“Central America's biggest nickel mine reopens amid violent clashes” - 24 July 2014

The biggest nickel mine in Central America has restarted operations amid violent clashes between indigenous people and security forces, disputes over land ownership, and ongoing lawsuits for gang-rape and murder. The Fenix mine in Guatemala had been closed for 30 years, and was inaugurated by a recent visit to the site by president Otto Pérez, who called it the biggest investment in the history of the country.  But just one week later a community…say[s] there were invaded by private security forces working for the firm which runs the mine, Compañía Guatemalteca de Níquel, now a subsidiary of the Cyprus-based Solway Investment Group.  Residents of Lot 8… told…that about 10 men turned up unannounced, “armed to the teeth”,[as an] intent on preventing a meeting from taking place… “They said they wouldn’t leave and assumed a position to shoot. They were out in the corridor, but pointed their weapons at us.” The community says the private security only pulled out the next day after the intervention of a justice of the peace, the decision by the community to spend the night in the surrounding forest, and the arrival of more private security personnel and then the army and police, which led to a tense standoff…[Refers to HudBay Minerals and Skye Resources]