PUBLIC LETTER TO: The Canadian government & parlamentarians, the Canada Pension Plan and other investors, the media
FROM: Grahame Russell, Rights Action co-director, info@rightsaction.org
GUATEMALA: TEODORA ANTONIA HERNANDEZ CINTO ("DONA MARIA") SHOT IN HEAD
A Mayan-Mam woman in resistance to the harms & violations caused by Goldcorp Inc's gold mine, was shot in the head. Her health status is critical.
To Whom It May Concern:
We write to bring to your attention yet one more serious case of aggression and human rights violation that is most probably linked to the operation of Goldcorp Inc.'s open-pit, cyanide leaching gold mine in Mayan territories of western Guatemala.
On July 5, a Rights Action delegation led by co-director Grahame Russell (with the Mayflower congregation of Minneapolis/ St. Paul) completed a two day visit to the mine affected communities of San Miguel Ixtahuacan (department of San Marcos). We spent our time with ADISMI, the Association for the Integral Development of San Miguel Ixtahuacan, visiting homes and speaking with local villagers whose communities and lives have been seriously harmed by the mining operation. In one of our meetings, we met with Juan Mendez and Gregoria Crisanta Perez, cited in ADISMI's urgent action below.
On previous trips to the region, Rights Action staff and delegations have often met with Teodora Antonia Hernandez Cinto, known as "Dona Maria", the woman shot in her right eye at 7pm, July 7. The bullet exited her skull by her right ear, leaving her in a critical state.
SUSPENSION ORDER IGNORED
As set out in ADISMI's urgent action, and previous Rights Action emailings, this shooting and other recent attacks and threats are happening in a state of heightened tension in the region near Goldcorp's mine, given that the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights has ordered the Government of Guatemala to suspend Goldcorp's mining operation due to the serious and on-going allegations of environmental and health harms and human and indigenous rights violations caused by the mine.
The mining operation has not been suspended. The Government of Guatemala is not complying with the suspension order.
Goldcorp is doing and will seemingly continue to do everything possible to not stop mining. With the price of gold near $1100/ ounce, they are making close to 8 times the profits from this mine that they initially conceived, based on their original economic feasibility studies.
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ADISMI - URGENT ACTION
(July 7, 2010, San Miguel Ixtahuacán, San Marcos, Guatemala)
At 7pm, July 7, 2010, in the neighborhood of San José Nueva Esperanza, village of Ágel, San Miguel Ixtahuacán, Señora Teodora Antonia Hernández Cinto was shot in the head. She is known as "Dona Maria".
Two men, unknown to her, young and tall, entered her home asking her for a cup of coffee. Then, as Dona Maria was preparing coffee, they shot her in the right eye and then ran off towards the neighboring village of San José Ixcaniche.
Doña María was taken to the health clinic in the town (and municipal center of) San Miguel Ixtahuacán. As of now, the on-going state of her health is critical. She will be moved to a hospital, as soon as possible.
Doña Maria (Teodora Antonia Hernández Cinto) is part of the Resistance Movement in San Miguel IOxtahuacan, in defense of human and indigenous rights, against the violations of human rights committed by the Montana Exploradora mining company, subsidiary of Canadian mining giant Goldcorp Inc.
Dona Maria has received numerous threats for her participation in the Resistance Movement. In June 2009, she was involved in the defense of water in the neighborhood of Sacmuj, when Goldcorp/ Montana (always trying to expand) wanted to get control of some land in Sacmuj and their natural spring water sources that supply local families with water.
On July 7, at 11:30pm, as community members gathered by the house of Dona Maria, in solidarity with her family, they heard gunshots fired off near by.
OTHER RECENT INCIDENTS
On July 2, Juan Mendez was walking along the main road, up the mountain. At 4:45am, a Goldcorp/ Montana truck was coming down the road, carrying workers to the mine. The truck belonged to the Transportes Pérez company. This truck (that says "Especial" on it) is owned by Fernando Pérez of the Caserío San José Nueva Esperanza. When the truck got close to Juan Mendez, the vehicle crossed over to the other side of the road, straight at Juan Mendez, who was forced to scramble quickly up the side of the embankment. Juan is well known in this region, for his opposition to the harms and violations caused by the mine.
