Thursday, July 28, 2011

Se presenta estudio sobre los costos para el cierre de la Mina Marlin

Steve Laudeman.  Según el texto del estudio, Laudeman es "Ingeniero geologo y civil con 21 años de experiencia en materiales peligrosos, manejo de residuos, construcción de carreteras, minas y canteras, e infraestructura para reservas naturales".
Graham Hunt

El 27 de julio, 2011, se presentó en la Ciudad de Guatemala el estudio "Asuntos de Recuperación y Costos Aproximados para la Recuperación de la Mina Marlin".  El documento representa el fruto de un ezfuerzo en conjunto entre la Comisión Pastoral Paz y Ecología -COPAE- y el Unitarian Universalist Service Committee -UUSC-, con el cual se pretende una aproximación a los gastos que le corresponderían a la compañía Montana Exploradora, filial de la canadiense Goldcorp, costear al cerrar la Mina Marlin, en San Marcos, en concepto de recuparación del deterioro ambiental provocado por la operación minera.

El dato resultante del estudio, que corresponde al conjunto de los montos correspondientes a diversos trabajos de recuperación y subsanación del medioambiente tales como el tratamiento de agua, el cierre de aperturas subterráneas, la cobertura y posterior reforestación del tajo abierto de la mina y el tratamiento de colas, entre otros, así como los costos adminidstrativos asociados a dichos trabajos, es de Q389,203,215, unos $50,000,000.

Robert Robinson.  Según el texto del estudio, Robinson es "Ingeniero de minas y medio ambiente con 40 años de experiencia en la producción e ingeniería de minas, y la remediación de minas abandonadas e históricas".
Graham Hunt


Los presentadores del estudio, los ingenieros estadounidenses especialistas en temas de minería Steve Laudeman, B.S., M.S., P.E. y Robert Robinson, E.M., M.S., M.E.M.P., P.E., refirieron que la fianza pagada por Montana Exploradora al Estado de Guatemala, es decir, la garantía cancelada por la empresa de antemano al gobierno con el fin de que éste no incurriría en pérdidas si la mina, por encontrarse en quiebra o por otro motivo, se cerrara, es de tan solo Q8 millones, más o menos $1 millón, un monto inferior a lo que costaría siquiera el desmantelamiento de los edificios y demás infraestructura perteneciente a la compañía minera.

Asimismo, aclararon que dentro del dato calculado de Q389 millones no se le pone precio al costo humano de la Mina Marlin, concepto que comprendería tanto los gastos médicos que pudieran tocarles pagar a las personas cuyas salud haya sido dañada por la actividad minera como el perjuicio cultural que la misma actividad pueda haberles ocasionado a los Pueblos que habitan en las cercanías de la mina.  Los ingenieros presentadores dieron a conocer además que el dato no incluye el costo total del tratamiento de aguas que conlleva el cierre de una mina, ya que dicho trabajo no tiene final y debe seguir perpetualmente.  Concretamente, el ingeniero Steve Laudeman puso como ejemplo que en el Estado de Colorado, Estados Unidos, se suele gastar unos $1 millon anualmente por el tratamiento de aguas contaminadas por operaciones mineras que fueron cerradas ya hace unos 100 años.

Aura Lolita Chávez, representante del Consejo de Pueblos K'ichés y del Consejo de Pueblos de Occidente.  En representación de los municipios en donde los Pueblos Indígenas han realizado consultas comunitarias de buena fe, Chávez ha solicitado que la Corte de Constitucionalidad otorgue un amparo en contra de la actual propuesta del gobierno central de reglamentar las consultas comunitarias.  Para más información, véase este artículo en el sitio web de COPAE, así como los artículos publicados el 3 de junio, el 6 de mayo, el 1 de abril y el 1 de marzo, del blog de NISGUA.
Graham Hunt

