WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) released a statement today after the Guatemalan Supreme Court (Corte Suprema de Justicia) upheld a provisional injunction against Reno-based company Kappes, Cassiday and Associates (KCA) and its subsidiary Exploraciones Mineras de Guatemala (EXMINGUA). That ruling ordered the suspension of the company’s mining activities at El Tambor mine in La Puya, Guatemala. The ruling clearly states that EXMINGUA has been operating without a valid permit from the municipal government, did not consult with affected communities before the project began in accordance with Guatemalan and International law, and that the company’s Environmental Impact Assessment was plagued with serious deficiencies.
On October 26, 2015, Rep. Grijalva led 12 Members of Congress in urging Guatemalan President Alejandro Maldonado Aguirre to use his authority to ensure that KCA and EXMINGUA comply with the July 15th court ruling, which they had not done prior to.
“This week, Guatemala’s Supreme Court reaffirmed the fundamental rights of the citizens of La Puya to have a say in decisions that impact their land and the health of their communities,” Rep. Grijalva said. “KCA and EXMINGUA operated with disregard for the law. They relied on intimidation and violence to suppress the needs and concerns of local residents. With this ruling, those voices will no longer be stifled. I congratulate the people of Guatemala who have fought for years to finally put an end to the illegal mining practices that KCA employs.”
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