On July 5, two daughters of Gregoria Crisanta Pérez were walking on the same road, at 6:30pm, in the village of Agel. The same thing happened. A car - green - coming from the opposite direction, crossed over the road divider and aimed at them, forcing them to run off the road. They believe the car belongs to Goldcorp/ Montana.
Given this attempted killing of Teodora Antonia Hernández Cinto and other recent acts of aggressión against people in opposition to the harms and violations caused by the mine, ADISMI demands of the Guatemala government:
That it guarantee the life and security of those people who demand respect for their rights as related to the mining-harms and violations;
That it comply with the precautionary measures ordered by the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights and suspend the mining operation;
ADISMI holds Goldcorp/ Montana responsible for these acts of physical aggressión and threats, given that the majority of threats and attacks come from workers in the mine.
From the national and international communities, we request more human rights accompaniment and more investigations into these and other abuses;
ADISMI, PARROQUIA SAN MIGUEL, FEBIMI and ADIM
(All members of FREDEMI, the Miguelense Defense Front)
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DONA MARIA MOVED TO HOSPITAL IN GUATEMALA CITY
On July 10, Grahame Russell met with family members of Teodora Antonia Hernández Cinto, who were trying to visit her in the Roosevelt Hospital. She had been moved there to undergo a risky operation.
EYE-WITNESS SPEAKS
One of Dona Maria's family members was an eye-witness to the attempted killing. On the night of July 7, two unidentified men approached their isolated rural home (on the mountain side near Goldcorp's mine) from the dark side of the hut - they did not come forward by the light in front of their home.
They called in to say they missed their ride and needed a bed for the night. When Dona Maria and her family member responded that there was no room, they asked to buy a cup of coffee.
A few minutes later, the family member (eye-witness) came outside toward the men walking in front of Dona Maria who was carrying the cups of coffee. The family member was carrying a flashlight, as they walked towards the men, semi-blocked by some bushes.
All of a sudden, one of the men leaned around the family member (eye-witness) and shot Dona Maria in the head. The men ran off into the night, as the family member started screaming for the neighbors, and caring for Dona Maria.
THIS WAS NO "ATTEMPTED ROBBERY"
Assuredly, the government and mining company will deny this was an assassination attempt against a Mayan-Mam woman and community member who had regularly spoken out with dignity, criticizing the harms and violations caused by Goldcorp's mine.
For anyone who honestly follows Guatemala political and human rights issues, in the past and on-going today, there is little to no doubt that this attempted killing was linked to Dona Maria's peaceful, clear-spoken opposition to the mine.
As of the writing of this, Dona Maria's life hangs in the balance.
DEMANDS OF THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT, POLITICIANS & INVESTORS
The multiple environment and health harms and human and indigenous rights violations caused directly or indirectly by Goldcorp's mine are endemic, unending.
At a bare minimum, we respectfully demand that Canada publicly support the suspension of the mine in Guatemala, as ordered by the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights.
From there, we demand a public, Canadian/ international inquiry into the harms and violations caused by Goldcorp's mining in Guatemala.
Based on a complete and transparent investigation, we demand full compensation and reparations for Mayan communities harmed by gold mining.
In Canada, we demand the passing of comprehensive criminal and civil law reform in Canada, so as to be able to hold Canadian companies and investors legally accountable for environmental and health harms and human rights violations caused by their operations in other countries.
The situation is hard, and getting harder.
Grahame Russell, co-director, Rights Action
July 10, 2010, Guatemala City
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FOR MORE INFORMATION & QUESTIONS: Grahame Russell in Guatemala: 011-502-4955-3634, info@rightsaction.org; Annie Bird begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting, 1-202-680-3002, annie@rightsaction.org. www.rightsaction.org
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EMERGENCY RELIEF FUNDS NEEDED
Rights Action has channeled initial emergency funds to the family of Dona Maria, who are now incurring multiple expenses (transportation, food, lodging, medical) as they travel to Guatemala City to keep close to Dona Maria.