Además de los presentadores del estudio, se contó con la presencia de una representante del Consejo de Pueblos de Occidente -CPO-, Aura Lolita Chávez.  Refirió Chávez que "Como Consejo de Pueblos de Occidente, estamos evidenciando la forma violenta de cómo esta empresa transnacional, Goldcorp, entra a nuestros pueblos" y ratificó que "De ninguna forma los Pueblos Originales, los Pueblos Ancestrales, los hombres y mujeres que hemos convivido ancestralmente con la Madre Naturaleza, podemos ver esto . . . como desarrollo".  Denunció que se percibe una complicidad entre el Gobierno y las empresas transnacionales, y observó que "Es evidente que las relaciones de poder del sistema no están a favor de las comunidades, nunca han estado, y ni van a estar".  Haciendo referencia a la fianza pagada por la empresa Montana Exploradora al Estado, declaró que ". . . da risa pero también da cólera, porque realmente esta fianza no . . . cubre los daños hechos en la vida de la cultura, la economía, lo social y lo biológico".

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 Hunt

On July 27, 2011, in Guatemala City, the study "Issues of Recuperation and Approximate Costs for the Recuperation of the Marlin Mine" was presented to the public.  The document represents the fruit of a conjoined effort of the Pastoral Peace and Ecology Commission (COPAE) and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC), intended to approximate the costs which Montana Exploradara, a subsidiary of the Canadian company Goldcorp, would have to assume upon closing the Marlin Mine in San Marcos, in terms of recuperating the environmental damage provoked by the mining operation.

The figure resulting from the study, which corresponds to a set of costs corresponding to diverse recuperative and restorative tasks, such as water treatment, the sealing of underground openings, covering and later reforesting the mine's open pit and the treatment of tailings, among others, as well as the administrative costs associated with said tasks, is Q389,203,215, some $50,000,000.


Robert Robinson.  According to the text of the study, Robinson is "A mining and environmental engineer with 40 years of experience in the production and engineering of mines, and the repairing of abandoned and historic mines."
Graham Hunt


The presenters of the study, U.S. engineers specializing in mining issues Steve Laudeman, B.S., M.S., P.E. and Robert Robinson, E.M., M.S., M.E.M.P., P.E., noted that the deposit paid to the Guatemalan government by Montana Exploradora, the guarantee paid beforehand in order that the government would incur no loss were the mine to close for bankruptcy or other reasons, totals Q8 million, roughly $1 million, which is less than it would cost even to dismantle the buildings and other infrastructure belonging to the mining company.

Likewise, they clarified that the Q389 million figure places no price on the human cost of the Marlin Mine, a concept which would conceptualize the medical costs that could be incurred by persons whose health may have been damaged by the mine's activities, as well as the cultural damage suffered by the Peoples living close to the mine.  The engineers presenting the study also indicated that the figure does not include the total cost of water treatment involved, given that such treatment has no end and has to be continued perpetually.  Concretely, engineer Steve Laudeman put forth as an example that in the State of Colorado, United States, some $1 million are spent annually for the treatment of water contaminated by mines that were closed some 100 years ago.

Aura Lolita Chávez, representative of the Consejo de Pueblos K'ichés and the Consejo de Pueblos de Occidente.  In representation of the municipalities in which Indigenous Peoples have carried out good faith community referenda, Chávez has solicited that the Constitutional Court grant an injunction against the central government's current proposal to regulate community referenda.  For more information, see this article, in Spanish, on the website of COPAE, as well the articles published June 3, May 6, April 1 and March 1 on the NISGUA blog.
Graham Hunt


Along with the presenters of the study, Aura Lolita Chávez, representative of the Consejo de Pueblos de Occidente (CPO), was present.  Chávez declared that "As the Consejo de Pueblos de Occidente, we are observing the violent manner in which this transnational company, Goldcorp, enters our communities" and ratified that "In no way can we, the Original Peoples, the Ancestral Peoples, the men and women who have lived in harmony with Mother Nature, see this as development."  She denounced that a complicity between the Government and transnational companies may be observed and stated that "It is evident that the power relations of the system are not in favor of the communities, never have been and never will."  Making reference to the deposit paid to the State by Montana Exploradora, she declared that ". . . it's laughable but outraging, because the deposit really does not . . . cover the damages to life in terms of culture, the economy, the social and biological spheres."

