30 de Julio 2014 - 19:51
SISTEMA DE JUSTICIA, AMPARA AL CONSEJO MAYA SIPAKAPENSE ANTE LICENCIA MINERA “LOS CHOCOYOS”
Categoría: ARTICULOS 2013 Publicado el Miércoles, 23 Julio 2014 - 14:34 Escrito por Super User.
- En conferencia de prensa el Consejo Maya Sipakapense dio a conocer la resolución de la Sala Tercera de la Corte de Apelaciones del Ramo Civil y Mercantil sobre
un amparo interpuesto en contra de la licencia minera en territorio
sipakapense denominada "Los Chocoyos", acción promovida por el Consejo
Maya Sipakapense.
El pasado 27 de marzo del presente año, la Sala Tercera de la Corte de
Apelaciones del Ramo Civil y Mercantil, Constituida en el Tribunal de
Amparo, de la ciudad de Guatemala resolvió otorgar amparo
a favor del Consejo Maya Sipakapense, del pueblo de Sipacapa, contra la
licencia de minería de metales “Los Chocoyos”, propiedad de la empresa
Entre Mares de Guatemala, Sociedad Anónima.
Antecedentes:
En el año 2012 el estado de Guatemala, a través del Ministerio de
Energía y Minas, autorizó la licencia minera “Los Chocoyos”, con la
intención de explotar minerales preciosos en la superficie otorgada.
Tiempo después la empresa comienza a desarrollar trabajos en territorio
Sipakapense, incluso utilizando tácticas disuasivas y coercitivas para
su implementación.
Acción de amparo:
Ante dicha autorización, el Consejo Maya Sipakapense (instancia maya
Sipakapense referente para la defensa del territorio y la promoción de
los derechos de pueblos indígenas en el municipio de Sipacapa),
observando y conociendo los perjuicios sociales y, consecuencias
ambientales que genera este tipo de industrias, así como el robo, saqueo
y despojo de las cuales son víctimas las comunidades indígenas,
disponen con fecha 11 de diciembre interponer recurso legal de amparo
contra el Estado Guatemalteco por la licencia minera “los chocoyos”,
argumentado la violación del derecho de Consulta regulada en el convenio
169 de la OIT.
Resolución: Con fecha 27 de marzo del presente año, la instancia conocedora del caso, OTORGA EL AMPARO al Consejo Maya Sipakapense
del municipio de Sipacapa,en contra del Director General de Minería.
Tal como lo establece la resolución, el amparo se otorga la finalidad
que sea respetado el derecho de consulta del pueblo Maya Sipakapense.
Valoraciones y Consecuencias de la resolución:
1. El Estado de Guatemala reconoce la forma propia de organizarse de las comunidades indígenas, manifestado ahora, en el Consejo Maya Sipakapense, como instancia representativa para la defensa del territorio en Pueblo Maya Sipakapense;
2. Toda
actividad iniciada por la empresa minera en territorio Sipakapense debe
suspenderse en tanto no sea respetado el derecho de consulta a pueblos
indígenas regulado en el Convenio 169 de la -OIT-;
3. El
Ministerio de Energía y Minas debe tomar en cuenta el derecho de
consulta que gozan los pueblos indígenas, antes de autorizar licencias
mineras;
4. Por
ser una resolución dictada por un órgano judicial: tanto la
municipalidad de Sipacapa; las autoridades departamentales (gobernación
departamental); e, instancias de gobierno, deben simplemente, acatarla.
Consulta de 2005: Es
de recordar que el pueblo Sipakapense ha desarrollado ya Consulta
Comunitaria, ahora los resultados de aquel hecho histórico deben hacerse
llegar al Ministerio de Energía y Minas y de esa cuenta cumplir con lo
establecido en la resolución judicial.
Terceros interesados: Cabe
mencionar la postura de la Procuraduría de Derechos Humanos, y del
Ministerio Público en este caso, como terceros interesados, que dan un
buen jalón de orejas al estado recordándole que previo a la autorización
de este tipo de licencias, debe respetarse el derecho de consulta,
regulado en el Convenio 169 de la OIT. Postura que acuerpa lo ya exigido
por el Consejo Maya Sipakapense del municipio de Sipacapa, departamento
de San Marcos.
