The Mayans are one of the oldest inhabitants of Central America, living today in parts of Honduras and Guatemala. Though both are descendent from the same ancient civilisation, the Honduran and Guatemalan Mayans have little in common today. The Honduran Mayans, called the Maya Chortis, are integrated somewhat into the mainstream. Those in Guatemala still retain their indigenous lifestyle, clothing and culture, and are one of the most marginalised sections of society. Both, however, are identified as “indigenous peoples” by their governments, as well as by the UNO.
The 21st century has again brought the two peoples together in a common struggle. Both suddenly see themselves battling human rights violations they never saw coming- displacement, pollution of basic water sources, skin infections, birth deformities and miscarriages on an unforeseen scale, as well as the destruction of natural environments that they greatly cherish. In the Siria Valley in central Honduras, women and children live in inhospitable conditions near land that they are too attached to, to vacate. Most of the men in the community now migrate to faraway areas (and even to the US) for work, since agriculture and other indigenous occupations are no longer an option. In the San Marcos highlands of Guatemala, the violations are more direct and deliberate, with several cases of rape and killing having been reported besides the health and environment problems. Despite them being located far from each other, in two separate countries, the perpetrator of their grievances is the same- GoldCorp Inc.
Gold Corp Inc. is a Canada- based multinational mining corporation. It is among the top two private producers of gold in the world today, with its shareholders being largely Canadians. Over the years, Canadian mining companies like Goldcorp, Hudbay and Pacific Rim have established, for themselves, a steady reputation of environmental destruction and human rights violations in developing countries across the world. This is largely because Canada has no rules in place to regulate its companies’ overseas activities. There is no law under which Canadian corporations can be held responsible to the Canadian government, for atrocities committed abroad.
In Honduras, work began on GoldCorp’s San Martin Mine in 2000. Evacuation of residents had begun in 1999. By 2007, reports of health complications, birth deformities, migrations and unemployment were rampant. It was common knowledge that the water bodies around had become heavily polluted by toxic metals like lead, cyanide and mercury, which in turn entered the locals’ bloodstreams in poisonous amounts. Even the well that the company had built for the community was contaminated by the leakage of heavy metals. Physical disfigurement and mental illnesses became common. Agriculture aside, the cattle started dying, too. Regardless of constant protests by the small community and some amount of media coverage, the mining continued unabated. GoldCorp was in constant denial of the situation, as was the Manuel Zelaya government. 12,000 tonnes of ore was extracted before GoldCorp finally closed the San Martin mine and left the Honduran people to their suffering. There was no acknowledgement, no accountability and no compensation.
In Guatemala, GoldCorp has taken over a mine that had already been in operation for years. The Marlin Mine had been exploring (not excavating) for gold in the Sipakapa and San Miguel municipalities of San Marcos since 1999. It was originally owned by Montana Gold, whose parent company, Fransisco Gold, was bought over by GoldCorp’s Glamis Gold in 2002. Full- scale mining began in 2004, with impacts similar to those experienced in Honduras. The Guatemalan reaction, however, was stronger, and much more organised.
The areas affected by the mines are inhabited by 18 different communities of Mayans. The ground water and surface water used by these communities for consumption and agriculture was contaminated by high levels of leaking arsenic from the mines. The peoples’ bloodstreams also had extremely high levels of concentration of lead. The people knew well the cause of this steady poisoning of themselves and their environment, but lacked technical proof. Plus, their awareness of the Honduran San Martin Mine case told them that help would not be given to them till they rallied for it themselves. Community laws were passed and numerous petitions were signed and sent to the government, but to no avail. Protests took place time and again, and many local leaders were killed by the Corporations security forces, mostly ignored, sometimes aided by the government. In 2010, several among the communities, along with a few NGOs, sent a Consitutional Petition to the Secretary General of Guatemala, demanding that all mining activities in Mayan land- including and other than GoldCorp- be suspended.
This particular petition had great substantial backing, since it brought to attention the order given to the government by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to suspend the mine. The ILO was well within its rights to pass such an order, since Guatemala had signed and ratified the ILO Convention 169, which protects the rights of indigenous people across the world. Under the Convention, a government is obliged to inform and consult with the indigenous communities of its country before taking any steps that would affect their land and livelihood. Any economic activity on the land of indigenous peoples can only happen with their consent. Neither the Honduran nor the Guatemalan government, despite having signed and ratified the convention, had bothered to hold such consultations. The ILO had woken up to the situation following international media reports about the ongoing human rights abuses (i.e. poisoning, killing, destruction of environment and livelihood) and ordered the Guatemalan government to suspend all mining till it could investigate the situation itself.
A similar order was passed by the Inter- American Commission on Human Rights (IAHCR), in May 2010. Possibly because the IAHCR is an inter- governmental organisation, and has the power to pressurise and sanction member countries, this particular order finally drew a response from the Alvaro Colom- led Guatemalan government. The government, in June 2010, annnoounced compliance to the IAHCR request, but said it would take time, considering administrative procedure and the like.
Mining operations in San Marcos continue till date, despite GoldCorp today facing pressure from both sides. In March 2011, GoldCorp’s own shareholders presented a resolution to the company, requesting suspension of work at the mine in Guatemala. A letter signed by representatives of many Mayan communities, as well as certain NGOs, had been sent to the GoldCorp offices in Vancouver, and was read out at the Annual General Meeting. Public pressure, too, is mounting, with Canadian citizens feeling that the image of their country abroad is at stake. As of yet, however, the exploitation continues.
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