Mining Conflicts and Indigenous Peoples in Guatemala 1 Introduction I Mining Conflicts and Indigenous Indigenous and Conflicts Mining in Guatemala Peoples Author: Joris van de Sandt September 2009 This report has been commissioned by the Amsterdam University Law Faculty and financed by Cordaid, The Hague. Academic supervision by Prof. André J. Hoekema (
[email protected]) Guatemala Country Report prepared for the study: Environmental degradation, natural resources and violent conflict in indigenous habitats in Kalimantan-Indonesia, Bayaka-Central African Republic and San Marcos-Guatemala Acknowledgements I would like to express my gratitude to all those who gave me the possibility to complete this study. Most of all, I am indebted to the people and communities of the Altiplano Occidental, especially those of Sipacapa and San Miguel Ixtahuacán, for their courtesy and trusting me with their experiences. In particular I should mention: Manuel Ambrocio; Francisco Bámaca; Margarita Bamaca; Crisanta Fernández; Rubén Feliciano; Andrés García (Alcaldía Indígena de Totonicapán); Padre Erik Gruloos; Ciriaco Juárez; Javier de León; Aníbal López; Aniceto López; Rolando López; Santiago López; Susana López; Gustavo Mérida; Isabel Mérida; Lázaro Pérez; Marcos Pérez; Antonio Tema; Delfino Tema; Juan Tema; Mario Tema; and Timoteo Velásquez. Also, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to the team of COPAE and the Pastoral Social of the Diocese of San Marcos for introducing me to the theme and their work. I especially thank: Marco Vinicio López; Roberto Marani; Udiel Miranda; Fausto Valiente; Sander Otten; Johanna van Strien; and Ruth Tánchez, for their help and friendship. I am also thankful to Msg. Álvaro Ramazzini.