Urgent action to support La Puya communities opposing US-owned gold mine

Take action: Stand in solidarity with La Puya

On Friday, May 23, the communities in resistance of La Puya were violently evicted from their blockade at the entrance to El Tambor gold mine. This attack comes after more than two years of peaceful resistance to the project, and repeated calls for dialogue. Hundreds of police used tear gas and flash bombs to remove the women who formed the front lines of the resistance. Over twenty people were injured. 

Police accompany machinery sent by Kappes, Cassiday and Associates to enter the mine site.
Photo: James Rodríguez, mimundo.org

The communities of San José del Golfo and San Pedro Ayampuc that form the resistance at La Puya explain: 

"The purpose of the operation, directed by the Ministry of the Interior, was to forcibly introduce machinery through the mine entrance, where the communities in resistance installed their blockade on March 2, 2012… 

The police forces included women who were there to confront the brave women of the resistance who had positioned themselves on their knees at the entrance, singing the national anthem and religious songs. The police, gloating in their brutality, lashed out against the women, shooting tear gas bombs at protesters' bodies, causing grave wounds to women, children and the elderly. [These actions] even affected the female police who were on the front lines without protection. 

Given this situation, which was planned by [the Minister of the Interior] Mauricio López Bonilla and the Director of the National Civil Police Telémaco Pérez, the communities resisted and defended themselves from police aggression for more than an hour and a half. Personnel from the High Commissioners Office on Human Rights, the [Guatemalan] Human Rights Ombudsman’s office, as well as human rights observers from international and national institutions bore witness to the police action." 

Women of the La Puya peaceful resistance. Photo: James Rodríguez, mimundo.org

Despite this violent repression, the brave men and women of La Puya continue to resist, and call on the international community "to take urgent measures in defense of the rights of the people of San José del Golfo and San Pedro Ayampuc."

Join NISGUA, GHRC and MiningWatch Canada in solidarity with La Puya: Call on KCA and Radius Gold, the principal companies invested in the project, to halt all mining activities until the dialogue process has concluded between the Guatemalan government and the communities of La Puya, and to cease any pressure on Guatemalan authorities to use violent force against the protesters. 

Please consider adding your organizational signature to the letter and circulate it widely for individual sign ons via our online action page.

Dear Kappes Cassiday & Associates and Radius Gold, 

I write to you, the principal companies invested in the El Tambor mine project just north of Guatemala City, to vociferously denounce the violent repression on Friday May 23rd that Guatemalan security forces used on your behalf against men, women and children who have been peacefully defending their water, health and community wellbeing since March 2nd 2012. Considering the ongoing dialogue process between the Guatemalan government and the community, we urge you to halt all mining activities and to desist from any efforts to pressure Guatemalan authorities to use aggression and violent force against Guatemalan citizens.

On Friday, hundreds of police were deployed to the encampment known as La Puya; they used tear gas and flash bombs against an unarmed and peaceful group of protesters. Some were caught on video throwing rocks on the group from a nearby hill. Over twenty people were injured, two seriously; seven were taken to the hospital in Guatemala City. 

People at La Puya have demonstrated ongoing willingness to dialogue to find a non-violent solution to community concerns regarding the future of your project. In fact, for almost one year, representatives of the movement have been participating in a high-level dialogue with their government. They have requested that this dialogue be solely with their government – and not with KCA or Radius - because the issues on the table relate to the government’s obligations to respect the rights of its citizens. 

The dialogue stalled early last week when the government refused to allow the conversation to be recorded. During the standoff at La Puya on Friday, the Vice-Minister of the Interior insinuated that the government had agreed to accompany the mine equipment because the dialogue was effectively "broken." Community members at La Puya continue to reiterate that they want to complete the dialogue process, but with transparency. Encouraging the Guatemalan authorities and affected communities to find a peaceful solution to this conflict should be your top priority. 

The attack on Friday was not the first incident of violence against the people of La Puya. In June 2012, an unknown gunman shot and wounded Yolanda Oquelí while she was on her way home from the roadblock. In addition, security guards hired by EXMINGUA were convicted of intimidating journalists at the roadblock in December 2012.

Community concerns about the impact of the project on water and health are supported by an evaluation carried out by hydrogeology and geochemistry expert Robert Moran. He states in a May 22, 2014 review that your company’s Environmental Impact Assessment is the worst quality that he has seen out of hundreds he has reviewed in 42 years of experience. While the process has been slow, all parties were working toward an agreement to review the EIA to address the report's failure to consider water contamination due to high levels of arsenic already present in the soil. 

Although Radius Gold sold its shares in the local Guatemalan subsidiary Exploraciones Mineras de Guatemala S.A. (EXMINGUA) to KCA in August 2012, it retains an economic interest in the mine. The company's 2013 audited financial statements state that three quarters of the cost of the sale transaction will be paid to Radius once gold shipments commence from the property and that Radius also anticipates quarterly payments from KCA based on gold production. 

I call on Kappes, Cassiday & Associates of Nevada and Radius Gold of Vancouver halt all mining activities out of support for the dialogue process and to publicly call for an end to the use of violent force by Guatemalan security forces.

Sincerely,

[Your name or organization here]

cc: 

President Otto Pérez Molina

Guatemalan Ministry of the Interior

U.S. Embassy in Guatemala

Canadian Embassy in Guatemala

Urgent Action from La Puya: Call for an End to Police Intimidation and Eviction Threats

The National Police, at the service of US mining company Kappes Cassiday and Associates (KCA), have been carrying out acts of intimidation and threatening eviction against communities in resistance at La Puya, just north of Guatemala City. Early April 9, a local company contracted by KCA, Transmac S.A., arrived at the mine site with heavy machinery, and with a National Civil Police (PNC) escort as ordered by the Ministry of the Interior. By mid-day, Transmac was forced to remove the machinery from the area. However, two representatives of KCA’s local subsidiary, EXMINGUA, remained throughout the day. The police presence also stayed and increased. By 2 pm, there were roughly 300 agents, many of whom were women dressed in full riot gear, lined up outside the entrance to the peaceful encampment.

