“After eight years of community resistance and international pressure, Hidro Santa Cruz leaves Guatemala”, 31 Dec 16

After eight years of struggle, communities in Santa Cruz Barillas, Guatemala, are celebrating a decision by Spanish company Ecoener-Hidralia to leave Guatemala and start the “process of extinction of Hidro Santa Cruz S.A”. The…announcement signals the end to a tragic legacy of political persecution and imprisonment, criminalization of resistance, threats and the murder of social leaders. The aggressiveness of the hydro dam's proponents reached its highest point with the murder of community leader Andrés Pedro Miguel, attributed to security officers hired by the multinational company…“As the people of Barillas we see this as a great victory. This is an important achievement towards the defense of the territory and the natural resources of the people…”, said Basilio Tzoy, member of the Departmental Assembly of Huehuetenango and CEIBA…