To see the original statement in Spanish, click here.
Residents of the municipality of San Rafael las Flores report:
During the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Minera San Rafael has taken advantage of the needs of the people, as well as the lack of concrete action and neglect on the part of the above-mentioned municipality.
Minera San Rafael has delivered provisions to people in some communities in exchange for residents providing their signature and their personal identification number.
This action is totally despicable. We can assume, as has happened in the past, that they [Minera San Rafael] could use this information to try to demonstrate that they have certain support in the municipality of San Rafael las Flores.
As such, they are blatantly acting in violation of the sentence issued by the Constitutional Court, which ordered a consultation with the Xinka People over the Escobal mining project.
Guatemala, April 7, 2020