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

History-making Dos Erres massacre trial begins: on-going coverage

More than 28 years have passed since the massacre of more than 250 men, women, and children in the small farming community of Las Dos Erres, Petén. For 17 years, survivors and family members of victims have struggled to bring the perpetrators to justice, with the support of the Guatemalan Association of Families of the Detained and Disappeared (FAMDEGUA). Yesterday, July 25, those efforts led to the opening of a criminal trial against four Guatemalan ex-military, who stand accused of crimes against humanity and the murders of at least 201 people.

Beneath a banner proclaiming, "Truth and Justice Do Not Die," survivors and human rights advocates hold a press conference in Guatemala City on July 21.  Pictured from left to right: Edgar Pérez, legal support for FAMDEGUA; Aura Elena Farfán, president of FAMDEGUA; Ramiro Osorio Cristales, Sandra Orfilia Gomez Hernandez, and Maria Ophelia Gomez Hernandez, survivors of the massacre. (Photo: NISGUA)

Of the accused, Manuel Pop Sun, Reyes Collin Gualip, and Daniel Martínez Mendez were trained and served as instructors at the training academy for the infamous "Kaibil" special forces of the Guatemalan military. According to the prosecution, they served in an elite mobile task force which committed the massacre in Las Dos Erres in December of 1982. The other accused, Carlos Antonio Carías López, was at the time the commanding officer of the nearby military base in Las Cruces, Petén; Carías is also charged with aggravated robbery, with survivors and family members of victims accusing him of the theft of land and property from the village following the massacre.

On the first day of the trial, each of the accused delivered preliminary statements and underwent cross-examination, all denied participation in the massacre. The court heard six witnesses presented by the prosecution, including two ex-Kaibiles who gave testimony of their own roles in the massacre, placing Pop Sun, Gualip, and Mendez at the scene and describing the acts of brutality committed by the elite commando unit. Serving as protected witness, the ex-Kaibiles gave their testimony via video link in Mexico; both originally approached the UN Mission in Guatemala and FAMDEGUA in the mid 1990s to confess their participation in the massacre.  When asked why he agreed to testify, one of the ex-Kaibiles said, "Because many families need it, they must know the truth."

The other four witnesses, all family members of those killed in the massare, included a woman who worked as a schoolteacher in the village, and had left the community for her holiday vacation at the time of the massacre; and a man who was 14 at the time, and along with other family lost two young sisters who had gone to visit an aunt in the village on the day of the massacre. All the witnesses agreed that the elite Kaibil force encountered no resistance during their operation in the community, and that the villagers of Las Dos Erres were poor farmers with no links to insurgent forces.


Ramiro Osorio Cristales, survivor of the Dos Erres massacre and trial witness, talks to reporters during a July 21st press conference in Guatemala City.  (Photo: NISGUA)

The trial continued today, July 26, with the testimony of some 20 witnesses for both the prosecution and defense. Among witnesses for the prosecution was Ramiro Osorio Cristales, who as a 5-year-old survived the massacre and was kidnapped and raised as a servant by one of the Kaibil soldiers. The trial is expected to continue possibly through the end of July.

In addition to those currently on trial, the ex-Kaibil Gilberto Jordán is serving 10 years of prison in the United States for immigration fraud, having lied about his past as a soldier and his participation in the massacre on his U.S. citizenship application.  Another ex-Kaibil, Santos López Alonzo, is also detained in the United States by immigration authorities, and has given details of his own participation in the massacre.

