For the past nine months, men, women and children from San
José del Golfo, San Pedro Ayampuc and their surrounding communities have maintained a
constant, non-violent presence in protest of the onset of mining activities in their
territories. Beginning on Tuesday,
November 13, an estimated 70 people claiming to be mine employees
arrived at the site of the blockade, demanding the right to work. The group attempted to provoke the population,
and thus open the door for intervention from public and private security
forces.
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Community members join arms at "La Puya", San José del Golfo. (Photo via C.P.R. Urbana)
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On the afternoon on November 22, 2012, mine personnel at the front of the counter blockade in San José del Golfo began launching death threats against independent media representing the Comite de Unidad Campesina (CUC), Waqib' Kej and CPR-Urbana. Guatemala Indymedia Collective reported that a group of aggressive mine personnel began using threatening language, moving into the designated neutral zone in order to personally yell death threats.
The mine personnel, known locally as the "blue helmets," reportedly threatened to lynch members of the
independent media and social organizations. The aggressors stated that if aforementioned individuals and organizations continued to take photos, they would use violence against the
peaceful blockade in order to enter the mine. There are reports that the threats moved beyond
immediate violence, with mine personnel warning that they would use their own recordings to identify and retaliate against those participating in the peaceful resistance.
Testimonies from community members state there is strong evidence to suggest that those involved in the workers’ protest are being paid for their participation by Exmingua S.A., the Guatemalan subsidiary of the US company, Kappes, Cassiday & Associates (KCA). The communities in resistance, social organizations and the independent media denounce the participation of the company in these acts of provocation, violence and intimidation.
Press conference at which 25 social organizations pledge support for pacific resistance at "La Puya" (Video via C.P.R. Urbana)
At the time of this writing, hundreds of mine personnel, including at least one ex-military officer, continue to violently threaten the blockade in their attempts to forcefully enter the mine site. More than 200 people continue to maintain the pacific resistance, arms linked, often singing songs and saying prayers, as the company’s strategy of intimidation and provocation moves into its eighth day.
Please take a moment to join in demanding protection for the communities in resistance in San José del Golfo and San Pedro Ayampuc.
For more information on repression against peaceful resistance in San José del Golfo see previous NISGUA blog post, URGENT ACTION: Activist Yolanda Oquelí attacked on her way home
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