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Mayan Q’eqchi’ plaintiffs in Hudbay Minerals lawsuits suffering multiplying impacts of Covid19, tropical storm flooding and aftermath of 2007 mining evictions and gang-rapes
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Lucia Caal Chun, one of 11 plaintiffs in the Hudbay Minerals lawsuits from the village of Lote 8, destroyed in 2007.
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In times of Covid19, and now devastated by flooding caused by tropical storms Amanda and Cristobal, the Mayan Q’eqchi’ women of the Lote 8 village are suffering the multiplying impacts of the January 2007 gang-rapes and destruction of their home village by Guatemalan military and police, and armed security guards working for Skye Resources (Hudbay Minerals).
Ever since the 2007 evictions, their lives have been a constant survival struggle, living with extended families in the town of Cahoboncito at the foot of the mountains where the Cahobon river flows into the Polochic river and Lake Izabal.
Since mid-March 2020, when Covid19 appeared in the region, Mayan Q’eqchi’ people – similar to a majority of Guatemalans - have experienced increased hunger and suffering due to quarantines enforced by the military-backed Guatemalan regime.
In late May, early June, tropical storms Amanda and Cristobal dumped 10 days of heavy rains, causing mudslides and flooding in parts of Guatemala, including along the Cahobon river descending from the Alta Verapaz highlands. Since 2007, when violently forced from their Lote 8 homes and lands, the 11 gang-rape victims have had to grow their survival crops on low lands by the Cahobon river – that recently flooded over.
Complete loss of crops: The Lote 8 women and their families have suffered a complete loss of crops, including their annual survival harvests of beans, rice and corn, along with chile, ayote and okra.
No government support: Besides the militarily enforcing Covid19 quarantines and restrictions, the Guatemalan regime has provided almost no emergency support to a majority of its population living in conditions of poverty and extreme poverty. The regime has provided almost no support to thousands of victims of recent floods and mudslides caused by tropical storms Amanda and Cristobal.
This is how the ‘open-for-global-business’ Guatemalan regime operates in the best of times, and the worst.
HM lawsuits - suspended indefinitely: In Canada, the landmark Hudbay Minerals lawsuits - that should provide one day a measure of justice and reparations to the 13 plaintiffs and their families – have been suspended due to Covid19 complications in Canada. Hudbay, that continues to profitably operate its Covid19-spreading mine in Peru, is in no hurry to continue with the lawsuits, or offer a fair and just settlement as stated by its CEO and president Peter Kukielski in January 2020.
This is how the Canadian dominated global mining industry operates in the best of times, and the worst.
This is, apparently, what the Canadian government and mining industry mean when they say: “we are all in this together” and we are working to “get back to normal”.
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Rights Action’s Covid19 response fund
Supporting indigenous & campesino communities, Honduras & Guatemala
Updated: June 12, 2020
In the measure possible, we will send increased emergency funds to the women of Lote 8.
Tax-Deductible Donations (Canada & U.S.)
Make check to "Rights Action" and mail to:
- U.S.: Box 50887, Washington DC, 20091-0887
- Canada: (Box 552) 351 Queen St. E, Toronto ON, M5A-1T8
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