Recently, the ex-Kaibil Pedro Pimentel Ríos was deported from the United States as an undocumented immigrant; he is currently detained in Guatemala and proceedings are advancing for a separate trial against him for his role in the massacre. During Monday's testimony, one of the ex-Kaibil witnesses presented by the prosecution described how Pimentel Ríos left Guatemala via helicopter shortly after the massacre in order to attend the U.S. military-sponsored School of the Americas in Panamá.

A fourth ex-Kaibil, Jorge Sosa Orantes, is detained in Canada waiting an extradition hearing in August to determine whether he will be tried in the U.S. for immigration fraud, or in Guatemala, Spain, or Canada for crimes against humanity.

Coverage is ongoing in both the national and international media, please see below a selection of articles in Spanish and English which cover both recent events and the background of the massacre and historic trial.  NISGUA-sponsored human rights accompaniers are observing the trial and providing protective accompaniment to key actors in the case as part of the Guatemala Accompaniment Project.

Trial coverage:
Background:

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Justice for Victor Leiva



Dear friends,

On February 20, 2011, our friend Victor Leiva, artist and founding member of the collective Caja Ludica, was taken from us. Victor was shot to death while leaving his work in the Historical Center of Guatemala City, in circumstances which have not been clarified.

We are requesting signatures for a letter addressed to the Guatemalan Public Prosecutor’s Office urging that an exhaustive investigation be carried out to identify and hold accountable those responsible for Victor’s death.

If you would like to sign in support of the letter (see below) as an individual or in the name of your organization, please send an email to quevivavictor@yahoo.com before July 31, with your complete name and/or that of your organization, or sign online.  You can find our Facebook page under the name “Que viva Victor”.

We also ask that you forward the letter and request for signatures to your networks.

Many thanks for your support.

In solidarity,

Friends of Victor from the organizations NISGUA, Collectif Guatemala, AdA, and SweFOR

~ ~ ~


Guatemala, August 4th, 2011
Doctor Claudia Paz y Paz Bailey
Attorney General of the Republic of Guatemala
15th Avenue 15-16, 8th level
Zone 1, Gerona Neighborhood
Guatemala City
Guatemala
Dear Attorney General,
Today, Víctor Leiva would have turned 25 years old. Víctor – known as “el mono” (“the monkey”) – was an artist, promoter of culture, and founding member of the collective Caja Lúdica. Victor was a stiltwalker, a dancer, and he participated in theater and performance art. He was also a teacher in the dance organization Trasciende (“Transcend”). A friend described him as follows:
“He was a great person, he was always very affectionate, very happy, outraged by the reality of life in Guatemala, he had a great passion for creating artistic processes, we remember him as a companion – happy, full of life, and irreverent.”
However, 6 months and one day ago, on February 3rd, 2011, he was shot to death as he left his work in the Historic Center of Guatemala City, in circumstances that still have not been clarified.
This terrible act of violence generated a wave of indignation and rejection in Guatemalan civil society, and was denounced by various artistic organizations, as well as national and international human rights organizations.
We, the undersigned, ask that you carry out an exhaustive and efficient investigation as soon as possible; in order to identify, bring to trial, and sentence those responsible for the violent death of our companion and friend, Víctor Leiva.
Sincerely,

[Signatures of individuals and organizations]

Justicia para Victor Leiva

Estimados compañeros y compañeras:

El 2 de febrero del 2011 quitaron la vida de nuestro amigo Víctor Leiva, artista, promotor cultural y miembro fundador del colectivo Caja Lúdica. Víctor fue asesinado por arma de fuego cuando salía de su trabajo en el Centro Histórico de la Ciudad Capital, por circunstancias que hasta hoy no han sido esclarecidas.

Solicitamos la firma para una carta (ver abajo) dirigida al Ministerio Público de Guatemala exigiendo que se realicen las investigaciones exhaustivas para identificar y sancionar a los responsables.

Si usted como persona o en nombre de su organización quiere apoyar la carta con su firma mandenos un correo a quevivavictor@yahoo.com hasta el 31 de julio del 2011 con su nombre completo y/o de la organización, o firmar en linea.  Se puede buscar nuestra pagina de Facebook bajo el nombre “Que viva Victor”.

