What Glitters isn't Gold: Part I (Written for the OGG Blog)

In 2010, repeated recommendations came from the international community to suspend Goldcorp’s controversial Marlin Mine in the North-Western highlands of Guatemala. The open-pit mine however, continues to operate. Its presence in the indigenous municipalities of San Miguel Ixtahuacán and Sipacapa continues to foment social upheaval and generate growing number of allegations of serious human rights violations.

Anti-mining protesters in Solóla in 2010

In February, the International Labour Organization (ILO) recommended that the Marlin Mine, owned by Canadian company, GoldCorp, be suspended for having failed to ensure the right of communities to free, prior and informed consent, a stipulation of ILO Convention 169 and condition of the 1996 Guatemalan Peace Accords (see ILO Decision). On May 21, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IAHRC) also demanded that the Guatemalan government suspend the operation following the release of a study by the University of Michigan (UM) and Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) that found elevated levels of mercury, copper, zinc, arsenic and lead in the blood and urine of people living in the vicinity of the Canadian-owned mine (See UM & PHR Report). That same month, an independent consulting group from York University, On Common Ground (OCG), released a Human Rights Impact Assessment (HRIA) detailing Goldcorp's "systematic failure to address grievances in the communities" and, among other concerns, the company's refusal to "protect and respect" Indigenous rights (see OCG Report). A month later, on June 18th, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people (UNSR), James Anaya, echoed the ILO, OAS, and OCG statements, adding that “according to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, projects that have a significant impact on the rights of indigenous peoples such as the Marlin Mine, should not be implemented without the consent of the communities affected Indigenous Peoples.” And “if there is a substantial risk of injury to the health or physical wellbeing of the people due to the mine, the Ministry of Energy and Mines must proceed with the suspension of activities...” (See UNSR Press Release). The Guatemalan government initially agreed, but has thus far failed to enforce the order.

In the meantime, the Marlin Mine continues to generate social conflict (see Graham Russell Article) and concerns over the mine’s alleged contribution to local water contamination, dried wells, and cracked homes.

The Marlin Mine

Given the documented environmental and social side effects of mining in general and the Marlin Mine in particular (see NB Media Coop Article; Ghent Report; La Prensa Libre Article; COPAE Report),  it’s not surprising that to date, forty-seven community referendums have been held across the country in which roughly 700,000 Guatemalans have declared themselves in opposition to metallic mining. Nevertheless, the Canadian Government and its embassy in Guatemala remain firmly in support of Canadian investments in the country’s extractive industries. 

Curious to see for ourselves why Canadian diplomats were being met by cries of “Canada go home!” OGG began its weekend by joining Juan Martin, a friend of Rights Action, knowledgable guide, and bad-ass driver for a very memorable micro ride to San Marcos, site of Marlin Mine. While navigating the steep switch-backs of San Marcos, a cattle truck came careening around the corner nearly ending OG Guatemala prematurely. But Juan’s evasive manoeuvres kept the crew on track and soon we were pulling past the gates of the Asociacion de Desarrollo Integral de San Miguel Ixtahaucan (ADISMI), our hosts in San Miguel Ixtahuacan. ADISMI is a development organisation based in the area which works on various issues including rights to land, water, freedom of expression, and cultural identity, as well as mining-related human rights issues. After a brief ¨buenas dias¨ we hopped back in the van continued on to the site of the Marlin Gold Mine, run by Montana Exploradora de Guatemala, S.A (Montana) a subsidiary of Canadian mining giant GoldCorp. Our climb onto the mines muddy flats where a mountain once stood immediately demonstrated the dramatic and destructive consequences of open-pit mining. As we walked to the front gates, passing gawking workers Juan explained the environmental consequences and community conflicts that mining had unearthed.

Where a mountain once stood now sits an open pit.

Allison described her experience that day:

We drove up to the Marlin Mine in San Marcos where Goldcorp is rapidly destroying the landscape and community in the area. We stopped at a woman's house who came out and spoke to us about her experiences with the mine. It is right at her doorstep and she refuses to sell her home because it's her right to keep it and she has nowhere else to go. Workers from the mine have threatened her verbally, have put a machete to her head, and at one point attempted to take her life by shooting her in the face. … Pretty much all of us were crying as she told us her story because there seems to be nothing we can do to help her and we are all partially responsible for what the mine has done because we support it indirectly by being Canadian citizens and having our tax dollars and pension plans support Goldcorp. Contamination from the mine reaches as far as Mexico and no one in the community is able to drink the green coloured water. It was definitely a heart breaking day, but there was a glimmer of hope, a local group called ADISMI along with the Canadian NGO Rights Action are working together to protect the rights of the communities affected by the mine. They have a local radio station and as we drove away we tuned in and they spent 5 minutes thanking us and wishing us well in our journey and just saying how much they appreciated us coming and listening to their stories. How awesome it that? Yes, Allie, it's "wicked awesome."

Dona Maria remains defiant.

ADISMI is also beginning to extend and expand their activities into the political realm with the establishment of the Comite Civico Miguelense (CCM). This independent civic committee is made up of Mayan Mam people from a number of communities in and around the Marlin Mine. They have come together in solidarity to contest the upcoming municipal elections in hopes of occupying the mayor's office, and improving their ability to confront the number of outstanding issues in San Miguel Ixtahuacan, including the environmental and health harms and other human rights violations caused by Goldcorp's mine. 

To sign (and share) the OXFAM petition demanding the suspension of the mining operation please visit:

http://act.oxfamamerica.org/site/PageNavigator/Guatemala_Marlin_Mine

For more information on the Marlin Mine and other ways to help please read the full article, "Where Gold Doesn't Glitter" (See side bar) 

For more information on ADISMI and ways to get involved please visit: www.rightsaction.org


For more on the amazing story of the woman named Señora Diodora please read the article, The Shooting, Survival, Resistance & Dignity of Diodora Antonia Hernandez Cinto (“Dona Maria”) by Grahame Russell