Consejo Maya Sipakapense.
Consejo del Pueblo Maya –CPO-
Pincha aquí para descargar la resolución: RESOLUCIÓN
http://www.cpo.org.gt/index.php/articulos/167-resuelven-a-favor-del-pueblo-maya-sipakapense
***************************************
Guatemalan court rules in favor of indigenous people
- Categoría: ARTICULOS 2013
- Publicado el Jueves, 24 Julio 2014 - 19:23
- Escrito por Super User
A Guatemalan court ruled in favor of the indigenous people of the municipality of Sipacapa. The
court says the Guatemalan government must respect the right to
information and consultation with the local population before granting
any kind of mining permits, according to international conventions. As a consequence the mining permit named ”Los Chocoyos”is illegal, and should be withdrawn.
–This judgment states the obligation of the Guatemalan government to respect the indigenous people’s right to information and consultation before granting mining permits in indigenous territories, in accordance with both United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People and International Labour Organization Convention 169.Otherwise they are illegal, said Esperanza Pérez, from the Mayan Council of Sipacapa during a press conference held July 23.
In April 2012 the General Director of the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) granted the
local company Entre Mares de Guatemala S.A., a subsidiary of
transnational mining company Goldcorp Inc., a prospecting permit, ”Chocoyos”in
Sipacapan territory. The permit was given without prior information and
consultation with the local people. Since then, Entre Mares has had the
permission to study, analyze and evaluate any metals such as, gold,
silver, nickel, cobalt, lead and zinc within the region.
On
March 24, 2014, the Mayan Council of Sipacapa claimed their collective
rights and demanded the cancelation of the mining permit ”Chocoyos”, in a public hearing in an appellate court in Guatemala City.
On
Friday, July 18, 2014 they were notified of the judgment. Maximiliano
Ambrosio from the Mayan Council of Sipacapa commented it at the press
conference, July 23:
–We
filed the petition considering the devastating consequences mining
activities bring both on community level and to our environment and
daily lives. And now, we have received a judgment in favor of the people
of Sipacapa which means our territory belongs to us.
The judgment also claims another important point for the local people, which is the court’s
recognition of the Mayan Council of Sipacapa representing the people of
Sipacapa as a legal part in the case, explained Deny de Leon, legal
attorney at Copae, an organization who has accompanied the petition.
–It
is a historical and an important political moment when the state of
Guatemala through this judgment recognizes the proper organization of
the indigenous communities, a collective right, and in this case
represented by the Mayan Council of Sipacapa, said Deny de Leon at the
press conference.
Located in the northwestern highlands, 300
kilometers from Guatemala City, Sipacapa counts with 18 000 inhabitants
and a property title guaranteeing the collective ownership of their
territory.
However,”Chocoyos”is
not the only mining project in this area. Already in 1998 the Marlin
Mine, which is the biggest goldmine in Guatemalan territory, was
discovered by Montana Exploradora de Guatemala S.A., a subsidiary to the
same Goldcorp Inc. In November 2003 the permit for exploitation was
granted and shortly afterwards, production process was started,
according to information on the company’s website.
The Marlin Mine project is located in a vast territory in the two municipalities of San Miguel Ixtahuacán,
populated by Maya mam people and Sipacapa. Both mining projects extend
approximately 20 square kilometers. The Marlin Mine brings in high
revenues to their shareholders, being Goldcorp’s most cost efficient mine worldwide.
In 2005, as the Marlin Mine was preparing to open, the Sipacapan community organized one of the country’s
first referendums on whether to allow mining in their communities and
collective territory. The answer was a resounding no from 99 per cent of
the population. Yet their decision was ignored. In a context of
impunity, no international conventions protected the people from
continuing state violations of their rights as indigenous communities.