Ademas les pedimos de divulgar la carta a sus redes.

Muchas gracias de antemano por su apoyo y su solidaridad.

Un saludo solidario

Amigos de Víctor de Nisgua, Collectif Guatemala, AdA y Swefor

~~~
Guatemala, 4 de Agosto del 2011
Doctora Claudia Paz y Paz Bailey
Fiscal General de le República de Guatemala
15 Avenida 15‐16 8º. Nivel
Zona 1 Barrio Gerona
Ciudad de Guatemala
Guatemala
Estimada Fiscal:
El día de hoy, Víctor Leiva hubiera cumplido 25 años. Víctor –conocido como “el mono”– era artista, promotor cultural y miembro fundador del colectivo Caja Lúdica. Víctor actuaba con zancos, era bailarín y también participaba en obras de arte. Asimismo, fungía como maestro de la organización Trasciende que se dedica a la danza. Una persona quién lo conoció lo describió así:
“Era una gran persona, siempre fue una persona muy amorosa, muy alegre, indignada por la realidad y con una gran pasión por realizar procesos artísticos, lo recordamos como un compañero, alegre, lleno de vida e irreverente”.
Sin embargo, hace 6 meses y un día, el 3 de febrero del 2011, fue asesinado por arma de fuego cuando salía de su trabajo en el Centro Histórico de la Ciudad Capital, por circunstancias que aún no han sido esclarecidas.
Este lamentable hecho de violencia generó una ola de indignación y rechazo entre la sociedad civil guatemalteca, y fue denunciado por numerosas organizaciones artísticas y de derechos humanos nacionales e internacionales.
Las y los firmantes de la presente carta nos dirigimos a usted, solicitando que se realicen en la mayor brevedad las investigaciones exhaustivas y eficaces necesarias para que se identifique, juzgue y sancione a los responsables de la muerte violenta de nuestro compañero y amigo Víctor Leiva.
Atentamente,

[Firmas de individuos y organizaciones]

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Pronunciamiento Público de los Pueblos Mam y Kiche' del Departamento de Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

 Graham Hunt

En una conferencia de prensa llevada a cabo en la Ciudad de Guatemala el 12 de julio del 2011, líderes comunitarios dieron lectura al siguiente:

PRONUNCIAMIENTO PÚBLICO DE LOS PUEBLOS MAM Y KICHE' DEL DEPARTAMENTO DE QUETZALTENANGO, GUATEMALA

Los municipios del área Mam del departamento de Quetzaltenango: Huitán, Cajolá, San Miguel Siguila, San Juan Ostuncalco, San Martin Sacatepéquez, Concepción Chiquirichapa, miembros del Consejo Maya Mam, Consejo Mayor Mam de Guatemala, y el pueblo kiche del municipio de Olintepeque, somos miembros del Consejo de Pueblos de occidente CPO.  A la opinión pública nacional e internacional manifestamos.

Como prácticas de nuestros valores y respeto integral colectivo hacia nuestros pueblos hemos realizado consultas comunitarias de buena fe, en nuestros municipios, donde manifestamos nuestro rechazo rotundamente a la exploración y explotación minera, hidroeléctrica y mega proyectos, que pretenden imponer en nuestros territorios, constituye una nueva forma de invasión como hace 518 años.
El nombre del falso "Desarrollo" que los sucesivos gobiernos en complicidad con empresas nacionales e internacionales nos prosentan, solo son una forma clara de despojo de nuestros bienes naturales, aprovechándose del empobrecimiento y la falta de información hacia nuestros pueblos, nos enfrentan y nos dividen entre hermanos.

Hemos venido a confirmar nuestra decisión y posicionamiento político, el derecho a la libre determinación sobre nuestros territorios como pueblos originarios; ratificando que las consultas comunitarias, constituyen un principio ancestral de participación y toma de decisiones de acuerdo a nuestras costumbres y tradiciones, reconocidas por las leyes nacionales y convenios internacionales.

Al gobierno de Guatemala exigimos respeto a la voluntad de nuestros pueblos, expresadas en las consultas comunitarias.

Exigimos al gobierno de turno y a los próximos, la implementación de un nuevo modelo económico, en armonía con la naturaleza y que respete la cosmovisión y demandas legítimas de nuestros pueblos originarios.

