VIOLENT EVICTIONS AT EL ESTOR, IZABAL, GUATEMALA

On January 8th and 9th 2007, hundreds of police and soldiers in Guatemala forcibly evicted the inhabitants of several communities who were living on lands that a Guatemalan military government had granted to Canadian mining company INCO in 1965. Local indigenous populations claim the land to be theirs, and resent the exploitation of an outside corporation. Canada’s Skye Resources now lays claim to the land, and paid workers a nominal sum to destroy people’s homes. With the force of the army and police, company workers took chainsaws and torches to people’s homes, while women and children stood by. Skye Resources claims that they maintained "a peaceful atmosphere during this action."

Watch a 10 minute video of the illegal evictions:

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CANADIAN AMBASSADOR TO GUTAEMALA RESPONDS TO THE VIDEO

Shortly after this video was posted and began circulating throughout Guatemala, Canadian ambassador to Guatemala, Kenneth Cook, began misinforming people about the nature of the video, in order to suggest that it lacks credibility. On February 28, 2007, various parties -- Rights Action included -- sent a public letter to various politicians and members of the media calling for an investigation into the ambassador's conduct.
Read the letter here.

The Canadian Association of University Teachers calls upon the government to respond to the situation.
Read their letter here.

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