“Fifty miles southeast of the capital, private security guards working for Vancouver-based mining firm Tahoe Resources shot and wounded several local residents on Saturday in San Rafael Las Flores, on the road in front of Tahoe’s El Escobal silver mine. The mining company’s head of security was arrested while attempting to flee the country. A police officer and a campesino were killed during conflicts earlier this week. Through it all, demonstrations against the mining project have continued amid conflicting reports and government misinformation.”

As Sandra Cuffe notes in her excellent article, the genocide trial of Efraín Ríos Montt has been diverting attention from the escalating conflicts involving rural communities and foreign mining companies.

It seems inevitable that the State favours the latter.

You can read the article here on Upside Down World and view some photoreportage on the State of Siege San Rafael Las Flores from James Rodríguez on MiMundo here.

Categories: Land

Tags: Mining