Rights Action - March 27, 2011
Goldcorp Impunity Watch
WHO "GENERATES CONFLICT" IN RURAL COMMUNITIES?
BELOW
- Links to short and long documentary films, in Spanish and/or English, about Goldcorp's open-pit, cyanide leeching mine in Guatemala
- Letter concerning how Goldcorp accuses human rights organizations, including Rights Action, NISGUA, Collectif Guatemala, Breaking the Silence, of "generating conflict" in the mining affected communities
o Please forward this information and re-post
o To get on/off Rights Action's listserv: www.rightsaction.org
FOR QUESTIONS & INFORMATION about Goldcorp's mining related environmental and health harms and other human rights violations in Guatemala & Honduras, contact: info@rightsaction.org.
GOLDCORP ANNUAL SHAREHOLD MEETING,
VANCOUVER BC, MAY 18, 2011
To get involved in Vancouver: Jason Tockman, tockman@riseup.net
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WHO "GENERATES CONFLICT" IN RURAL COMMUNITIES?
FILMS (in Spanish and/or English) ABOUT GOLDCORP'S OPEN-PIT, CYANIDE LEECHING MINE IN GUATEMALA
CONTAMINACION DE AGUA Y DESCARGUE ILEGAL
WATER CONTAMINATION & ILLEGAL DUMPING OF TOXIC WASTE
March 9, 2011 (4:10 minutes. Espanol)
http://www.youtube.com/user/comcomunitario
El 9 de marzo de 2011, un trabajador de Montana Exploradora (Goldcorp Inc.) descargo un camión en la comunidad de Agel, con una pipa llena de agua con un líquido tóxico, contaminando el lugar.
On March 9, 2011, a worker employed by Montana Exploradora (Goldcorp Inc.) illegally dumped a truck load of toxic waste in a water source that supplies water for the community of Agel.
LA MUERTE DE TOMATES; LA INFECCION DE PIEL
THE DEATH OF TOMATOES; SKIN INFECTIONS
August 2010 (8:40 minutos. Espanol)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45fG9JZxfQQ&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
22 de febrero de 2010: la mineria de oro de Montana Exploradora (Goldcorp Inc.) esta destruyendo siembras de tomates y dejando infecciones de piel.
February 2010: gold mining by Montana Exploradora (Goldcorp Inc.) is destroying tomato crops and infecting people's skin.
MUERTE DE VACAS QUE TOMARON AGUA CONTAMINADA
DEATH OF COWS THAT DRANK CONTAMINATED RIVER WATER
July 24, 2011 (9:36 minutes. Espanol)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMLQoz31zzk
El 24 Julio de 2010, aparecieron muertas dos vacas de Don Faustino Méndez en la comunidad de San José Ixcanichel, San Miguel Ixtahuacán, cerca de la mina de Montana Exploradora (Goldcorp Inc.), que habian tomado aqua de un rio contaminado por la descarga de desechos toxicos de la Goldcorp. La contaminación de los ríos y nacimientos de agua es una de las principales consecuencias de la explotación minera.
On July 24, 2010, Faustino Mendez found two of his cows dead, that drank water from a local river that had been contaminated by the dumping of toxic waste by Goldcorp. Water contamination is one of the main consequences of the operation of Goldcorp's mine.
DISPARAN CONTRA DIODORA ANTONIA HERNANDEZ CINTO
ATTEMPTED KILLING OF DIODORA ANTONIA HERNANDEZ CINTO
July 7, 2010 (1:13 Minutos. Espanol)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVm2aJBMzgo&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
El 7 de julio de 2010, dos empleados o ex-empleados de la mina de oro de Montana Exploradora (Goldcorp Inc) intentaron a matar a Diodora Antonia Hernandez Cinto, una campesinoa Maya Mam, disparandole en el ojo.
