Rights Action - March 8, 2011
Goldcorp Impunity Watch
(Photo: COPAE, Feb 28, 2011. "We demand that the government close Montana's [Goldcorp's] mine that it is illegally operating here in San Miguel Ixtahuacan & Sipakapa.)
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GOLDCORP MINEWORKERS ASSAULT & TAKE HOSTAGE & THREATEN
Indigenous villagers protesting environmental & health harms & other human rights violations caused by Goldcorp Inc's mine in Guatemala
BELOW: An Urgent Action from Amnesty International
BACKGROUND
See previous communiqués, prepared by Rights Action and other organizations, concerning this latest outbreak of repression against indigenous community members protesting harms and violations caused by Goldcorp's "marlin" mine in Guatemala:
* Feb 28: http://rightsaction.org/articles/Goldcorp_mine_violence_022811.html
* Mar 1: http://rightsaction.org/articles/Goldcorp_Miners_attack_locals_030211.html
* Mar 2: http://rightsaction.org/articles/Goldcorp_Miners_take_hostages_030211.html
(Photo: COPAE, Feb 28, 2011)
PLEASE
Keep sending letters to your media, politicians and government officials, to Goldcorp, to the Canada Pension Fund and other funds invested in Golddcorp, etc. 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.
On request, Rights Action can provide extensive documentation about environmental and health harms and other human rights violations at and around this mine site since 2004: info@rightsaction.org.
WHAT TO DO: see below
* Please forward this information and re-post
* To get on/off Rights Action's listserv: www.rightsaction.org
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From Amnesty International:
GUATEMALA: MINE ACTIVISTS BEATEN AND THREATENED
UA 57/11 AI Index: AMR 34/002/2011 of 3 March 2011
On 28 February, protesters against [Goldcorp Inc's] Marlin Mine in western Guatemala were attacked. One protester, Aniceto López [member of ADISMI & FREDEMI organizations], was taken to the office of the local mayor, where he was allegedly beaten and threatened with death for speaking out against the mine.
On 28 February, 200 members of the communities of San Miguel Ixtahuacán municipality were protesting against the Guatemalan state's failure to suspend extraction activities in the Marlin mine. The mine is located in the San Miguel Ixtahuacán municipality, in the San Marcos department of western Guatemala. Activities have continued at the Marlin Mine, owned by Montana Exploradora de Guatemala, S.A., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Goldcorp [Inc, a huge Canadian gold mining company], despite an order from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) that activities be suspended until the effects of the mine on local indigenous communities are properly assessed.
The protests, organized by the Front in Defense of San Miguel Ixtahuacán (FREDEMI), lasted around 12 hours. When the protesters left, the bus they were travelling in was stopped and the protesters were forced to get off the bus and were beaten and robbed. Some protesters were taken from the group and attacked individually.
* Miguel Bamacá, who the IACHR has already requested the Guatemalan government protects, and Aniceto López were singled out.
* Aniceto López was reportedly taken to the office of the local mayor where he was beaten in the face, robbed of his documents and possessions, and threatened with death.
* Others were seriously injured, such as Fredy González, who was hospitalized due to an injury caused by being hit by a firearm.
Miguel Bámaca and Aniceto López were released later that evening, seriously injured, and are in fear for their safety and the safety of their families. The Ministry of the Interior has already been asked to ensure that the Police protect these individuals.
PLEASE ACT QUICKLY
* Call for an independent, thorough and impartial investigation into the threats and attacks on Aniceto López and Miguel Bámaca, with the results made public and those responsible brought to justice.
* Urge the authorities to take immediate steps to provide appropriate protection to members of the 18 Mayan communities who were granted protective measures by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and to activists working on alleged human rights violations as a result of mining operations.