The massive police presence, particularly the presence of female agents, gave the impression that an eviction attempt was imminent. Hundreds of people gathered at La Puya spent the afternoon under intense pressure and fear. While an arrest warrant was never emitted and the PNC made no attempt to remove the encampment, there is a clear intent to intimidate and provoke confrontation with the population in peaceful resistance.

The communities opposing KCA's El Tambor gold mine have made clear that their actions are focused on stopping a project that will destroy their lives and livelihoods. They are not blocking the public road or impeding free transit. The communities maintain their willingness to dialogue with the government.

Excessive police presence continues in areas surrounding La Puya and there is concern that a violent eviction will be attempted in the near future.

Take Action!

Call and email Kappes Cassiday and Associates CEO, Dan Kappes, and the Ministry of the Interior in Guatemala now:

• Express your concern for the safety of the men, women and children in peaceful resistance;
• Demand an end to intimidation and harassment by police and private security, and respect for human rights;
• Urge respect for the ongoing dialogue and No to eviction of La Puya. 

Kappes Cassiday and Associates
Dan Kappes - kca@kcareno.com
Ryan Adams – radams@kcareno.com
US Phone (775) 972- 7575


Ministry of the Interior
Minister Mauricio López Bonilla - fdeleon@mingob.gob.gt
Guatemala Phone (011) 502-2413-8888

Letter to the president expressing solidarity with San José Nacahuil

On September 7, six unknown men shot and killed eleven in San José Nacahuil, in the municipality of San Pedro Ayampuc. Today, NISGUA submitted a letter, signed by over a dozen international organizations, to President Otto Pérez Molina to express our solidarity with the community of San José Nacahuil and to call for a thorough and impartial investigation of this crime. Read the full letter below.

September 20, 2013

Dear President Otto Pérez Molina,

The undersigned organizations express our condolences to the community of San José Nacahuil and to the families of those who lost loved ones this past Saturday, September 7th. In solidarity with them, we call on the Guatemalan government to carry out a thorough and impartial investigation into the deadly attack, especially into allegations of police involvement.

On September 7 at 11 pm, 24 people were shot by unknown men in the town of San José Nacahuil in the municipality of San Pedro Ayampuc, just north of Guatemala City. Eleven of the victims died at the scene.

Minister of the Interior Lopez Bonilla immediately blamed the attack on gangs and placed the community under the control of a special contingent of police and soldiers. However, relatives of those killed suspect that the police may have facilitated the crime, or even carried it out. According to various reports, police arrived 20-30 minutes before the shooting, stopping at a few businesses demanding bribes. Community members also claim that the killers followed the same route through town on their killing spree that the police had taken minutes earlier. The Vice Minister of the Interior, however, immediately dismissed the possibility of police involvement.

Community authorities of San José Nacahuil, as well as other indigenous and grassroots organizations, criticized Bonilla for attributing the crime to gangs without first investigating. Further, they demanded that the police and military be removed from the community. Family members of the victims have also asked for an investigation into the police and their role in the shooting. 

San José Nacahuil is the only indigenous community in San Pedro Ayampuc. The population is made up of Maya Kaqchikel people, and the town has its own authorities, including a community police force. Residents expelled the national police six years ago, and local officials report a reduction in crime since that time.

Like many indigenous communities in Guatemala, the people of Nacahuil have suffered attempts to impose development projects without their free, prior and informed consent. In response, many residents of Nacahuil have participated in non-violent resistance, such as the ongoing peaceful road blockade at “La Puya” in the neighboring municipality of San José de Golfo. The blockade began in March of 2012 to prevent the construction of the El Tambor gold mine, which they fear will cause contamination and deplete scarce water resources. The mine is currently operated by Kappes, Cassidy & Associates (KCA) based in Reno, Nevada, which acquired the project from Vancouver-based Radius Gold in August 2012. 

In other struggles against mega-development projects in Guatemala, including Tahoe Resources’ Escobal silver mine in San Rafael las Flores and Hidralia Energia’s hydroelectric dam in Santa Cruz Barillas, violence was used as a pretext by the government to declare a state of siege, which suspends constitutional rights. In both instances, the government then ordered the arrest of resistance movement leaders.

Members of La Puya signaled concern in the days leading up to the attack regarding increased police presence, including agents not assigned to local stations. In the past, the police have been used to try to intimidate and disburse groups involved in peaceful protest. In December of last year, police wielding tear gas arrested four protesters. All were released the same day due to a lack of evidence of any illegal activity.

We express our condolences to the families of those who have lost their loved ones and to the community of San José Nacahuil. We call on the Guatemalan government to carry out a thorough and impartial investigation into Saturday’s deadly attack, especially into allegations of police involvement, with the assistance of the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala. 

Further, we demand that the rights of the residents of Nacahuil and the surrounding region be respected, including their rights to life, security, and freedom of expression. Nacahuil has maintained effective security in their own community, and we ask the government to respect their call to withdraw members of the police and military. Finally, we call on the government to respect the rights to protest and to free, prior and informed consent over mega-projects that may affect their lives and lands.

Breaking the Silence, Latin American and Caribbean Solidarity Network - LACSN, MiningWatch Canada, Atlantic Regional Solidarity Network, Horizons of Friendship, Global Exchange, SalvAide, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA), Social Justice Committee of Montreal, Projet Accompagnement Québec-Guatemala (PAQG), Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America, Guatemala Human Rights Commission, OPSEU Social Justice Fund, Oxfam