Ever
since, a peaceful resistance towards the mining activities, based in
the local catholic church, has been constant, but perhaps less visible
as time has passed. Due to threats and oppressive acts against
individuals who denounce violations of human rights related to the
situation around the mining project, sometimes involving workers and
security personal from the mining company, people are scared of
expressing their views. The mining company has also worked non-stop on
promoting their local community projects aimed at contributing to social
development.
The expectations on the recent judgment are great.
–In
practical terms the legal implications of this judgment include that
all preparatory mining activities in the area must stop, said Deny de
Leon during the press conference.
He continued:
–The
next step for the people of Sipacapa is to bring the results from the
2005 referendum, according to ILO Convention 169, to the General
Director of the Ministry of Energy and Mines, for him to take into
consideration. Thereafter the permit shall be suspended and the
territory returned to its proper collective land holder, the local Mayan
Sipacapense people.
Eliu Orozco from the Mayan People’s Council (CPO) commented:
–This
judgment is an important success in the process of legal actions taken
by local communities articulated through the Mayan People’s
Council. Taking legal actions is a strategy to ensure that
international conventions, both United Nations Declaration on the Rights
of Indigenous People and International Labour Organization Convention
169 are respected in Guatemala.
The mining company Entre Mares de Guatemala S.A. has not been available for comment.
http://www.cpo.org.gt/index.php/articulos/168-guatemalan-court-rules-in-favor-of-indigenous-people
**********************************************
Rights
Action
July
30, 2014
Guatemalan Court
Rules In Favor Of Mayan Sipakapan People, Against Goldcorp's Continued Illegal
Landgrab
Your
funds at work, ... helping achieve important victories in favour of community
well-being, environmental protection, human and indigenous rights. Rights Action
is a grateful supporter of the Mayan Council of Sipacapa that is at the
forefront of efforts to curtail the illegal expansion of Goldcorp's cyanide
leaching, open-pit and tunneling mining operation in western
Guatemala.
(Goldcorp's
open-pit and tunneling "Marlin Mine" in Mayan territories of western
Guatemala.)
Will
Goldcorp - backed by the governments of Guatemala, Canada and the U.S.A.,
supported by pension and private investment funds across North America - respect
this legal decision? The struggle is to be continued!
What
to do, More information, How to support: See below.
*******
Guatemalan Court
Rules In Favor Of Mayan Sipakapan People Against Goldcorp's Continued Illegal
Landgrab
By
Christin Sandberg, 24 Julio 2014
A
Guatemalan court ruled in favor of the indigenous people of the municipality of
Sipacapa. The court says the Guatemalan government must respect the right to
information and consultation with the local population before granting any kind
of mining permits, according to international conventions.
As
a consequence the mining permit [claimed by Goldcorp Inc.] named "Los Chocoyos"
is illegal, and should be withdrawn. This judgment states the obligation of the
Guatemalan government to respect the indigenous people's right to information
and consultation before granting mining permits in indigenous territories, in
accordance with both United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
People and International Labour Organization Convention 169. Otherwise they are
illegal, said Esperanza Pérez, from the Mayan Council of Sipacapa during a press
conference held July 23.
In
April 2012, the General Director of the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM)
granted the local company Entre Mares de Guatemala S.A., a subsidiary of
transnational mining company Goldcorp Inc., a prospecting permit "Chocoyos" in
Sipacapan territory. The permit was given without prior information and
consultation with the local people.
Since
then, Goldcorp/Entre Mares has had the permission to study, analyze and evaluate
any metals such as, gold, silver, nickel, cobalt, lead and zinc within the
region.
On
March 24, 2014, the Mayan Council of Sipacapa claimed their collective rights
and demanded the cancelation of the mining permit "Chocoyos" in a public hearing
in an appellate court in Guatemala City.
On
Friday, July 18, 2014 they were notified of the judgment. Maximiliano Ambrosio
from the Mayan Council of Sipacapa commented it at the press conference, July
23: "We filed the petition considering the devastating consequences mining
activities bring both on community level and to our environment and daily lives.
And now, we have received a judgment in favor of the people of Sipacapa which
means our territory belongs to us."
