Mining Archives - NISGUA

THE ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT AND THE DEFENSE OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES – ACODET- IN ITS THIRTEENTH REGULAR GENERAL ASSEMBLE, BEFORE THE PUBLIC OPINION

WE EXPRESS: We, the indigenous authorities, the ancestral cocodes authorities, women’s committees from the different indigenous communities of Ixcan, Cobán and Uspantan that compose the Association of Communities for Development and the Defense of Land and Natural Resources – ACODET- assembled today in the Q’eqchi Xalala indigenous community [...]

nisgua_admin2021-04-09T20:18:41+00:00April 9th, 2021|defensa del territorio, Defense of life and territory, Represa Xalalá|

COMUNICADO: ADH SE MANIFIESTA EN EL DIA MUNDIAL DEL AGUA.

Lea este comunicado que nuestres compañeres de La Asamblea Departamental de Pueblos de Huehuetenango (ADH) han escrito en el marco de la conmemoración del día mundial del agua. ¡El agua genera vida! ¡El agua es un ser vivo! Agua: Elemento fundamental para la subsistencia. En la [...]

nisgua_admin2021-03-26T22:32:01+00:00March 22nd, 2021|defensa del territorio, Huehuetenango - ESP|

August Solidarity Update: La Puya, ACAs, Molina Theissen & more

Guatemala civil society called a protest on August 15 to denounce the financial mismanagement of the Guatemalan government during the pandemic. Photo credit: Antonio Ramirez/IG: @suculentapro Along with people worldwide who are appalled by state corruption and mishandling of the pandemic, Guatemalans are taking to the [...]

nisgua_admin2020-09-01T19:13:07+00:00September 1st, 2020|Solidarity Update|

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 [...]

nisgua_admin2020-03-28T01:37:13+00:00December 18th, 2019|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

Western Regional Assembly statement on the state of siege

On September 4, 2019, Guatemalan president Jimmy Morales declared a state of siege in 22 municipalities and 5 departments of Guatemala. The decree came after an event in Semuy II, El Estor, Izabal, in which three Guatemalan soldiers were killed and multiple community members were injured and criminalized. There [...]

nisgua_admin2019-09-23T15:01:54+00:00September 23rd, 2019|Defense of life and territory|

One year later, Xinka land defenders against Escobal mine return to Constitutional Court

The march begins to form outside of the Supreme Court of Justice. A sign reminds of the negative impact that the mine has on the local watershed. One year after the historic Constitutional Court (CC) decision that suspended the [...]

nisgua_admin2020-01-16T00:22:12+00:00September 3rd, 2019|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

Solidarity Update: May 2019

nisgua_admin2019-12-27T19:05:44+00:00May 24th, 2019|Defense of life and territory, Justice and accountability, Solidarity Update, Trans-Territorial Organizing|

Xinka Parliament condemns Pan American’s interference in consultation process

An image made by the Xinka Parliament reads: "In our Xinka territory, water, our cosmovision, and spirituality are worth more than gold and silver." On Wednesday, May 8th, hundreds of members of the Peaceful Resistance of Santa Rosa, Jalapa, and Jutiapa gathered at the resistance encampment [...]

nisgua_admin2019-12-25T00:40:40+00:00May 13th, 2019|Defense of life and territory|

International Organizations Publish Statement in Solidarity with La Puya

NISGUA joins 10 international organizations who stand in solidarity with the communities of the Peaceful Resistance “La Puya” impacted by the international arbitration claim filed against the state of Guatemala by US mining company, Kappes, Cassiday & Associates. Community members from San José del Golfo and San Pedro Ayampuc [...]

nisgua_admin2019-12-25T00:43:58+00:00February 1st, 2019|Defense of life and territory|

Boletín de ACOGUATE: septiembre-octubre 2018

En este boletín el equipo de ACOGUATE subraya varios desarrollos en casos jurídicos de alto perfil, incluyendo el caso por genocidio, el caso de Las Dos Erres y el caso de la Mina San Rafael. También explica unos puntos en la coyuntura de Quiché y Ixquisis. ¡Haz clic en [...]

nisgua_admin2018-12-25T18:29:04+00:00November 1st, 2018|Boletín de ACOGUATE|

Boletín de ACOGUATE: mayo-junio 2018

En este boletín el equipo de ACOGUATE da actualizaciones sobre las luchas de la resistencia pacífica en Ixquisis, FAMDEGUA y CONAVIGUA. También cuenta sobre la visita de la relatora especial de las Naciones Unidas sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas en Guatemala. ¡Haz clic en la foto abajo [...]

nisgua_admin2018-12-25T18:21:00+00:00July 1st, 2018|Boletín de ACOGUATE|

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 [...]

nisgua_admin2019-12-27T17:44:00+00:00March 27th, 2018|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 [...]

nisgua_admin2019-12-27T17:44:35+00:00November 21st, 2017|Defense of life and territory, Escobal, Tour|

Peaceful Resistance Camp in Casillas protests in front of Guatemalan Constitutional Court

