On June 10, PBI-Guatemala posted:
“Last week #PBIacompaña the Indigenous Council Maya Ch’orti’ of Olopa in a new hearing of the Cafe de La Conquista S.A. case.
During the hearing, an expert, with professional training as an agricultural engineer with specialization in natural resources, presented a report on water pollution caused by coffee-making activity. The expert answered questions from the Public Ministry, the Nation’s Attorney General’s Office and the defense lawyer.
Among other things, he explained that there have been leaks to the aquifer coats and that the necessary steps to treat the water were not met. He also indicated that the water pollution was related to the waste emitted during the coffee production process. Finally, he proved that these waste has direct impacts on the environment and human life.
The next hearing will take place on June 17 at the Zacapa Judicial Body building.”
In July 2024, PBI-Guatemala explained:
“The Ch’orti’ territory in Guatemala extends across the municipalities of Olopa, Camotán, Jocotán and San Juan Ermita in the department of Chiquimula, and the municipality of La Union, in the department of Zacapa, where a total of more than 100,000 Ch’orti’ Mayas live.
Coffee production in the area and, specifically, the discharge of polluting wastewater from the coffee cleaning process into the River Grande and artificial wells is affecting the lives of more than 10 communities and their water sources. The inhabitants, some 150 families, report foul odors, dead fish and skin diseases.
For the past five years, these communities have been unable to use the water sources for fishing, washing or drinking water.
In order to defend their right to water, the communities filed a complaint against Ovidio Cardona and his company “Café La Conquista” in 2022. The investigations are being carried out by the environmental prosecutor’s office of Zacapa, but to date there has been no judicial resolution to the problem.”
Accompaniment
Peace Brigades International began accompanying the Maya Ch’orti’ Indigenous Council of Olopa in June 2021, following their request, which is based on the serious increase in security incidents, defamation and criminalization processes they are experiencing.
Additional note:
Statistics Canada has reported: “In June 2024 alone, Canada imported 20.5 million kilograms of coffee (not roasted or decaffeinated), including both non-organic and certified organic coffee. Over one-third (38.2%) of it came from Colombia, while Brazil (21.4%), Guatemala (12.9%) and Honduras (9.9%) were also major suppliers.”
Trading Economics has also noted: “Canada Imports from Guatemala of Coffee, coffee husks, substitutes with coffee was US$113.74 Million during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. Canada Imports from Guatemala of Coffee, coffee husks, substitutes with coffee – data, historical chart and statistics – was last updated on June of 2025.”