The
judgment also claims another important point for the local people, which is the
court's recognition of the Mayan Council of Sipacapa representing the people of
Sipacapa as a legal part in the case, explained Deny de Leon, legal attorney at
Copae, an organization who has accompanied the petition.
"It
is a historical and an important political moment when the state of Guatemala
through this judgment recognizes the proper organization of the indigenous
communities, a collective right, and in this case represented by the Mayan
Council of Sipacapa, said Deny de Leon at the press conference."
Located
in the northwestern highlands, 300 kilometers from Guatemala City, Sipacapa
counts with 18 000 inhabitants and a property title guaranteeing the collective
ownership of their territory. However, "Chocoyos" is not the only mining project
in this area.
Already
in 1998, the Marlin Mine, which is the biggest gold mine in
Guatemalan territory, was discovered by Montana Exploradora de Guatemala S.A., a
subsidiary to the same Goldcorp Inc. In November 2003 the permit for
exploitation was granted and shortly afterwards, production process was started,
according to information on the company's website.
The
Marlin Mine project is located in a vast territory in the two municipalities of
San Miguel Ixtahuacán, populated by Maya Mam people, and Sipacapa. Both mining
projects extend approximately 20 square kilometers. The Marlin Mine brings in
high revenues to their shareholders, being Goldcorp's most cost efficient mine
worldwide.
In
2005, as the Marlin Mine was preparing to open, the Sipacapan community
organized one of the country's first referendums on whether to allow mining in
their communities and collective territory. The answer was a resounding no from
99 per cent of the population. Yet their decision was ignored. In a context of
impunity, no international conventions protected the people from continuing
state violations of their rights as indigenous communities.
Ever
since, a peaceful resistance towards the mining activities, based in the local
catholic church, has been constant, but perhaps less visible as time has passed.
Due to threats and oppressive acts against individuals who denounce violations
of human rights related to the situation around the mining project, sometimes
involving workers and security personal from the mining company, people are
scared of expressing their views. The mining company has also worked non-stop on
promoting their local community projects aimed at contributing to social
development.
The
expectations on the recent judgment are great. In practical terms the legal
implications of this judgment include that all preparatory mining activities in
the area must stop, said Deny de Leon during the press conference. "The next
step for the people of Sipacapa is to bring the results from the 2005
referendum, according to ILO Convention 169, to the General Director of the
Ministry of Energy and Mines, for him to take into consideration. Thereafter the
permit shall be suspended and the territory returned to its proper collective
land holder, the local Mayan Sipacapense people."
Eliu
Orozco from the Mayan People's Council (CPO) commented: "This judgment is an
important success in the process of legal actions taken by local communities
articulated through the Mayan People's Council. Taking legal actions is a
strategy to ensure that international conventions, both United Nations
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People and International Labour
Organization Convention 169 are respected in Guatemala."
Goldcorp's
mining company - Entre Mares de Guatemala S.A. - was not available for
comment.
*******
Rights
Action
Since
2004, Rights Action has supported the community, environmental and human rights
defense work of the Goldcorp Inc. mining harmed Mayan communities of western
Guatemala.
More
information on
community and environmental defense struggles in Guatemala and Honduras seeking
a stop to mining caused harms and violations: info@rightsaction.org www.rightsaction.org, www.facebook.com/rightsaction.org
Gold
Fever
By
Northland Films (2013)
Trailer/
Screenings/ Info: http://www.goldfevermovie.com/
Award
winning film "Gold Fever" is about gold mining and global impunity in Guatemala.
In the film, Noam Chomsky asks: Is it proper "to benefit from over half a
century of repression, violence, destruction, and elimination of democracy"? The
Canadian mining giant Goldcorp Inc. continues to mine relentlessly in San Miguel
Ixtahuacan, despite 10 years of documented health and environmental harms and
other human rights violations.
Tax-Deductible
Donations (Canada)
Make
check payable to "Rights Action" and mail to:
- Canada: (Box 552) 351 Queen St. E, Toronto ON, M5A-1T8
- Credit-Card Donations (Canada &U.S.): http://www.rightsaction.org/tax-deductible-donations
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re-post and re-publish this information
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