On July 7, 2010, two employees or ex-employees of Montana Exploradora (Goldcorp Inc.) tried to kill Diodora Antonia Hernandez Cinto, a Mayan Mam villager, shooting her point-blank in the right eye.
PARADISE LOST
April 2010 (40 minutes. English)
Part 1 (11:10 minutes) http://watch.ctv.ca/news/w5/paradise-lost/#clip290436
Part 2 (9:38 minutes) http://watch.ctv.ca/news/w5/paradise-lost/#clip290437
Part 3 (9:20 minutes) http://watch.ctv.ca/news/w5/paradise-lost/#clip290443
Part 4 (9:20 minutes) http://watch.ctv.ca/news/w5/paradise-lost/#clip290444
El programa W5, de la television CTV en Canada, investiga la mina de oro de Goldcorp Inc. y la mina de niquel de HudBay Minerals en Guatemala.
Canadian television station CTV aired a W5 documentary "Paradise Lost", looking at Goldcorp Inc's gold mining operation and HudBay Mineral's nickel mining operation in Guatemala.
"THE BUSINESS OF GOLD in Guatemala: Tale of a Conflict Foretold"
2010 (50 minutes. English & Spanish)
Made by Gregory Lassalle, "The Business of Gold" documents the struggle and resistance of the Mayan-Mam people of San Miguel Ixtahuacan against the Canadian company Goldcorp Inc, and the harms and violations caused by its "Marlin" open-pit, cyanide-leaching mine.
To purchase: info@rightsaction.org
LA MINERIA DE ORO EN GUATEMALA: DANOS y PERJUICIOS AMPLIOS
GOLD MINING IN GUATEMALA: COMPREHESIVE HARMS & DAMAGES
January 2010 (3:48 minutes. Spanish, with English subtitles)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVXkKfhBmn8&playnext=1&list=PLAE0473956707B923
En San Marcos, Guatemala, la mina de oro y plata, de la compania minera Canadiense Goldcorp Inc., operando con el nombre Montana Explorada, ha causado danos al medio-ambiente y a la salud de la gente.
In San Marcos, Guatemala, the gold and silver mine of Goldcorp Inc., operating by the name Montana Explorada, has caused environmental and health harms in the communities of San Miguel Ixtahuacan.
LAS GOLDCORP 8 (2008)
THE GOLDCORP 8 (2008)
2008 (7:22 minutos. Espanol)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzRbi43mlfU&feature=related
Montana Exploradora (Goldcorp Inc.) criminaliza la defensa de los derechos indigenas, con cargos criminales contra 8 mujeres Maya Mam.
Montana Exploradora (Goldcorp Inc.) criminalizes work in defense of indigenous rights, bringing criminal charges against 8 Mayan Mam women.
LOS GOLDCORP 7 (2007)
THE GOLDCORP 7 (2007)
2007 (7:37 minutos. Espanol)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxs-V_NrqtY&feature=related
Montana Exploradora (Goldcorp Inc.) criminaliza la defensa de los derechos indigenas, con cargos criminales contra 7 hombres Maya Mam.
Montana Exploradora (Goldcorp Inc.) criminalizes work in defense of indigenous rights, bringing criminal charges against 7 Mayan Mam men.
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LETTER
WHO IS REALLY "GENERATING CONFLICT" IN RURAL COMMUNITIES?
TO: Álvaro Colom, President of the Republic of Guatemala
COPIES:
Director, COPREDEH, (Presidential Human Rights Commission)
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Embassy of Guatemala in Sweden
Embassy of Sweden in Guatemala
Embassy of Canada in Guatemala
Embassy of the United States in Guatemala
Office of the UN High Commission on Human Rights in Guatemala
EU Delegation in Guatemala
Centre for Justice and International Law (CEJIL)
Chair, Swedish Pension Fund Ethics Council
President, Goldcorp Inc.
