Rights Action - March 2, 2011
Goldcorp Impunity Watch

GOLDCORP MINEWORKERS ASSAULT & TAKE HOSTAGE & THREATEN
Indigenous villagers protesting environmental & health harms & other human rights violations caused by Goldcorp Inc's mine in Guatemala

In previous communiqués, we sent initial information about the outbreak of repression against indigenous community members protesting harms and violations caused by Goldcorp's "marlin" mine in Guatemala:

BELOW
A selection of letters sent by folks to Goldcorp and/or Canadian government officials and elected politicians.

PLEASE
Keep sending letters to your media, your politicians and government officials, to Goldcorp, to the Canada Pension Fund and other funds invested in Golddcorp, etc. Politely insist on getting a response to your concerns and demands. [See names, emails and addresses below]

This is not a local, Guatemalan issue.

This is an issue of the governments of Canada and Guatemala, of Goldcorp, of the major investors (like the Canada Pension Plan), etc, who have been informed, over and over, of the environmental and health harms and other human rights violations that have occurred and continue to occur regularly since 2004.

The repression of February 28, 2011, is but the latest "incident".

Over the past years, documentation of the harms and violations has been met by denials and omissions of the governments of Canada and Guatemala, of Goldcorp, of the major investors (like the Canada Pension Plan), etc.

In the next few days, we will prepare a response to the Goldcorp company communiqué and response letters that Goldcorp is sending publicly.

RECAP
On February 28, people (mainly Mayan-Mam men and women) from villages harmed and damaged since 2004 by Goldcorp's mine, gathered for a Permanent Assembly coordinated by ADISMI (the Association for the Integral Development of San Miguel Ixtahucan) and FREDEMI (San Miguel Ixtahuacan Defense Front), to draw critical attention to the fact that the government of Guatemala and Goldcorp had not complied with a May 2010 order from the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights to suspend Goldcorp's mining operation.  10 months have gone by, and neither the Guatemala government, nor Goldcorp have complied.

Their protests were violently broken up by Goldcorp mineworkers and other unidentified people.

* A local community member and human rights defender, Miguel Bámaca, was seriously beaten.
* Aniseto López (a member of ADISMI and FREDEMI) was illegally detained by Goldcorp mineworkers, threatened and beaten.
* As a busload of protesters traveled along a public road, they were illegally detained and threatened by Goldcorp mineworkers.
* As many as 17 protesters have been injured and one person hospitalized.
* Phones, cameras and videos-cameras were stolen from people in the protests.

* * * * * *

LETTERS

UNBC - University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George
3333 University Way
Prince George, B.C.
Canada, V2N 4Z9

RE: ALARM REGARDING YESTERDAY'S REPRESSION AGAINST INDIGENOUS CAMPESINOS PROTESTING PEACEFULLY BY GOLDCORP'S "MARLIN MINE" IN GUATEMALA

1 March 2011

FROM: Dr. Catherine Nolin, Tel: (250) 960-5875
Associate Professor of Geography, UNBC
Guatemala Research Group, Director

TO: Licenciado Georges de La Roche, Embajador
Embassy of Guatemala
130 Albert Street, Suite 1010
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4
Tel: (613) 233-7188. Fax: (613) 233-0135

We are writing to express our alarm regarding yesterday's events near the Canadian-owned Marlin Mine.

Our research group has worked since the opening of the mine to draw attention to the lack of consultation with impacted communities and continue to return to Guatemala regularly to research and report on our findings. Our group also includes concerned community members who have learned of our work and the ongoing violence and alleged health harms associated with the mine activity which is conveyed to us by our colleagues in Guatemala.

Our understanding from news sent by our colleagues in San Miguel Ixtahuacán, Guatemala City, and other communities near the mine site, is that people from communities harmed and damaged, since 2004, by Goldcorp's mine, gathered yesterday, peacefully, in a Permanent Assembly coordinated by FREDEMI (San Miguel Ixtahuacán Defense Front), trying to draw critical attention to the fact that the government of Guatemala had not complied with a May 2010 order from the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights to suspend Goldcorp's mining operation. Two peaceful protesters were badly beaten and a bus load of others were threatened, attacked and illegally detained yesterday.

