Unofficial translation by the Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA). 

You can find the original statement in Spanish further below. // Puedes encontrar el comunicado original en español más abajo.

Before public opinion, national and international, we make public our concern:

THE PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY OF HUEHUETENAGO IN DEFENSE OF TERRITORY AND FOR THE AUTONOMY AND THE SELF-DETERMINATION OF THE VILLAGES

1. In fierce solidarity with its brothers and sisters in the fight for the defense of their territories, against the mining in Estor Izabal. The struggle of the villages is legitimate, peaceful, and just, while the state powers do not comply with the requirement expressed in ILO Convention 169, and ratified by the Guatemalan government; that consultations with Indigenous peoples must be free, prior, and informed; therefore, the multinational companies should abide by the existing laws and the will of the peoples.

2. We emphatically condemn and categorically reject the actions of Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Ministerio de Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, MARN) and Ministry of Energy and Mines (Ministerio de Energía y Minas, MEM), given that these departments exist to protect Guatemalans who are the owners of their territories and that, with fair reasons, oppose the licenses granted that do not fulfill the requirements of the law, and therefore the peoples organizations firmly support the decision of these comrades to come forward in the struggle, with the sole intention of protecting today’s life and future generations.

3. The Indigenous peoples call upon international Human Rights organizations to speak out in support of the comrades that are in the struggle today, defending their territory, and because of this they are accused of being terrorists and are persecuted in order to be imprisoned.

4. The organizations that have always been in the struggle urge the people of Estor Izabal to remain firm in their ideals, in this way showing that territory is defended and not surrendered to multinational interests, who will only bring pain and sadness to Guatemala to see how heritage is destroyed.

5. The Indigenous peoples ask the constitutional president of the Republic to promote peace and understanding to the peoples affected by the open-pit metal mining, since on some occasion he mentioned that during his term as president there would not be evictions because of mining, seeing as it is well-known that this activity brings only poverty, social division, and illness.

6. We call upon MEM and MAR, annul the mining licenses of Estor Izabal, so the peoples can live in peace.

7. The existing social organizations in Guatemala:

We should join in arms, and stand in solidarity with, the 54 communities of  Estor Izabal, strengthening their just resistance.

The national sovereignty of our peoples must be defended!

Defending territory is not a crime!

No to the criminalization of the Attorney General’s Office (MP)

Yes to peace, for our peoples!

We are all Izabal!

HUEHUETANGO, June 26 2025.

Taken place in the territory of K’aibil B’alam CHNAB’JUL.

Public statement from the Assembly of the Peoples of Huehuetenango (ADH) in defense of territory and autonomy, expressing solidarity with communities resisting mining in Estor Izabal, Guatemala. The document condemns government actions, demands compliance with international laws, and calls for unity and human rights support. Dated June 26, 2025, issued in the territory of K’aibil B’alam CHNAB’JUL.// Declaración pública de la Asamblea de los Pueblos de Huehuetenango (ADH) en defensa del territorio y la autonomía, solidarizándose con las comunidades que resisten la minería en El Estor, Izabal, Guatemala. El documento condena acciones gubernamentales, exige cumplimiento de leyes internacionales y llama a la unidad y apoyo a los derechos humanos. Fechado el 26 de junio de 2025, emitido en el territorio de K’aibil B’alam CHNAB’JUL.