Some of the tactics used by private and state security forces against communities opposed to they company’s project given concerns over potential impacts on water, health and agriculture include:
The company and other actors brought constitutional challenges against local plebiscites over mining;
Some hundred people faced legal persecution, only to later be absolved of all charges for lack of evidence;
Under pressure from the company to protect its interests, the Guatemalan government installed an “inter-institutional pilot project” in the municipality where the mine is located, characterising those opposed to mining as a threat to national security. Local residents consider it to be a military intelligence gathering exercise;
Peaceful protests were violently repressed by police and private security forces on more than one occasion. In particular, on April 27, 2013, private security guards fired on peaceful protesters demonstrating outside the mine site, wounding seven men;
Days after the April 27 shooting, the Guatemalan government declared a state of siege in the local area during which time the homes of community leaders opposed to the mine were raided. Several people were jailed for months and then released;
The “inter-institutional project” continues; two military outposts have remained in the area.
