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Contact: Beth Geglia: beth@nisgua.org; 510-868-0612

Crackdown on Local Citizens Opposing Goldcorp’s “Marlin” Mine Escalates in San Marcos, Guatemala

Nine New Arrest Warrants Issued Against Eight Women and One Man; Community Leaders Receive Death Threats

July 2, 2008

Tensions have increased in recent days in San Miguel Ixthauacán, located in the western highlands of Guatemala, as local opponents to the Canadian company Goldcorp’s profitable “Marlin” mine have received nine new arrest warrants, contributing to an escalating climate of tension for human rights defenders and community organizers in the region.

In late 2007, a community member returned to her home in San Miguel Ixtahuacán to find a new electric post installed on her property, which channeled electricity to the nearby Marlin gold and silver mine. On June 13th, after having spent many months attempting to persuade the company to remove the unwanted power line from her property, the woman, who opposes the Marlin mine’s operation in her community, finally took matters into her own hands and forcibly blocked the electricity flowing from the power line. Within days, 9 arrest warrants were issued for individuals known for their involvement in local community organizations opposing the mine – 8 women and one man. This follows an incident in 2007 where 7 local men demanding accountability and compensation from the mining company Montana Exploradora (a Goldcorp subsidiary) for coercive land appropriating tactics in their communities, equally innocent of having committed any crime, were targeted and arrested. Five of the men were ultimately acquitted, while 2 were sentenced to a Guatemalan form of “house arrest.” The newest series of arrest warrants further demonstrate the company’s willingness to criminalize affected peoples who present any opposition to their mining operations.

Contributing to the increasing tensions in the area are rumors that the mine does not have enough electricity to operate and will be shutting down its operations for 3 months. NISGUA attempted to contact officials at the mine company headquarters, but was unable to confirm this rumor as true or false. Nonetheless, this rumor has gained traction in the region, angering local mine workers who would face economic hardships if the mine were to shut down for any length of time. Additionally, there is a rumor allegedly from the company-sponsored organization, Sierra Madre, that community schools sponsored by the company will be closed in the region.

These rumors are currently fueling conflict between those in the region opposing the mine and those in the region who are now dependent on the mine for their jobs. As part of the escalating tension, Mario Tema Bautista, a community leader in Sipakapa who opposes the mine, has received concerning indirect death threats, whereby he has been told that some workers from the community are planning attacks against him because of the supposed suspension of mining operations. Community leaders and human rights defenders in San Miguel Ixtahuacan have received direct threats from groups of employees of Montana Exploradora.

In addition, affected community organizations recently accepted an invitation from the company to dialogue under certain conditions for negotiation. The conditions demanded by the affected community organizations included the suspension of the nine arrest warrants against their fellow community members, and the suspension of mining operations in order to create the necessary conditions for true dialogue. The company has not yet responded at this time.

NISGUA and other international organizations are closely monitoring the situation on the ground and will disseminate updated information as we receive it. It is our view that whether or not the rumors of mine suspension are true, and whether or not the rumors of school closures are true, it is the company’s responsibility to clearly communicate their plan to the communities so that rumors don’t spread and fuel local conflicts that could result in violence. By staying silent as tensions escalate, the company becomes complicit in any future acts of violence that may take place due to these tensions and rumors about their operations.

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