Metal Mining and Human Rights in Guatemala - Peace Brigades ...

Peace Brigades InternationalAs we were preparing this document, we encountered some limits that should be taken into account when readingit.This report was written in February 2006 at a time when the national debate on this issue was coming back to theforefront. Therefore, due to time restraints, the text is limited to the situation prior to that date and leaves outevents that took place afterwards, as it was impossible to continuously update the document. We also encounteredsome problems when attempting to combine all of the documents, notes and explanations into one document,given the significant amount of opinions and documents on the subject.The contributions of everyone who collaborated in preparing this report have been invaluable. We hope we wereable to express in one way or another most of the multitude of opinions provided, and we apologize if some werenot included.As a result of this great collaboration, we present a document which we hope will help those entities, enterprisesand organizations interested in the future of Guatemala and thus in human rights and the space in which those whotake a position on this very controversial subject work.[It should be noted for readers that the spelling used to enunciate “Sipacapa” varies depending on the source.Guatemalan’s state institutions prefer “Sipacapa”. However, Mayan linguists use “Sipakapa” (see Academia deLenguas Mayas de Guatemala, 2001, ToponimiasMayas Sipakapenses, Guatemala, ALMG). In this document,“Sipacapa” is used to refer to the municipality, and “Sipakapa” to refer to the residents of the community.]IntroductionAt the end of 2003, a national debate on metal mining began in Guatemala. This debate was sparked by the arrival in thedepartment of San Marcos of the mining company Montana Exploradora de Guatemala S.A., a subsidiary of Glamis GoldLtd., based in Reno, Nevada. Since it is an activity that poses elevated health and environmental risks, while a veryprofitable industry at the same time, metal mining raised many questions and comments about how to strike a balancebetween the benefits and risks involved. Such issues as local development, citizen participation and environmental impactwere debated. Strong opinions on both sides of the issue quickly led to a polarization of opponents and supporters at alllevels of Guatemalan society.The Guatemalan government, the Catholic Church and representatives of Civil Society, popular leaders, entrepreneursand newspaper columnists have engaged in a “war of words” to disparage or praise the merits of metal mining in thecountry. In the most extreme cases, the intense conflicts generated by the debate led to acts of violence and harassmentagainst opponents of the mines.In view of the confrontation provoked by the controversy, Guatemalan President Oscar Berger Perdomo proposed adialogue between the various actors in the conflict. In February 2005, the High Commission on Mining was established todiscuss possible changes to Guatemalan legislation to establish adequate means to regulate metal mining. In addition, itsintention was to debate and propose a mining policy that would satisfy all actors involved in the conflict, i.e. the State, themining companies and the affected populations.7