Conclusion reached with Pan American Silver, the acquirers of Tahoe Resources, includes a public apology to the protestors and the community for the conduct of mine security forces. Marks the first time foreign plaintiffs have achieved justice in a human rights case against a Canadian mining company in the Canadian court system. 

Source: Camp Fiorante Matthews Mogerman LLP

VANCOUVER, BC; GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA, July 30, 2019 — The six-year long legal battle between a group of Guatemalan protestors and Tahoe Resources of Vancouver, Canada, has come to a landmark conclusion. Pan American Silver, which acquired Tahoe in February 2019, has issued a public apology stating that “the shooting on April 27, 2013, infringed the human rights of the protestors,” and “Pan American, on behalf of Tahoe, apologizes to the victims and to the community.”

In April 2013, the protestors gathered at the entrance to Tahoe’s Escobal Mine in south-east Guatemala to protest the lack of community consultation on the project. The head of security for the mine, Alberto Rotondo, ordered security personnel to break up the demonstration by shooting at the protestors. Several were injured, one very seriously. The victims retained Vancouver-based Camp Fiorante Matthews Mogerman (CFM Lawyers) to represent them in a civil suit against Tahoe in Canada.

“This is an important victory for us and our community,” said claimant Luis Fernando García. “It vindicates our right to protest and to continue our resistance against mining operations in our community”.

The conclusion of the case does not impede the ability of the protestors to exercise their legal rights of protest related to the mine in the future.

In 2017, the BC Court of Appeal overturned a lower court decision and confirmed that the case should be heard in Canada, concluding that there was a real risk that the Guatemalan protestors would not get a fair trial in their own country. “The case sets a very important precedent,” said Joe Fiorante, Q.C., partner at CFM Lawyers. “It confirms that Canadian courts are the appropriate forum for human rights claims arising from the foreign activities of Canadian mining companies.”

To read the full press release from Camp Fiorante Matthews Mogerman, click here