Mine

Participe en la acción urgente dirigida a Goldcorp - Versión en españolCanadian mining company with U.S. investors could leave indigenous communities with multi-million dollar bill to pay.We need your support to help defend the rights of indigenous peoples affected by mining in Guatemala's western highlands.On April 26, Goldcorp will hold [...]

2020-01-01T21:08:53+00:00April 20th, 2012|Defense of life and territory, Huehuetenango|

FREDEMI Denounces Intimidation – FREDEMI denuncia persecución

Español abajo FREDEMI: Public denunciation of the persecution against defenders of land and collective rights: the persecution of Gregoria Crisanta Pérez  On Wednesday August 31st at approximately 3:30 pm in San Miguel Ixtahuacán, Ms. Gregoria Crisanta Pérez was leaving the village of Máquivil on her way to her home in [...]

2019-12-27T19:39:05+00:00September 8th, 2011|Defense of life and territory, Huehuetenango|

Study presented regarding costs related to closing the Marlin Mine

Steve Laudeman.  According to the text of the study, Laudeman is "A geological and civil engineer with 21 years of experience in dangerous materials, management of residues, construction of highways, mines and quarries, as well as infrastructure for nature reserves."Graham HuntOn July 27, 2011, in Guatemala City, the study "Issues [...]

2019-12-27T19:41:16+00:00July 28th, 2011|Defense of life and territory, Huehuetenango|

Maya Mam People Declare Mining-Free Territory

Graham HuntOn May 18, 2011, in a massively attended ceremony carried out among the temples of Zaculeu, the Maya Mam People of Huehuetenango declared their territory mining-free.  In the presence of community, municipal and ancestral authorities from Mam territory, as well as delegations from other departments, community leaders presented the [...]

2020-01-01T21:07:57+00:00May 27th, 2011|Defense of life and territory, Huehuetenango|

Violence Near Goldcorp Mine in Guatemala Underscores Need for Mine Suspension

In the following letter to Guatemalan authorities and Goldcorp Inc., the Coalition Against Unjust Mining in Guatemala (CAMIGUA) expresses its profound concern following reports of violence in the municipality of San Miguel Ixtahuacán. CAMIGUA believes that the recent incident underscores an urgent need for the Guatemalan government to fully implement [...]

2020-01-01T21:12:48+00:00March 9th, 2011|Defense of life and territory, Huehuetenango|

Urgent concern for safety of human rights defenders of San Miguel Ixtahuacán following peaceful protests

TAKE ACTION through Amnesty International Guatemala 28 February 2011The Network in Solidarity with the People of GuatemalaCollectif GuatemalaBreaking the SilenceRights ActionUrgent concern for safety of human rights defenders of San Miguel Ixtahuacán following peaceful protests We denounce the human rights violations and abuses committed today against peaceful protesters in San [...]

2020-01-01T21:13:52+00:00March 1st, 2011|Defense of life and territory, Huehuetenango|
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