PBI-Guatemala accompanies Indigenous Community of San Francisco Quezaltepeque in opposition to Canadian mining company
The Indigenous Community of San Francisco Quezaltepeque has posted on Facebook:
“Today, August 9, we celebrate the international day of indigenous peoples from our Mayan Ch’orti’ territory in the sacred place 11 aj y cruz de la ermita, in the indigenous community of Quezaltepeque.
With the participation of the ancestral authorities of Olopa, San Juan Hermitage, Camotan, Quezaltepeque and the Ch’orti’ population, as well as the accompaniment of Peace Brigades International PBI – Guatemala Project, PNC, and the visit of the departmental governor of Chiquimula.
In the interventions of the authorities, it was mentioned that this activity is not folklorism but it is our spirituality of the people and that it is real because we are in front of the common altar.
The struggle for the defense of the territory against mining projects and the care of the environment was made known, and that the people remain united against the social division that is happening because in some projects they do not consult the communities, such is the case of what is currently happening with the Trifinio plan and the municipality of Quezaltepeque because the consultation was not carried out and it is generating division among the communities and that is worrying.
The vision of the Ch’orti’ people is the collective because the individual does not favor the entire population.
There was artistic participation.
For his part, the governor showed his closeness to the people and is a way to bring the government to the communities to listen to their needs and at the same time he conveyed greetings from the President of the Republic Bernardo Arevalo.
He also stated that the day of the indigenous communities is not only on August 9, but every day because the resistance is permanent.
This is the first time in history that a governor has approached the people, and even more so on our indigenous peoples’ day.
Congratulations to the Ch’orti’ people.”
Canadian mining company
PBI-Guatemala has noted: “The indigenous community of San Francisco Quezaltepeque is resisting a mining company working in the municipality: Minerales Sierra Pacifico S.A. This company has five exploration licenses for gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc. The Ch’orti’ people are concerned about the negative impacts of these mining activities.”
As noted on page 10 of this report, Minerales Sierra Pacifico S.A. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Vancouver-based Radius Gold.
And as noted on this Gold Group Management Inc. webpage, Radius Gold is part of this group and “has an Option Agreement for a 60/40 earn-in with Volcanic Gold Mines Inc. and includes the Motagua Norte project and the Holly project.” Volcanic Gold is also a part of this group and whose assets in Guatemala include the “Holly Project and the Motagua Norte project through an Option Agreement with Radius Gold.”
We continue to follow this.
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