Exigimos a la Corte de Constitucionalidad, otorgar el amparo definitivo que frene la intención del gobierno y algunos sectores irresponsables, [de] reglamantar el proceso de Consultas Comunitarias, lo cual constituye para nosotros una clara intención de descalificar la decisión de 57 municipios que han realizado sus consultas comunitarias, así como confundir y restringir el espíritu y nuestros derechos de consulta.

Hacemos un llamado al Pueblo de Guatemala en general y la Comunidad internacional, para que nos unamos y en solidaridad hagamos valer nuestros derechos legítimos, así como la construcción de nuevo modelo de vida, donde existe el buen vivir para todas y todos.

EN DEFENSA DE NUESTRA MADRE TIERRA

CONSEJO MAYA MAM Y PUEBLO KICHE' DE QUETZALTENANGO

B'eljuj B'e, Kab'lajuj B'e

Tnam te Paxil 09 de Julio de 2011

Public Declaration of the Mam and Kiche' Peoples of the Department of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

 Graham Hunt

In a press conference carried out in Guatemala City on July 12, 2011, community leaders presented the following:

PUBLIC DECLARATION OF THE MAM AND KICHE' PEOPLES OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF QUETZALTENANGO, GUATEMALA

The municipalities of the Mam territory of Quetzaltenango: Huitán, Cajolá, San Miguel Siguilá San Juan Ostuncalco, San Martín Sacatepéquez and Concepción Chiquirichapa; members of the Maya Mam Council of Guatemala (Consejo Maya Mam de Guatemala), the Mam High Council of Guatemala (Consejo Mayor Mam de Guatemala), and the Kiche' People of the municipality of Olintepeque, are members of the Council of Peoples of the West (Consejo de Pueblos de Occidente CPO).  To the national and international public opinion, we manifest:

As a practice of our values and a fundamental respect towards our Peoples, we have carried out good faith community referenda in our municipalities, in which we have manifested our resounding rejection of the mining exploration and exploitation, hydroelectric plants and other megaprojects intended for our territories.  These projects constitute a new form of invasion like that which took place 518 years ago.

The false "Development" that successive governments present to us, in complicity with national and international companies, is nothing more than a clear form of dispossession of our natural resources which takes advantage of our impoverished condition and the lack of information of our peoples; it turns us on one another and divides our brothers.

We have come to confirm our decision and political position, our right to self-determination with regards to our territories as indigenous peoples; we ratify that community referenda constitute an ancestral principle of participation and decision-making, in accordance with our customs and traditions, recognized by national laws and international conventions.

To the Guatemalan government, we demand respect for the will of our peoples as expressed in our community referenda.

We demand that this government and those that are to come implement a new economic model, in harmony with the natural environment and which respects our cosmovision and the legitimate demands of original Peoples.

We demand that the Constitutional court grant a definitive injunction halting the attempt by the government and some irresponsible sectors to regulate community referenda, which represents to us a clear attempt to disqualify the decision of 57 municipalities that have carried out their own community referenda , as well as to confuse and restrict the spirit of referenda and the rights associated with their carrying out.

We call on the Guatemalan People in general and the international community to join with us and, in solidarity, to assert our legitimate rights and to construct a new model of life in which all may live well.

IN DEFENSE OF OUR MOTHER EARTH

MAYA MAM COUNCIL AND KICHE' PEOPLE OF QUETZALTENANGO

B'eljuj B'e, Kab'lajuj B'e

Tnam te Paxil July 9, 2011