Mining resistance member Misael Mata Asencio killed in Guatemala within week of hike to look at mining exploration wells

Published by Brent Patterson on May 20, 2025May 20, 2025

Journalist Carlos Ernesto Choc has shared on Facebook:

“#Alert A member of the anti-mining resistance is murdered, from the 54 communities in Sierra Santa Cruz, jurisdiction of Livingston, Izabal, where the company Rio Nickel S. intends to operate. The name of the person who was part of the resistance was Misael Mata Asencio, originally from Las Flores, Livingston, Izabal. According to community authorities, Mata participated in the demonstrations and was an active member. He also participated in the hike in the Sierra Santa Cruz, in search of the wells for mining exploration recently.”

On May 9, 2025, Choc posted about that hike on Facebook: “#Izabal Locating new mining exploration wells in Sierra Santa Cruz. According to the people of the 54 communities of the Sierra Santa Cruz, in Livingston, Izabal, they have found new mining exploration wells, in the area located of the hill 1,019 in a tour they made on the 8th of May, in the sector of the estates of Santa Anita and Santa Anita ll.”

La Hora now also reports: “Through a statement, the Ancestral Authorities of Iximulew denounced threats and harassment against members of the 54 Q’eqchi’ communities of the Sierra Santa Cruz, in Livingston, Izabal, due to the defense of their rights and territory. In this context, they also condemned the murder of one of the members of the mining resistance, Misael Mata Asencio, who was murdered on May 14 in the community of Las Flores. According to the authorities, Mata had accompanied the process of verification of mining activities during the last weeks.”

On April 14, 2025, IRTF Cleveland had also noted: “On January 28, authorities from Guatemala’s Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) were called to a congressional hearing, at which it was disclosed that Rio Nickel, S.A. (a subsidiary of Canada-based Central America Nickel, or CAN) has more than a dozen mining exploration applications for nickel and other minerals, almost all of them located in the Sierra Santa Cruz region.”

The Toronto-based Mining Injustice Solidarity Network (MISN) has also posted: “We are deeply troubled to learn about the assassination of Misael Mata Asencio on May 14, 2025. Asencio was a land defender from the Maya Q’eqchi’ village of Las Flores in Livingston, Guatemala. He worked to protect mountain 1019 in Sierra Santa Cruz, where Rio Nickel mining company hopes to operate. Asencio supported an alliance of 54 communities working to identify holes left by Rio Nickel’s exploration drilling. Rio Nickel is a subsidiary of the Canadian-owned company, Central America Nickel, which is headquartered in Montréal, Quebec. Asencio’s assassination comes at a moment where land defenders and Indigenous leaders are facing increased cases of criminalization and government repression in Guatemala.”

MISN has additionally shared this slide on Instagram. The text says: “ALERT: Anti-mining defender murdered. On May 14, Misael Mata Asencio’s lifeless body was identified with firearms projectiles. He fought to defend Cerro 1,019 Sierra Santa Cruz Livingston Izabal, which the Rio Nickel Mining Company intends to operate. Asencio supported the 54 communities to locate mining exploration wells of this subsidiary company of Central American Nickel, based in Montreal, Canada. Misae Mata Asencio is originally from the Mayan Q’eqchi’ indigenous village of Las Flores, Livingston, Izabal. He was buried on May 15.“

Central America Nickel

Central America Nickel describes itself as follows on LinkedIn:

“Central America Nickel Inc. (“CAN”) is a Canadian corporation positioned to become a major global supplier of critical minerals and energy metals, including nickel, lithium and rare earth elements. CAN is focused on sourcing, direct shipping, processing and purification of these minerals using its patented Ultrasound Assisted Extraction (UAEx) technology and other proprietary processes. CAN controls directly or indirectly, various world-class resource properties including nickel, lithium, and rare earth deposits integral to the transition towards a clean energy and green economy, in Guatemala and the Democratic Republic of Congo, among other regions.”

Accompaniment

Peace Brigades International began accompanying Maya Q’eqchi’ frontline journalist, human rights defender and environmentalist Carlos Ernesto Choc in April 2025.

“#PBI accompanies Carlos Ernesto Choc in his journalistic work.”

We continue to follow this.