Almost 10 months have gone by since that suspension order, and neither the Guatemala government, nor Goldcorp Inc. have complied. We hold the Guatemalan & Canadian governments responsible - along with Goldcorp Inc. -- for this latest of harms and violations caused directly or indirectly by Goldcorp's mining operation, and demand a suspension of Goldcorp's mining operation.

We demand protection for those protesting the mine and suspension of the mine operation while investigations proceed. Respectfully, we look forward to hearing back from you regarding your actions on this issue.

Submitted respectfully,

Dr. Catherine Nolin, Associate Professor of Geography, nolin@unbc.ca
Dr. Antonia Mills, Professor of First Nations Studies, millsa@unbc.ca
Dr. Neil Hanlon, Associate Professor & Chair of Geography Program, hanlon@unbc.ca 
Alexandra Pedersen, MA INTS candidate, peders8@unbc.ca
Miranda Seymour, BA Geography student, mirandaseymour@hotmail.com
Claudette Bois, NRES PhD Candidate, boisc@unbc.ca
Steve Porter, BA Geography, porters@unbc.ca
Catherine Fraser, UNBC alum, 6cf16@queensu.ca
Margaret Fuller, MSW & Prince George community member, mdfuller@netbistro.com
Kara Walsh, Prince George community member, k.litwinow@gmail.com
Nathan Walsh, Prince George community member, k.litwinow@gmail.com
Dana Pidherny, BA Geography, dana.pidherny@gmail.com

* * *

From: JP Laplante [mailto:jpl85@hotmail.com]
Subject: DEEP CONCERN OVER VIOLENCE IN SAN MIGUEL IXTUAHACAN

March 2, 2011

Ambassador Leeann McKechnie
13 Calle 8-44 Zone 10, Edificio Edyma Plaza, Ciudad de Guatemala
c/o Karin Reinecke, Assistant to the Ambassador
karin.reinecke@international.gc.ca

Dear Ambassador McKechnie,

I write to share my deep dismay over the recent violence in San Miguel Ixtuahacan that took place on February 28, 2011.  The violence against peaceful protestors of Goldcorp's Marlin Mine is one more indication that Goldcorp and other Canadian companies are operating in a country unable and/or unwilling to ensure the safety of individuals, indigenous communities and uphold basic human rights such as the right to assembly and protest.

I ask that you:

1)  Respond to me to share exactly how the Embassy and DFAIT staff have responded to this recent violence
2)  Respond publicly by condemning this violence and calling on the Guatemalan government and Goldcorp to respect the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights Precautionary Measures Order to temporarily close the Marlin Mine until such a time that independent studies on the environmental and human rights impacts are undertaken and show that mining can operate in a safe manner with the free, prior and informed consent of local community members
3) Publicly and privately support access to justice in Guatemala by ensuring that an impartial and timely investigation of the violence occurs, and those responsible are held accountable
4)  Publicly call for law reform in Canada to ensure that if Goldcorp employees were perpetrators of this violence, that Goldcorp could be held accountable in our civil and criminal courts.  For example, the proposed Bill C-354, would make civil court remedies a possibility

Sincerely,

J.P. Laplante
M.A. Candidate, University of Northern B.C.
1734 7th Avenue
Prince George, B.C. V2L 3P8

cc:  [media, politicians, government officials]

* * *

From: Jack Tyynela [mailto:jacktyynela@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2011 10:06 AM
To: dina.aloi@goldcorp.com
Subject: Report from Rights Action concerning H.R.'s violations against Indigenous Community Members.

Attention Dina Aloi: Responding to yours of Mar. 1, 2011

If, in May, 2010 the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights ordered the Guatemalan government to close the mine, for valid reasons, and the government of Guatemala hasn't done so then some nefarious activity is indicated between these to entities. If this is, in fact, happening and damage (environmental, health, human rights, conflict injuries, death, etc.) is/has been documented by Rights Action sufficient to require the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to order the Guatemalan government to close Goldcorp's operation of their mine, that should be sufficient for Goldcorp do so without the Guatemalan government's order. This closure would ensure sufficient time to investigate, thoroughly, by accredited groups/organizations the environmental and personal injuries/death caused by the alleged human rights violations  of/to innocent aboriginal inhabitants farming in the vicinity.

The reports of documented cases that I've received from Rights Action are not frivolous. The continued operation of the mine indicates to me that Goldcorp is condoning these under the guise that if the Guatemalan government hasn't complied with the closure order from the Inter American Commission on H.R.'s then Goldcorp should not comply with it either.

