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Article

7 Jul 2017

Author:
Maritimes, Guatemala Breaking the Silence Network, Mining Injustice Solidarity Network, MiningWatch Canada, Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala & Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada

Tahoe licences suspended for lack of consultation with indigenous communities, while company denies indigenous presence and opposition

…On Wednesday July 5, the Guatemalan Supreme Court of Justice announced that it was temporarily suspending two of Tahoe Resources’ mining licences until a suit against the Ministry of Energy and Mines is resolved for discrimination and lack of prior consultation with Indigenous Xinka communities in the area of the company’s Escobal silver mine. Tahoe has consistently denied the presence of Xinka communities in the area of influence of the Escobal project and failed to report on the strength of opposition of both the Xinka and non-indigenous communities affected by its mining operations…The two suspended licences include the Escobal licence where the large underground silver mine was built and operates in the municipality of San Rafael Las Flores. The second is the Juan Bosco exploration licence in the municipalities of San Rafael Las Flores, Mataquescuintla, Nueva Santa Rosa, and Casillas. The latter three municipalities all held plebiscites prior to the granting of the exploitation permit for Escobal in which tens of thousands of people voted against any mining in their area.