RE: CONCERNS REGARDING ACCUSATIONS AGAINST INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS AND THE SECURITY OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN SAN MARCOS, GUATEMALA
We, the signatories of this statement, express our profound concern regarding accusations made by the Goldcorp Inc. company against four international human rights organizations working in Guatemala: the Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala, Collectif Guatemala, Breaking the Silence and Rights Action.
The following is an extract from a March 1, 2011 letter [1] in which Goldcorp Inc. made serious accusations against these organizations:
"[...] On Monday, February 28, 2010, a group of approximately 200 individuals reportedly led by Aniseto López of FREDEMI, ADISMI, and other opponents of the Marlin Mine, blocked three public roads that provide access to the communities of Siete Platos and San Antonio as well as the Marlin Mine. The protestors, who were not members of the local communities, indicated that their purpose was to protest the Government of Guatemala's failure to suspend operations of the Marlin Mine. As of this morning, the blockades are no longer in place and the public roads are fully accessible.
"In a blog posting dated February 28, 2011, representatives of La Red de Solidaridad con el Pueblo de Guatemala, Collectif Guatemala, Breaking the Silence, and Rights Action asserted that the human rights of the protest leaders were being violated by their being detained. As explained in this message, this information is incorrect and the prompt posting of the blog strongly suggests that the actions in Guatemala and by these organizations were planned with the intent of generating conflict in the local communities. [...]"
The defence of human rights is recognized by the United Nations in its Declaration on Human Rights Defenders as an important and legitimate activity that merits protection from UN member countries.
The organizations mentioned in the Goldcorp Inc. letter, all recognized for their many years of solidarity work in defence of Guatemalan human rights, have been threatened and harassed because of their work to protect human rights in Guatemala.
We believe that Goldcorp's statement concerning events of February 28, 2011, poses a risk to the security of these organizations. As well, we consider the accusation that these organizations are "generating conflict" to be very serious. We are deeply concerned about this assault on the reputation of these international human rights organizations.
In a message to human rights organizations working with communities in Guatemala, Claudia Samayoa, Coordinator of the Guatemalan Human Rights Defenders Protection Unit (Udefegua), said:
"International human rights groups are vital to the work of human rights defenders in Guatemala, not only because they accompany us when we are in high risk situations but also because they witness the violence we experience in the context of our work. It is not easy to be a witness; sometimes our authorities are intolerant and try to silence or de-legitimatize the voice of our witnesses. However, truth always wins out and today as in the past, the truth will be revealed and protected with the help of international human rights organizations in Guatemala."
According to information published by Amnesty International[2] and Front Line Defenders[3], on February 28, 2011, there were violations of the human rights of members of the organizations, Fredemi (San Miguelese Defense Front) and Adismi (Association for the Integral Development of San Miguel Ixtahaucán), who were participating in a peaceful public protest against the Marlin mine, owned by the Goldcorp Inc. company. These organizations were protesting in favour of precautionary measures imposed by the Interamerican Commission on Human Rights for the people of the municipalities of Sipakapa and San Miguel Ixtahuacán, in Guatemala.
The statement published by Amnesty International and Front Line Defenders, includes the names of Miguel Bamaca, Aniceto López and Alberta López, who were victims of attack, theft, death threats and arbitrary detention, amongst other things.
The statement posted by Goldcorp contains serious accusations against Aniceto López, the members of Adismi and Fredemi and the four international human rights organizations mentioned above. We are extremely concerned about this attempt to criminalize the work of national and international defenders of human rights in Guatemala.
We ask the government of Guatemala to fulfill its obligations, as described in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, in order to ensure that the defenders of human rights in the country can carry out their work without restrictions or reprisals.
We also ask the international community to observe the human rights situation in Guatemala, particularly in the municipalities of Sipakapa and San Miguel Ixtahuacán, where the "Marlin" mine is situated. We ask the international community to insist that the State of Guatemala fulfill its obligation to protect all human rights defenders in the country.