* Urge them to comply with the precautionary measures ordered by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to suspend activities in the Marlin mine.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS TO
Attorney General: Licda. Claudia Paz y Paz Bailey
Fiscal General de la República y Jefa del Ministerio Público
8ª Avenida 10-67, Zona 1
Antiguo Edificio del Banco de los Trabajadores
Ciudad de Guatemala, GUATEMALA
Fax: 011 502 2411 9124
Salutation: Dear Attorney General / Estimada Sra. Fiscal General
Minister of the Interior: Lic. Carlos Menocal
Ministro de Gobernación
6ª Avenida 13-71, Zona 1
Ciudad de Guatemala, GUATEMALA
Fax: 011 502 2413 8658
Salutation: Dear Minister / Estimado Sr. Ministro
AND COPIES TO:
His Excellency Georges de la Roche Plihal
Ambassador for the Republic of Guatemala
130 Albert Street, Suite 1010
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4
Fax: (613) 233-0135
Email: consular@embaguate-canada.com
FREDEMI - Front in Defense of San Miguel Ixtahuacán
Aniceto Lopez: anisetolopezd@yahoo.es
Javier de Leon: nimjavier@gmail.com
Carmen Mejia: carmenmejiaa@gmail.com
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The request for precautionary measures from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) on 20 May 2010 asked that the Guatemalan government suspend operation of the Marlin mine, owned by Montana Exploradora de Guatemala, S.A., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Goldcorp, and implement measures to prevent environmental contamination until the IACHR reaches a final decision on the petition presented by the communities to the IACHR. The IACHR also requested that the Guatemalan government take any necessary measures to guarantee the life and physical integrity of the members of the 18 Indigenous communities.
The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of Indigenous People (http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/indigenous/rapporteur/) visited Guatemala from 14-18 June 2010 in order to analyze the application of the principles of consultation with Indigenous Peoples in Guatemala, in particular with relation to extractive industries, and with a special focus on the situation of Indigenous Peoples living near to the mining operations in San Miguel Ixtahuacán and Sipacapa. At the end of his visit, the Special Rapporteur stated that he had received allegations that on many occasions the Guatemalan government had granted licenses for the exploitation of natural resources in Indigenous territories without the necessary consultations with local Indigenous Peoples. He added that he had received testimonies alleging that there had been harassment and attacks against community leaders, and that the testimonies imply that the security forces and private companies could be behind such incidents.
On 23 June 2010, the Guatemalan government announced that they would comply with the IACHR request to suspend the mining company's operations, but added the next day that this would take some time as legal and administrative processes would have to be followed. The mining company's operations continue to date.
The defense of human rights is a legitimate activity, fundamental for the advancement of human rights for all. The authorities in Guatemala have demonstrated an unjustified delay in adopting and implementing a Program of Protection for human rights defenders at risk and a Protocol of Investigation for cases of abuses against them. It is essential that the Guatemalan authorities take seriously their responsibility to ensure that human rights defenders are effectively protected so that they can carry out their work safely and free from fear, as established in the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders adopted by the Organization of the United Nations in 1998. (See Public Statement Index Number: AMR 34/005/2010 and open letter to the President of Guatemala Index Number: AMR 34/004/2010: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AMR34/005/2010/es and
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AMR34/004/2010/es)
FREDEMI (the Front for the Defence of San Miguel) is an alliance of diverse communities and organizations that resist the extractive work of the Marlin Mine. The Front aims to carry out legal and resistance actions around the mining activity in San Miguel Ixtahuacán. The Front represents the people that presented the petition to the IACHR.
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Prepared by: Urgent Action Office of Amnesty International Canada
1992 Yonge St, 3rd floor, Toronto, Ontario M4S 1Z7
(416) 363 9933 ext 325 / Fax (416) 363 3103
http://www.amnesty.ca/urgentaction/about_the_urgent_action_network.php
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WHAT TO DO
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.
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 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
FREDEMI - Front in Defense of San Miguel Ixtahuacán / ADISMI - Association for Integral Development of San Miguel Ixtahucan
Aniceto Lopez: anisetolopezd@yahoo.es
Javier de Leon: nimjavier@gmail.com
Carmen Mejia: carmenmejiaa@gmail.com
* Please forward this information and re-post
* To get on/off Rights Action's listserv: www.rightsaction.org