Kevo Dell
The Peaceful Resistance of La Puya (La Resistencia Pacifica La Puya) published the above announcement regarding the encroachment of members of the National Police into their camp.
To the General Public, The Peaceful Resistance of La Puya states:
1. The company: The mineral exploitation license for Exploraciones Mineras de Guatemala, EXMINGUA S.A. was suspended through a provisional writ awarded by the Supreme Court of Justice in 2015.
2. In 2016, the Public Prosecutor’s Office carried out proceedings as a result of an investigation into the mining company for illegal exploitation. On the 4th June, 2016, the Public Prosecutor’s Office carried out searches out in the facilities of the Progreso VII Derivada mining project, in the offices located in San José del Golfo and in the finca, Sobrana, in Agua Caliente, San Antonio la Paz, in the Department of El Progreso, leading to the immobilisation of: property (in project area), sacks of material extract, tools, among other things.
The case is in the charge of the Magistrate of the 4th Court (for criminal, drug activity, and crimes against the environment), in session from the 25th March 2021, the judge in charge of the case settled the proceeding raised by the mining company regarding the lifting of the immobilisation on the project, Progreso VII Derivada.
3. The official lifting of the immobilisation was set for the 21st May, 2021, at 10.30 hrs, the proceedings being accompanied by the national police (PNC), the justice of the peace of San Pedro Ayumpuc, staff of the Public Prosecutor’s office, and of the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM).
We Express:
Our rejection of the damaging mining project which negatively affects the lives of the people and the well-being of the environment.
Our rejection of the use of the national Police (PNC) to protect the economic interests of foreign extractive companies.
We denounce the intimidation by the PNC taking place since 7 o’clock this morning.
The Peaceful Resistance of La Puya (La Resistencia Pacifica La Puya) reaffirms its commitment to peaceful struggle in the defence of life, nature, and land.
We call on the population to be on guard against whatever action that the mining company carries out which could gives indications of further exploitation, given that the licence remains suspended until an enquiry is carried out into the State violation of the right to be consulted. The lifting of the immobilisation is not a ‘go ahead’ for exploitation.
We request that the Human Rights Ombudsman remains vigilant for any action carried out against the people’s Human Rights.
Resistencia Pacifica La Puya, San José del Golfo and San Pedro Ayumpuc, 21st May 2021.
PBI Canada has a note on the latest from La Puya, here, PBI-Guatemala accompanies the Peaceful Resistance of La Puya as court ruling gives mining company access to the site.
More information, in Spanish, including videos of the PNC entering La Puya, can be found here, La Puya – facebook.
You can read more about the struggle of La Puya in GSN, here, La Puya in GSN.
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