(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C.) The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs and the Xinka Parliament of Guatemala call on the Canadian government and Pan American Silver to respect the Xinka People’s decision seeking the permanent closure of the Escobal mine in accord with their rights to self-determination under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration). On May 8, the Xinka People announced their unequivocal refusal to consent to the mine’s reopening in the culmination of a seven-year, court-mandated process.
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, UBCIC President, stated “Indigenous Peoples’ struggles for self-determination bear many similarities across borders, particularly when they face up to big companies with deep pockets and considerable political influence, often resulting in the sort of harassment and threats that our Xinka friends have experienced for years. We’re joining together to urge the Vancouver-based company and Canadian Embassy in Guatemala to respect the Xinka People’s decision in accord with the UN Declaration and the Constitutional Court decision that ordered the consultation.”
The Escobal mine, originally owned by Tahoe Resources, was forced into production in early 2014 using violent repression by private security, police and military, as well as a campaign to defame and criminalize community leaders. A shooting attack by the company’s security on peaceful protesters outside the mine in 2013 led to a civil lawsuit against the company in British Columbia courts. In a historic settlement, Pan American Silver issued an apology to the victims and community in 2019, acknowledging that the April 2013 shooting infringed the human rights of the protesters. But this did not settle the wider conflict.
“Our concerns over the current and potential harms that we could face from a restart of the Escobal mine, such as water contamination and loss of vital water supplies, have only deepened. Our own government authorities in Guatemala have demonstrated a serious lack of capacity to ensure our rights to a healthy environment, water and survival as a people, for which reasons we say no to the mine,” said Marisol Guerra, President of the Xinka Women’s Commission.
The court-ordered consultation has faced numerous obstacles, including the co-optation of the country’s justice system, as well as persistent harassment, threats, and attacks against Xinka leaders and community members. Notably, the last President of the Xinka Parliament and his family fled the country late last year, along with others who have left out of fear for their lives.
“We have suffered terrible costs within our communities from the legal persecution, violence, threats and social divisions as a result of this mine being imposed on us without our consent. We ask Canadian authorities to do everything within their reach to advocate for our safety and security, and for full respect of our self-determination as Xinka,” said Marta Muñoz, a delegate to the consultation process for the community San Antonio Las Flores, Mataquescuintla.
Media inquiries:
- Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President, 250-490-5314
- Miriam Shaftoe, Xinka Rep. MiningWatch Canada, miriam@miningwatch.ca
- Jen Moore, Xinka Rep, Institute for Policy Studies, jen@ips-dc.org
UBCIC is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
For more information, please visit www.ubcic.bc.ca