Members of the Peaceful Resistance Camp in Casillas have created a second camp in front of the Guatemalan Constitutional Court. They arrived one week ago and will remain until court justices make a decision on the permanent closure of Tahoe Resources' Escobal mine. The Peaceful [...]

nisgua_admin2019-12-27T17:44:50+00:00November 13th, 2017|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

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 [...]

nisgua_admin2019-12-27T17:45:08+00:00September 29th, 2017|Defense of life and territory, Escobal, Tour|

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, [...]

nisgua_admin2020-01-01T21:26:06+00:00May 24th, 2017|Defense of life and territory, Escobal, Huehuetenango, La Puya, Xalalá Dam|

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 [...]

nisgua_admin2019-12-27T18:39:20+00:00November 16th, 2016|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

CALAS denounces the murder of colleague Jeremy Abraham Barrios Lima

The Center for Environmental and Social Legal Action of Guatemala (CALAS) denounces the murder of Jeremy Abraham Barrios Lima, assistant to the General Director Yuri Melini. Below is the translated urgent action and original statement in Spanish. CALAS - Urgent Action Public Statement MURDER of JEREMY ABRAHAM BARRIOS LIMA [...]

nisgua_admin2019-12-27T18:58:09+00:00November 14th, 2016|Defense of life and territory|

Caravan traveling to Huehuetenango celebrates the freedom of ancestral and community authorities

On July 30, 2016, seven ancestral and community authorities from northern Huehuetenango began their journey back home after being held as political prisoners. All of the men were held for over a year – one for over three – on charges related to community protests opposing hydroelectric dams imposed [...]

nisgua_admin2019-12-27T18:15:09+00:00August 26th, 2016|Defense of life and territory, Huehuetenango|

Fernando Solis from El Observador on the Alliance for Prosperity

While the United States pushes forward with the Alliance for Prosperity – allocating $750 million this fiscal year alone to Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala – NISGUA talked with Fernando Solis, editor and political writer at El Observador, to get his insights into the plan, its goals, and who [...]

nisgua_admin2019-12-25T01:16:47+00:00August 23rd, 2016|Defense of life and territory, Justice and accountability|

Guatemalans Demand Answers from Distastefully-Named Gunpoint Exploration

News Release: Source: Mining Watch Canada - Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA) (Ottawa/Guatemala City) Today, a letter from Guatemalans living in the vicinity of Gunpoint Exploration’s ‘El Escorpión’ project was sent to the company raising concerns about inadequate disclosure in company filings, particularly considering overwhelming results [...]

nisgua_admin2019-12-27T17:46:34+00:00July 6th, 2016|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

International organizations call on KCA to suspend operations

International Organizations Reiterate Support for Guatemalan Communities and Institutions Upholding Rule of Law and Respect for Human Rights in the case of the communities of La Puya and El Tambor Mine The undersigned human rights and environmental law organizations applaud recent efforts by Guatemalan courts to enforce domestic laws and international [...]

nisgua_admin2019-12-27T18:44:44+00:00May 24th, 2016|Defense of life and territory, La Puya|

Sponsoring Communities take action: UUCA and NISGUA together in Guatemala

One of the pillars of international human rights accompaniment is the backing of a strong and active international network that commits to ongoing education of the international community about the human rights context of those we accompany, monitors the specific situations of those human rights defenders, and is ready [...]

nisgua_admin2017-12-08T21:40:33+00:00February 25th, 2016|Delegations|

Communities defend right to clean water, continue to speak out against Tahoe’s dirty mine

In honor of World Environment Day, communities impacted by Tahoe Resources' Escobal mine did what they have consistently done since the mining company came on to their lands - stand up for land, water and life against mega-development extraction. The situation is critical: just over a year into the [...]

nisgua_admin2018-01-10T20:12:58+00:00June 12th, 2015|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

Civil Society Organizations Speak Out on US Central America Plan

Honorable: President Barack Obama, President Otto Pérez Molina President Juan Orlando Hernández President Salvador Sánchez Cerén, President Enrique Peña Nieto We, the undersigned civil society organizations and groups, wish to address you as your meetings begin at the Summit of the Americas in Panama to express our urgent concerns about [...]

nisgua_admin2019-12-27T18:45:41+00:00April 10th, 2015|Defense of life and territory|

Ixil communities of Nebaj express opposition to US-led extraction in their territory

"Historically, we have never received the support of the state or the government for our development, which is why it seems fair that we be able to take advantage of our own natural resources in order to improve the living conditions of our people according to our own vision [...]

nisgua_admin2019-12-27T17:55:54+00:00September 18th, 2014|Defense of life and territory, Justice and accountability|

International organizations demand justice in deadly attack against opponents of Tahoe Resources’ mine

Merilyn Topacio Reynoso Pacheco, 1997 - 2014. (Photo: Danilo Zuleta) Two weeks have passed since the deadly attack against Alex and Topacio Reynoso, community leaders from Mataquescuintla, Jalapa who were actively opposed to Tahoe Resources' Escobal mine in southeastern Guatemala. Topacio, just 16 years old, was killed, [...]