What's so difficult?

Close down the mine. Call in a reputable party to investigate the documented cases, with Rights Action personnel as observers, and be done with it!

This has dragged on much too long to the possible, life-long, adverse health/environmental effects to the local inhabitants.

Yours truly, Jack Tyynela.  

* * *

Chuck Jeannes, President & CEO
Kim Keras, Executive Assistant
Tim Miller, VP Operations, Central America
Dina Aloi, VP Corporate Social Responsibility
David Deisley, Legal Counsel
Jeff Wilhoit, Investor Relations
The Board of Directors
Human Resources Dept.
Jim Schenck
Lisa Wade 

I denounce the human rights violations and abuses committed against the peaceful protesters detained in San José Ixcaniche, Guatemala. As a PhD student at the University of Northern British Colombia (UNBC), Canada, I have had the opportunity to visit Goldcorp's Marlin mine on two occasions (May 2008 and May 2010). During the two UNBC delegations, I met and spoke with several community members in the communities of Sipakapa, and the heavily impacted San Miguel Ixtahuacán, Guatemala, about the conditions in which they now live involving constant threats to their safety, wellbeing, rights, and environment.

I am aware of the request by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, IACHR, issued on May 20th, 2010, asking the State of Guatemalan to suspend operation of the Marlin mine in San Miguel Ixtahuacán, Guatemala. I am also aware that Guatemala's President Alvaro Colom agreed, on June 23rd, 2010, to suspend operations at the Marlin mine.

These community members have a right to gather and to express their perspectives regarding Goldcorp's Marlin mine without being confronted, threatened, beaten, and detained. I am gravely concerned for the safety, welfare, and lives of Miguel Angel Bámaca, Aniseto López, and all other protesters detained this evening.

I hold each of you personally responsible for this latest act of violence and harm to those being detained and urge you to respect Guatemala President Alvaro Colom's and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights' orders to suspend all mining activity at the Marlin site immediately.

Sincerely,

Claudette Hélène Bois
Natural Resources and Environmental Studies PhD Candidate
University of Northern British Colombia
3333 University Way
Prince George, BC, V2N 4Z9
(250) 960-5934
March 2, 2011

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WHAT TO DO

HUMANITARIAN & EMERGENCY RELIEF FUNDS NEEDED

Since 2004, Rights Action has been funding the peaceful, community development and human rights defense work of ADISMI (the Association for the Integral Defense of San Miguel Ixtahuacan), a founding member of FREDEMI.

Many times since 2004, we have raised funds for emergency response work, including support family members of shooting victims, repression victims, and people who have died due to diseases and health problems most probably caused by the mining operation.

We ask for your financial support, now, to send more funds to ADISMI (FREDEMI) to support family members of these attacks, to provide emergency health support to repression victims, and for legal defense work related to these most recent violations.

TO MAKE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS

Make check payable to "Rights Action" and mail to:

UNITED STATES:  Box 50887, Washington DC, 20091-0887
CANADA:  552 - 351 Queen St. E, Toronto ON, M5A-1T8

CREDIT-CARD DONATIONS: http://rightsaction.org/contributions.htm

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WHAT TO DO

LETTER WRITING NEEDED (Contact info below)

Please send your own letters of alarm to Goldcorp Inc., to Canadian politicians and government officials, to the Canada Pension Plan (and other pension funds with investments in Goldcorp) holding them responsible for this latest of harms and violations caused directly or indirectly by its mining operation, and demanding a suspension of Goldcorp's mining operation.

GOLDCORP Inc.

Chuck Jeannes, President & CEO
666 Burrard Street, Suite 3400, Vancouver, B.C. V6C 2X8
Main: (604) 696-3000, Direct: 604-696-3076, Chuck.Jeannes@goldcorp.com

Kim Keras, executive assistant, Kim.Keras@goldcorp.com

Goldcorp Inc
3201-130 Adelaide St. W., Toronto, ON, M5H0in5, T: (416) 865-0326

Tim Miller, VP Operations, Central America, Tim.Miller@montana.com.gt
Dina Aloi, VP Corporate Social Responsibility, Dina.Aloi@goldcorp.com, T: (416) 865-0326
David Deisley, legal counsel, david.deisley@goldcorp.com
Jeff Wilhoit, investor relations, Jeff.Wilhoit@goldcorp.com
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, T: (866) 696-3055, local (604) 696-3055, Directors@Goldcorp.com
HUMAN RESOURCES, hr@goldcorp.com
GUATEMALA CITY: Jim Schenck, jamess@montana.com.gt, Lisa Wade, lisa.wade@montana.com.gt

CANADIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

CONTACT YOUR MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT:
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseOfCommons/MemberByPostalCode.aspx?Menu=HOC

Governor General of Canada, David Johnston
Rideau Hall, 1 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1A-0A1
info@gg.ca, (613) 993-8200, 800 465-6890
Duncan Mousseau, Director, Policy, Planning and Correspondence
Office of the Secretary to the Governor General
DMousseau@GG.CA

Prime Minister Stephen Harper
harpes@parl.gc.ca

Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon
509-S Centre Block, House of Commons, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0A6
cannol@parl.gc.ca

Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas) Peter Kent
125 Sussex Dr, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0G2
(613) 992-0253, kent.p@parl.gc.ca
Gilles Duceppe, leader, Bloc Quebecois
1200 Papineau Av, #350, Montreal, QC, H2K 4R5
ducepg@parl.gc.ca

Jack Layton, leader, New Democratic Party
221 Broadview Ave, Suite 100, Toronto, ON, MM 2G3
laytoj@parl.gc.ca

Elizabeth May, leader, Green Party
Saanich Gulf Islands EDA, PO Box 20076, Sidney, BC, V8L 5C9
emaytowin@greenparty.ca

Michael Ignatieff, leader, Liberal Party
656 The Queensway, Etobicoke, ON, M8Y 1K7
ignatm@parl.gc.ca

Bob Rae, Liberal, Foreign Affairs Critic
(613) 992-5234, RaeB@parl.gc.ca

Francine Lalonde, Bloc Quebecois, Foreign Affairs Critic
(613) 995-6327, LalonF@parl.gc.ca

Paul Dewar, NDP, Foreign Affairs Critic
1306 Wellington St. W, Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y 3B2
dewarp@parl.gc.ca, 613-946-8682

Larry Bagnell, Liberal
bagnell.l@parl.gc.ca

Stockwell Day, Conservative
days@parl.gc.ca, 613-995-1702

Peter Julian, NDP International Trade Critic, Rm 178, Confederation Bldg., Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
julian.p@parl.gc.ca

John McKay, Liberal MP, Scarborough-Guildwood
(613) 992-1447, MckayJ@parl.gc.ca, 613-947-4609
Claire Lehan, Legislative Assistant
(613) 992-6512, McKayJ8@parl.gc.ca
549-D Centre Block, House of Commons, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0A6

Kevin Sorenson, Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, Room 518, Justice Building, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
(613) 947-4608, SorenK@parl.gc.ca, 613-992-2971

Dean Allison, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairperson, 4994 King Street, Beamsville, Ontario, L0R 1B0
allison.d@parl.gc.ca, 905-995-2772

Marketa Evans, Global corporate responsibility commissioner
Marketa.Evans@international.gc.ca

CANADIAN Embassy in Guatemala

Ambassador Leeann McKechnie
Karin Reinecke, Assistant to the Ambassador
karin.reinecke@international.gc.ca
Jennifer Chacon
jennifer.chacon@international.gc.ca
13 Calle 8-44 Zone 10, Edificio Edyma Plaza, Ciudad de Guatemala
(502) 2363-4348, 2365-1201, gtmla@international.gc.ca

* * *

CANADA PENSION PLAN
One Queen St. East, Suite 2600, Toronto ON, M5C-2W5
CPP Investment Board: csr@cppib.ca, 416-868-4075, 1-866-557-9510.  Lisa Baiton, VP Stakeholder & Government Relations, CPPIB, (416) 868-6612, lbaiton@cppib.ca, www.cppib.ca;

ONTARIO TEACHERS PENSION PLAN FUND
5650 Yonge St, Toronto, Canada, communications@otpp.com;  Lynne Olver, Communications, 416-730-6518, lynne_olver@otpp.com

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FOR BACKGROUND INFORMATION & ANY QUESTIONS:
Rights Action: Grahame Russell, info@rightsaction.org, www.rightsaction.org

ADISMI: Javier de Leon, 5785-8701, nimjavier@gmail.com; Carmen Mejía, carmenmejiaa@gmail.com; 5387-7438;

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