Over the past two years alone, Rights Action has provided emergency relief funds to family-victims of: military repression in Honduras; of State and mining company repression in El Estor, Guatemala (due to the nickel mining related struggles there); State and company related repression and harms in San Miguel Ixtahuacan (due to the gold mining related struggles there); company related harms in Siria Valley, Honduras (due to the gold mining related struggles there); etc.
TO MAKE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS for emergency relief funds for indigenous and campesino communities resisting the harms and violations of Goldcorp's gold mine, 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, M5A0in8
CREDIT-CARD DONATIONS: http://rightsaction.org/contributions.htm
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WRITE YOUR OWN LETTER OF COMPLAINT AND DENUNCIATION
Please write letters to the offices and persons listed below, with a copy of this urgent action, denouncing the attempted killing of Dona Maria (Teodora Antonia Hernández Cinto) and other recent threats and attacks against Mayan Mam and campesino villagers in San Miguel Ixtahuacan who are in resistance to the harms and violations caused by the Goldcorp mine. In your letters, respectfully demand a response from who you write to, and demand:
1- that the Canadian government, politicians and investors publicly support the suspension of the mine in Guatemala, as ordered by the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights
2- a public, comprehensive Canadian/ international inquiry into the harms and violations caused by Goldcorp's mining in Guatemala
3- compensation and reparations for Mayan communities and people harmed by gold mining
4- the passing of comprehensive criminal and civil law reform in Canada, so as to be able to hold Canadian companies and investors fully accountable for environmental and health harms and human rights violations
CONTACT YOUR MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT: http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseOfCommons/MemberByPostalCode.aspx?Menu=HOC
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
Governor General of Canada Michaëlle Jean
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 International Cooperation Bev Oda
509-S Centre Block, House of Commons, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0A6
Oda.B@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, (613) 996-5322, DewarP@parl.gc.ca
Larry Bagnell, liberal, bagnell.l@parl.gc.ca
Stockwell Day, conservative, days@parl.gc.ca, 613-995-1702
Peter Julian & Henri Sader, NDP International Trade Critic, Rm 178, Confederation Bldg., Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6, julian.p@parl.gc.ca
John McKay, liberal, Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, (613) 992-1447, MckayJ@parl.gc.ca, 613-947-4609
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
Paul Dewar, NDP, Foreign Affairs Critic, 1306 Wellington St. W, Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y 3B2, dewarp@parl.gc.ca, 613-946-8682
Alexandre Leveque, DFAIT, Caribbean, Central America & Regional Policy,
125 Sussex Dr, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0G2, 613-992-2971, alexandre.leveque@dfait-maeci.gc.ca
GLOBAL CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY COMMISSIONER
Marketa Evans, Marketa.Evans@international.gc.ca
CIDA
Barbara Curran, CIDA Director, 200 Promenade du Portage, Gatineau, K1A 0G4, 819-994-4092, barbara.curran@acdi-cida.gc.ca; Kate Stefanuk (kate.stefanuk@acdi-cida.gc.ca) will serve as Acting Director (& responsible for Honduras); Johanne Dupont (johanne.dupont@acdi-cida.gc.ca), Country Program Manager for Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Cuba
CANADIAN EMBASSY IN GUATEMALA
Ambassador Leeann McKechnie
leeann.mckechnie@international.gc.ca
Karin Reinecke, Assistant to the Ambassador
karin.reinecke@international.gc.ca
13 Calle 8-44 Zone 10, Edificio Edyma Plaza, Ciudad de Guatemala
(502) 2363-4348, 2365-1201, gtmla@international.gc.ca
CPP - CANADA PENSION PLAN
The CPP has $349,000,000 of shares in Goldcorp. One Queen St. East, Suite 2600, Toronto ON, M5C-2W5; CPP Investment Board: csr@cppib.ca, 416-868-4075, 1-866-557-9510; Lisa A. Baiton, VP, Stakeholder & Government Relations, CPPIB, 416) 868-6612, lbaiton@cppib.ca
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FOR MORE INFORMATION & QUESTIONS: Grahame Russell in Guatemala: 011-502-4955-3634, info@rightsaction.org; Annie Bird begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting, 1-202-680-3002, annie@rightsaction.org. www.rightsaction.org