nisgua_admin2019-12-27T18:46:09+00:00May 1st, 2014|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

Organizations in defense of territory denounce violence against their communities

Late Sunday night, around 10:30PM, father and daughter activists involved in the resistance against Tahoe Resources' Escobal Mine, Edwin Alex Reynoso and Merilyn Topacio Reynoso, were attacked by unknown suspects. Alex and Topacio were on their way home from Matequescuintla after attending an activity there. Topacio was shot and [...]

nisgua_admin2019-12-27T18:26:01+00:00April 15th, 2014|Defense of life and territory, Escobal, La Puya|

Sipakapa is still not for sale…

Neither are San Rafael Las Flores, Nueva Santa Rosa, Mataquescuintla, Jalapa nor Santa Rosa de Lima. In 2005, the communities of Sipakapa carried out one of the first community consultations on mining in Guatemala, taking a stand against Canadian giant, Goldcorp Inc., and sparking a movement that has resulted [...]

nisgua_admin2019-12-27T17:20:50+00:00February 20th, 2014|Defense of life and territory, Huehuetenango|

NISGUA leads delegation with UUCA to Guatemala

UUCA delegates gather with NISGUA staff in Antigua. All photos: David McTaggart This past December, NISGUA organized and hosted a ten-day delegation with the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington (UUCA), home to NISGUA Sponsoring Community, Partners for Arlington and Guatemala (PAG).  Twelve members of the UUCA congregation formed the [...]

nisgua_admin2017-12-08T21:27:18+00:00February 5th, 2014|Defense of life and territory, Delegations, Justice and accountability, Trans-Territorial Organizing|

Tahoe Resources on the defense as opposition to the Escobal mine gains ground

While community opposition to Tahoe Resources’ Escobal project grows and wins support from the Constitutional Court, the company remains on the defense trying to convince investors that it enjoys “strong local community support.” However, the record of local votes in neighboring communities and municipalities, betrays a different reality. More [...]

nisgua_admin2018-01-12T09:27:46+00:00December 11th, 2013|Escobal|

Jalapa says NO to mining! Guatemalan Constitutional Court hears case related to Tahoe Resources’ mining license

Jalapa has said NO to mining. Photo: Xinka Parliament On Sunday, November 10, in a community consultation in the municipality of Jalapa, 23,152 people said NO to chemical metal mining. Members of Santa María Xalapán and other indigenous Xinca communities in Jalapa requested the popular vote in order to [...]

nisgua_admin2019-12-27T17:21:04+00:00November 19th, 2013|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

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 [...]

nisgua_admin2019-12-27T17:21:36+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 [...]

nisgua_admin2019-12-27T17:47:11+00:00August 20th, 2013|Defense of life and territory, Huehuetenango|

Guatemalan complainants celebrate effective suspension of Tahoe Resources license

CALAS and the Xinca Parliament announce the suspension of Tahoe Resources' mining license on Wednesday morning. Photo: Prensa Libre (Ottawa/Guatemala City) On Tuesday, the Civil and Mercantile Division of Guatemala’s First Court of Appeals notified the Centre for Environmental and Social Legal Action (CALAS) that it is upholding an [...]

nisgua_admin2019-12-27T18:42:52+00:00July 25th, 2013|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

Tahoe Myths: Setting the record straight

On Monday July 8, Guatemala's Public Prosecutor, on behalf of the six victims and co-plaintiffs in the case, filed a formal accusation against Alberto Rotondo, former security manager for Minera San Rafael, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canadian mining company Tahoe Resources. Rotondo was employed by the company when he [...]

nisgua_admin2018-01-12T09:50:37+00:00July 18th, 2013|Defense of life and territory, Escobal|

Urgent communique denouncing assassination of Santos Fidel Ajau Suret, member of La Puya encampment

On Tuesday, July 9, Santos Fidel Ajau Suret, a member of the ongoing peaceful resistance at La Puya, was assassinated. The MadreSelva Collective released the following communique denouncing his assassination. Translation by NISGUA, in Spanish here. Urgent Communique We denounce the cowardly assassination of Santos Fidel Ajau Suret, activist [...]

nisgua_admin2019-12-27T18:29:26+00:00July 12th, 2013|Defense of life and territory, La Puya|

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 [...]

nisgua_admin2019-12-27T18:29:49+00:00July 11th, 2013|Defense of life and territory, Escobal, Huehuetenango|

Communities of Santa Rosa and Jalapa denounce criminalization of leaders opposing Tahoe Resources’ Escobal mine

Since the May 2 declaration of a state of siege in four municipalities surrounding Tahoe Resources' mine, 12 members of the Committee in Defense of Life and Peace of San Rafael had their homes raided by police and military forces, five community members have been arrested and charged, and [...]

nisgua_admin2018-01-15T15:11:29+00:00July 5th, 2013|Escobal|

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. [...]

nisgua_admin2019-12-27T17:21:54+00:00June 20th, 2013|Defense of life and territory, Huehuetenango|