January 21, 2019 - Thirty Canadian civil society organizations, including BTS, have sent a letter of concern to the Government of Canada regarding the escalating constitutional crisis, as well as the technical coup currently unfolding in the country. Ms. Rita Rudaitis-Renaud Ambassador of Canada to Guatemala 3 Calle 8-44, Zone [...]
Four men from Finca Washington case (Photo Credit: Lisa Rankin) The trial against seven campesinos from the Finca Washington in Purulha, Baja Verapaz came to a close on Wednesday, September 26th. Esteban Ichich, Hermelindo Ichich and Ricardo Chun were found guilty of violent usurpation and coercion and sentenced to 3.5 [...]
Ixil survivors hold a vigil outside of the Palace of Justice on Sept 26, 2018 (Photo credit: Carlos Sebastian) For many years, BTS has accompanied the trial for genocide against the Indigenous Ixil population in Guatemala. Yesterday, the retrial against former Chief of Military Intelligence Rodriguez Sanchez for genocide and crimes against [...]
This past month, over 3,700 individuals took action in support of Guatemalan communities right to say “No” to Tahoe Resources’ Escobal mine. The action re-sent a letter delivered to Tahoe Resources’ offices in Reno, NV and Guatemala City by allies at the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (PLAN) and representatives [...]
As many of you know, Guatemala is in the midst of a Constitutional Crisis. On Friday, August 31, the Guatemalan government declared that it would not renew the mandate of the UN-back Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) in September 2019. Then when the Commissioner Ivan Velasquez left the country for meetings [...]
On Friday, August 31st, President Jimmy Morales announced at a press conference, surrounded by military and police officers, that he would not be renewing the mandate of the CICIG, the UN-backed International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala. Hours earlier, an intimidating military presence was reported outside of the CICIG offices. As you may [...]
Adolfo Chon Pacay, community member from Dos Fuentes in Panima, Purulha, Baja Verapaz was assasinated on Friday, July 20. The community has been supported by the Asociacion Bufete Juridico Popular in Rabinal for the last few years. The land owner claims ownership to about 200 caballerias of land, but until [...]
Estuardo Quevedo was murdered on Thursday, July 12 in the community of Salitre, Santa Rosa de Lima. He was an active member in the resistance against the Tahoe Resources Escobal Mine and was the point person for one of Casillas' groups taking turns at the Constitutional Court, where there has [...]
By Lisa Rankin, BTS Co-Coordinator A lot has been happening over the past few weeks in Guatemala regarding community resistance to Canadian mining companies. Here I have complied some brief updates and links for further updates to keep folks informed. Please also take action following the link! As events are [...]
The following article was co-written by MiningWatch Canada and the Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA). See the original article here: http://nisgua.org/smear-campaign-launched-against-opponents-to-tahoe-resources-escobal-project-after-mine-licenses-suspended/ Take action here! [fbshare url="http://www.breakingthesilenceblog.com/general/smear-campaign-launched-against-opponents-to-tahoe-resources-escobal-project-after-mine-licenses-suspended/" type="button" float="left"] Nueva Santa Rosa stands behind its community consultation against large scale mining and Tahoe Resources Following [...]
