Guatemala: The State Of Siege, This Time To Protect Canadian Investment
Guatemala: The State Of Siege, This Time To Protect Canadian Investment
By Ollantay Itzamná
Sunday, May 12, 2013
President Otto Perez Molina, a retired soldier (accused by his ex-comrades of sharing responsibility for the genocide committed during the internal war) decreed, this past May 1, the second state of siege of his term in office. This time, it was to repress indigenous people, the Xinca, in the municipalities of Jalapa and Mataquescuintal (Department of Jalapa), and in Casillas and San Rafael Las Flores (Department of Santa Rosa), and to protect the “investments” of the Canadian mining company Tahoe Resources (the San Rafael mine).
On May 1, 2012, Perez Molina also decreed another state of siege against the Mayan people, in the Municipality of Barillas, Heuhuetenango, to defend the interests of the Spanish company Hidro Santa Cruz, which currently operates in relative calm because there, they managed to murder and imprison the leaders of the organizations in resistance.
These states of siege coincide not only in dates and objectives but also in their methods of application.
Permanent State of Siege as a Method of Government
Both in the case of the Spanish hydroelectric company, as well as that of the Canadian mining company, the government authorized them to explore and exploit these projects, against the express will of the local indigenous peoples affected.
More:
http://www.zcommunications.org/guatemala-the-state-of-siege-this-time-to-protect-canadian-investment-by-ollantay-itzamn