Rights Action – February 28, 2011
Goldcorp Impunity Watch

Repression Today Against Campesinos Protesting Peacefully by Goldcorp’s Open-pit, Cyanide-leaching “Marlin Mine” in Guatemala

BELOW

An initial letter – in English y en Espanol - about an outbreak of violence, today, against Mayan-Mam campesinos, and others, peacefully protesting by Goldcorp’s open-pit, cyanide-leaching “Marlin Mine” in Guatemala.

People from villages harmed and damaged, since 2004, by Goldcorp’s mine, had gathered today, peacefully, in a Permanent Assembly coordinated by FREDEMI (San Miguel Ixtahuacan 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.

Almost 10 months have gone by, and neither the Guatemala government, nor Goldcorp have complied.

We will publish more information as we receive it.

WHAT TO DO
Please send your own letters of alarm to Goldcorp Inc. (contact info, below), with copies to Canadian politicians and government officials (contact info, below), 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.

 

* * * * * * *

Guatemala 28 February 2011

The Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala
Collectif Guatemala
Breaking the Silence
Rights Action

URGENT CONCERN FOR SAFETY OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS OF SAN MIGUEL IXTAHUACÁN FOLLOWING PEACEFUL PROTESTS

We denounce the human rights violations and abuses committed today against peaceful protesters in San Miguel Ixtahuacán, Guatemala.  The protest, demanding compliance with precautionary measures ordered by the Interamerican Commission for Human Rights regarding the Marlin mine, took place without incident during the day.  In late afternoon, participants returning from the peaceful roadblocks were reportedly confronted and attacked by community development council (COCODE) members and mine workers in San José Ixcaniche.

According to participants in the protest, Miguel Angel Bámaca and Aniseto López were beaten and threatened with lynching; one bus including approximately 40 men and women have been illegally detained and some beaten in the community of San José Ixcaniche.  As this alert is being written, they remain detained.  We are deeply concerned that the lives of human rights defenders are at risk.

Contact has been established with the local Human Rights Procurator’s (PDH) office, the local Presidential Commission for Defense of Human Rights (COPREDEH) and police, as well as national and international organizations to report these acts.

We ask you to stay alert and be ready to respond when more information and action requests are available from local organizations supporting communities resisting unjust mining in Guatemala.

In solidarity,

Francois Guindon – pancho@nisgua.org – +502 4014 7804
The Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala, USA
Cynthia Benoist – collectifguatemala3@gmail.com
Collectif Guatemala, France
Jackie McVicar – jmcvicar@gmail.com
Breaking the Silence, Canada
Grahame Russell – info@rightsaction.org  – +502 4955 3634
Rights Action, Canada/USA

EN ESPANOL

Guatemala 28 de febrero de 2011

La Red de Solidaridad con el Pueblo de Guatemala
Collectif Guatemala
Breaking the Silence
Rights Action

Comunicado urgente de preocupación para la seguridad de los defensores y defensoras de San Miguel Ixtahuacan en protesta pacifica

Denunciamos las violaciones de derechos humanos y abusos cometidos hoy en contra de manifestantes pacíficos en San Miguel Ixtahuacán.  La manifestación, organizada para exigir el cumplimiento de las medidas cautelares otorgadas por la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos en el caso de la mina Marlin, tomó lugar sin incidente durante el día.  Según informes, por la tarde, participantes regresando de los bloqueos pacíficos fueron confrontados y agredidos en San José Ixcaniche por miembros del Consejo Comunitario de Desarrollo y trabajadores de la mina.

Según participantes en la manifestación, Miguel Angel Bámaca y Aniseto López fueron golpeados y amenazados con lincharlos; una camioneta con aproximadamente 40 personas fue detenida ilegalmente y algunas personas – hombres y mujeres- fueron golpeadas en la comunidad de San José Ixcaniche. Hasta el momento, la gente que estaba en la camioneta sigue siendo detenida en el salón y la alcaldía comunitaria. Estamos sumamente preocupados de que estén en risego las vidas y la integridad física de esos defensores y defensoras de derechos humanos.

Se ha establecido contacto con la Procuraduría de Derechos Humanos (PDH) y la Comisión Presidencial para los Derechos Humanos (COPREDEH) y la Policía Nacional Civil (PNC), así como con organizaciones nacionales e internacionales, para informar de esos acontecimientos.

Pedimos que estén alertas y listos para reaccionar cuando haya más información y solicitudes para tomar acción por parte de las organizaciones locales apoyando las comunidades en resistencia en contra de la minería injusta en Guatemala.

En solidaridad,

Francois Guindon – pancho@nisgua.org – +502 4014 7804
La Red de Solidaridad con el Pueblo de Guatemala (NISGUA), EE.UU.
Cynthia Benoist – collectifguatemala3@gmail.com
Collectif Guatemala, Francia
Jackie McVicar – jmcvicar@gmail.com
Rompiendo el Silencio, Canada
Grahame Russell – info@rightsaction.org  – +502 4955 3634
Derechos en Acción, Canada/EE.UU.

* * * * * * *

WHAT TO DO

Please send your own letters of alarm to Goldcorp Inc. (contact info, below), with copies to Canadian politicians and government officials (contact info, below),

 

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, M5H-3P5, 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

* * * * * * *

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

 

* * * * * * *