When Pan American Silver bought the Escobal mine, it bought a legacy of violence
Summary
Date Reported: 7 May 2019
Location: Guatemala
Companies
Pan American Silver - Parent Company , Tahoe Resources (now Pan American Silver)Projects
Escobal Mine - UnknownAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Community: ( Number unknown - Location unknown - Sector unknown , Gender not reported )Issues
Intimidation , Killings , Indigenous Peoples , Free, prior & informed consent , ProtestsResponse
Response sought: No
Source type: News outlet
…Shareholders of one of the world's largest silver mining companies will meet…to discuss their latest acquisition -- the conflict-ridden Escobal mine in southeastern Guatemala, acquired by Pan American Silver when it bought Tahoe Resources…The Escobal…is currently suspended due to widespread and long-term community opposition to the project. Impacted communities argue that mining is incompatible with their ways of life, culture, and spirituality. For nearly two years, operations have been suspended…Ahead of [the]…shareholder meeting, the Xinka Parliament issued a call to shareholders: "It is important that the shareholders and the general public are fully aware that the consultation ordered by the Constitutional Court is not a simple administrative process as the mining company has presented it. The continuation or not of the Escobal mining project depends on the consultation, given the size of the project and its impact on the Xinka People. The purpose of the consultation is not to come to an agreement, but to obtain our consent. We want to emphasize that the legal and social struggle that we have been carrying out to recover our territory is not over. We are not willing to allow the continual violation of our rights, and we will not rest until our territory is completely free of mining."