ADDRESSES:
Sr. Ing. Álvaro Colom
Presidente de la República de Guatemala
Secretaría de Comunicación Social de la Presidencia
Palacio Nacional De La Cultura
6 Avenida y 6 Calle, Zona 1
Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
Correos: webadmin@scspr.gob.gt, cartapresidente@scspr.gob.gt
Sra. Ruth del Valle Cóbar
Presidenta de la COPREDEH
2 Av. 10-50, Zona 9
Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
Correo: copredeh@copredeh.gob.gt
Sr. Roger Haroldo Rodas Melgar
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
2a Av. 4-17, Zona 10
Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
Correo: webmaster@minex.gob.gt
Embajada de Guatemala en Suecia
Wittstocksgatan 30
115 27 Stockholm, Suecia
Embajada de Suecia en Guatemala
Apartado Postal 966-A
Avenida La Reforma, Zona 9
Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
Correo: ambassaden.guatemala@foreign.ministry.se
Emabajada de Canadá en Guatemala
13 Calle 8-44, Zona 10
Edificio Edyma Plaza
Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
Correo: gtmla@international.gc.ca, evelyne.coulombe@international.gc.ca
Embajada de EEUU en Guatemala
Avenida Reforma 7-01, Zona 10
Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
Correo: AmCitsGuatemala@state.gov
OACNUDH
Edificio Europlaza, Torre III, Nivel 14
5a Avenida 5-55, Zona 14
Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
Correo: informacion@ohchr.org.gt
Delegación de la Unión Europea en Guatemala
Edificio Europlaza, Torre II, Nivel 17
5a Avenida 5-55, Zona 14
Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
Correo: delegation-guatemala@ec.europa.eu
Charles Jeannes
President and Chief Executive Officer
Goldcorp Inc.
dina.aloi@goldcorp.com
david.deisley@goldcorp.com
Directors@Goldcorp.com
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SIGNATURES [Available on request]
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WHAT TO DO - FUNDS
Since 2004, Rights Action has been funding the community development and environmental and human rights defense work of ADISMI (the Association for the Integral Defense of San Miguel Ixtahuacan) in Guatemala and the Siria Valley Enviro-Defense Committee in Honduras.
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
WHAT TO DO - WRITE
Please keep on keeping on sending copies of this information, and your own letters, to Canadian and American (and Guatemalan) politicians and government officials. Goldcorp - like most North American resource extraction companies around the world - are operating with the full support of North American governments. Please send copies to pension funds across North America - like the Canada Pension Plan - that are invested in Goldcorp Inc, and most North American resource extraction companies around the world, with no concern for environmental, health or human rights concerns.
DENIALS, IMPUNITY & MASSIVE PROFITS
Goldcorp is very aware of Guatemala's lack of democracy and rule of law. In the context of historic and on-going Guatemalan violence, repression and impunity, Goldcorp's comments increase the chance of violence and repression against human rights defenders.
Goldcorp made these comments after violence was carried out, February 28, 2011, against villagers protesting the environmental and health harms and human rights violations caused by Goldcorp's "Marlin" mine since 2004. (At www.rightsaction.org, find information about the February 28 protests and violence).
Since 2004, Goldcorp has denied any responsibility for any harms and violations linked to its mine, including: initial lack of local consultation; repression against protesters, including killings; forced and illegal land sales; cracked houses (due to massive use of explosives); water depletion and contamination; health harms to animals and humans; filing of trumped up criminal charges against community human rights defenders; violence and repression against local citizens; etc.
With gold near $1,300/ ounce, Goldcorp directors, officers, shareholders and investors are making approximately 8 times as much profit, from this mine, as they initially predicted.
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o Please forward this information and re-post
o To get on/off Rights Action's listserv: www.rightsaction.org
FOR QUESTIONS & INFORMATION about Goldcorp's mining related environmental and health harms and other human rights violations in Guatemala & Honduras, contact: info@rightsaction.org.