Argentina: Families of Apacheta Collective were victims of threats and harassment for protesting mining
Summary
Date Reported: 1 Jan 2012
Location: Argentina
Companies
Minera Exar SA (joint venture of Lithium Americas Corp, Ganfeng Lithium, and JEMSE) - Parent CompanyProjects
Cauchari-Olaroz - OperationAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Indigenous peoples: ( Number unknown - Argentina , Mining , Gender not reported )Issues
Impact Assessment , Insufficient/inadequate consultation , Violence , Human Rights DefendersResponse
Response sought: No
Source type: NGO
"Lithium exploitation in the Salar de Oroz-Cauchari, Argentina", 23 Nov 2021
The mobilization is generating the lithium / potassium extractive pressure in the Salaries Olaroz and Cauchari, also called Salar Olaroz-Cauchari, located in the Department of Susques (Jujuy) at an average height of 3,950 meters above sea level. This conflict is linked, not only by the connection between the salaries and the projects in question but by the concern of several of the indigenous communities of the area before social impacts (lack of prior consultation)...
The families that make up the Apacheta Collective were victims of threats and harassment in 2012, when one of them was beaten and ended up in the hospital with different blows to the body. It was Hipólito Guzmán, brother of Carlos Guzmán, one of the referents of this Collective around which they had organized to resist the exploitation of lithium in the area. Hipólito was also part of the Assembly and rural commissioner of Susques. Shortly before the attack, he had already denounced threats and verbal aggressions for his anti-mining position.