The Maya People of Sipacapa issued an international appeal for solidarity this past weekend, in the midst of ongoing protests against Goldcorp Inc.’s mining activities in San Marcos, Guatemala.
The Maya began protesting with campesino communities on December 4,2013, setting up two separate blockades on the Inter-American Highway — at Kilometer 170 in Santa Catarina Ixtahuacán, Sololá and Kilometer 242 near Pajapita, San Marcos.
According to the appeal, issued by The Mayan Council Of Sipacapa on December 7, Goldcorp and its subsidiary EntreMares de Guatemala are violating a community decision to reject any mining exploitation in Sipacapa.
The appeal states,
In 2005, the population firmly rejected mining exploration and exploitation in its territory, as was documented in the acts of the community consultation carried out in good faith on June 18, 2005 in each community of the municipality.
Since that time, the community has continued to defend that position. The population does not want its land destroyed by metallic mining, which only leads to social contamination (conflict), environmental contamination, health problems, deterioration of wildlife and economic injustice, as we see in the sister municipality of San Miguel Ixtahuacán, department of San Marcos.
Nevertheless, on April 30, 2012, the Ministry of Energy and Mines – through its general director of mining – issued a mining exploration license to the company EntreMares de Guatemala (owned by Goldcorp Inc.), called the “Chocoyos” license, to exploit gold, silver, nickel, cobalt, chromium, copper, lead, zinc antimony and rare earth elements in an area of 23 square kilometers.
The Maya are now demanding the withdrawal of both the company’s personnel and its machinery from Sipacapa, and requesting “that central government authorities respect the community consultation carried out in 2005.”
They are further demanding an end to any ongoing efforts to force them to accept the new mine as well as the presence of various government officials “To resolve this issue, since the only thing we seek is peace”, state the Maya People of Sipacapa, adding, “The presence of the mine is causing social conflict, on a family level and on a community level, and it is destroying our social harmony.”
In addition to their demands, the Maya People Of Sipacapa are asking “our sisters and brothers from other nations to accompany us in this struggle which [is] in benefit of all.”
Below, please find the December 7 Appeal from the The People Of Sipacapa, in English and Spanish. English translation by Rights Action.
The People Of Sipacapa, Via The Mayan Council Of Sipacapa, Informs:
Sipacapa Already Said No To Mining Exploitation.
“Sipacapa Is Not For Sale”
In 2005, the population firmly rejected mining exploration and exploitation in its territory, as was documented in the acts of the community consultation carried out in good faith on June 18, 2005 in each community of the municipality.
Since that time, the community has continued to defend that position. The population does not want its land destroyed by metallic mining, which only leads to social contamination (conflict), environmental contamination, health problems, deterioration of wildlife and economic injustice, as we see in the sister municipality of San Miguel Ixtahuacán, department of San Marcos.
Nevertheless, on April 30, 2012, the Ministry of Energy and Mines – through its general director of mining – issued a mining exploration license to the company EntreMares de Guatemala (owned by Goldcorp Inc.), called the “Chocoyos” license, to exploit gold, silver, nickel, cobalt, chromium, copper, lead, zinc antimony and rare earth elements in an area of 23 square kilometers.
For these reasons, we have been protesting peacefully since December 4, 2013, to reject the presence of exploration machinery and personnel from EntreMares/ Goldcorp. We demand the withdrawal of this machinery and the company personnel from the territory of Sipacapa, and request that central government authorities respect the community consultation carried out in 2005.
We request and demand that they cease to force us to accept the presence of the EntreMares/ Goldcorp mine in Sipacapa. We continue to be intimidated by the presence of the National Civilian Police.
We also demand the presence of the departmental governor, the director of Energy and Mines, the Minister of Energy and Mines and the Human Rights Prosecutor. We request their presence in our municipality to resolve this issue, since the only thing we seek is peace. The presence of the mine is causing social conflict, on a family level and on a community level, and it is destroying our social harmony.
We ask our sisters and brothers from other nations to accompany us in this struggle which in benefit of all. Municipal authorities should not be promoting destructive projects.
Municipality of Sipacapa, San Marcos
December 7, 2013
El Pueblo Sipacapense, Por Medio Del Consejo Maya Sipacapanse, Hace Saber:
Desde el año 2005, específicamente el 18 de Junio, la población – por medio de la Consulta comunitaria de Buena fe – rechazó rotundamente la exploración y explotación Minera en su territorio, tal como quedó documentado en las actas celebradas en cada comunidad.
Desde ese tiempo ha venido defendiendo la posición, ya que el pueblo no quiere que sean destruidos sus suelos, por causa de la Minería Metálica, que al final de todo, genera contaminación Social (conflicto), Contaminación Ambiental, problemas en la salud, deterioro de la Fauna, e injusticia económica, tal como se ve en el municipio hermano de San Miguel Ixtahuacán, departamento de San Marcos.
Sin embargo, el 30 de abril del año 2012, el Ministerio de Energía y Minas – a través de su director general de Minería – le otorga Licencia de exploración minera a la Empresa EntreMares De Guatemala (Goldcorp Inc), denominada la licencia “Chocoyos”, para explotar Oro, Plata, Niquel, Cobalto, Cromo, Cobre, Plomo, Zinc, Antimonio y Tierras Raras, en un área de 23 Kilómetros cuadrados.
Por ello, desde el Miércoles 04 de Diciembre del presente año, se ha iniciado una manifestación pacífica, rechazando la presencia de Maquinaria de exploración y personal de la empresa Entremares/ Goldcorp, y que lo que se pide es el retiro de esta Maquinaria y personal de la Empresa en el territorio de Sipacapa, y que las autoridades centrales y locales respeten la Consulta comunitaria del año 2005.
Pedimos y exigimos que no nos obliguen a aceptar la presencia de la Minera Entre Mares/ Goldcorp en Sipacapa, ya que nos están intimidando con la presencia de la Policía Nacional Civil.
Y Exigimos la presencia del Gobernador departamental, al director de Energía y Minas y al Ministro de energía y Minas, y Procuraduría de Derechos Humanos para que se constituyan el nuestro municipio a resolver el problema, ya que lo único que queremos es paz. Pero con la presencia de la minería nos están programando un conflicto social a nivel familiar y comunitarios, destruyendo nuestra armonía Social.
Pedimos a nuestros Hermanos de otros pueblos, a que nos acompañen en esta lucha que es de todos y todas. Y a las autoridades municipales pedimos que no se conviertan en promotores de proyectos destructores.
Municipio de Sipacapa, San Marcos
7 de Diciembre de 2013
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