It is now 12 years since the peaceful resistance of La Puya came into being in response to the attempt to set up a gold mine north of Guatemala City and against the wishes of the local people. The ‘La Resistencia Pacifica La Puya’ is surely an example of what can be done but also a recognition that, for many people, the struggle is long and hard.
The Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence Network (BTS) published, on its website, a letter sent to La Puya, sending congratulations and deep respect, and hoping that La Puya enjoys its anniversary celebration with much joy and resistance. The letter has been endorsed by many organisations worldwide.
¡Que viva La Puya! ¡Viva!
Organizations and individuals from around the world, including BTS, came together to offer words of admiration and solidarity with the La Puya Peaceful Resistance. For 12 years, the communities of San José del Golfo and San Pedro Ayampuc have stood in unwavering resistance to the violent imposition of the El Tambor gold mine by US-based mining company, Kappes, Cassiday & Associates.
In 2016, Guatemala’s Constitutional Court suspended the mining project because of the failure to consult with the affected Indigenous Maya Kaqchikel and Xinka communities in the area. Since then, Kappes, Cassiday & Associates brought a more than US$400 million suit against the Guatemalan government using the CAFTA-DR agreement, in retribution for the mine closure. As the letter states, “The Guatemalan people should not have to pay a penny to KCA, which operated illegally, relied on violent repression against the peaceful resistance, and is now taking advantage of the neocolonial free trade framework to try to make millions.”
You can read the full piece, and the letter and list of signatories, here, Long Live La Puya: Organizations Around the World Celebrate 12 Year Anniversary of La Puya Peaceful Resistance.
GSN has featured the struggle of La Resistencia Pacifica La Puya many times over the years and for an outline of the background and the daily reality, this may prove useful, ‘La Puya’: The Rhythm of Resistance. Many other pieces can be found here, ‘La Puya’.
Categories: Accompaniment, Corruption, Criminalisation, Environment, Evictions, Guatemala, Human Rights, Impunity, Indigenous peoples, Justice, Land, Resource Extraction, Solidarity in Action, Violence
Guatemala Solidarity Network 
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