2007-07. El Estor Evictions: 6 months later

Barrio La Revolucíon. El Estor, Izabal, Guatemala.
July 24, 2007. Part I of II
Issue: Land / Indigenous Rights / Mining

Mr. Francisco Tiul Tut proudly displays a copy of Este País, a Guatemalan magazine which featured him on the cover of the February 2007 issue due to the violent evictions carried out by the Guatemalan Nickel Company (CGN) in his community. A direct subsidiary of Canada-based mining company Skye Resources, CGN evicted 5 Maya Q’eqchi’ communities from ancestral lands in the municipalities of El Estor and Panzós, the latter one in the department of Alta Verapaz.

Born in the land currently known as Barrio La Revolución back when it was still part of the community of Chichipate, Mr. Tiul Tut explains: “Maybe some people laughed at me because I cried, but I was very upset when the company burned my home down.” The image of a distraught Mr. Tiul Tut circulated widely and was even attacked by Canadian ambassador to Guatemala Kenneth Cook when this diplomat who openly favors mining activities over human rights attempted to discredit the photograph produced by MiMundo.org (Please see: Canadian Ambassador to Guatemala Spreads Misinformation About Mining Issues).

On July 24th of the current year, members from a delegation organized by Rights Action visited a number of the communities which were violently evicted 6 months previously so as to exchange ideas and learn about their processes.

MiMundo.org, who participated in the delegation, used the occasion to follow up on the communities’ situation as well as to present a number of publications produced with the photographs taken by MiMundo.org during the tragic events of this past January.

For background information on the land problematic caused by the Canadian mining company in the region as well as the violent evictions, please view and read the following photo-essays produced by MiMundo.org during December 2006 and January 2007:

The Eternal Struggle for Land
Eviction Day
Canadian Mining Company Orders Eviction of Indigenous Communities
Barrio La Revolución Burns
Eviction Despite Dubious Legal Status

Community members from Barrio La Revolución expressed their joy and thankfulness not only for the delegation’s visit, but one described the publications as “a true act of affection and solidarity with us because many people come and claim they will do something to help us, but we never really know if it is true. These magazines and newspapers show that the information regarding the injustices we suffer was truly made public not only in Guatemala but at an international level.” (1)

In this image, women and children flip through the pages of This Magazine, a Canadian publication which produced an article titled “Mining Misery” in their March/April 2007 issue.

Don Alfonso and his wife laugh after seeing themselves in a photograph included in a prototype book produced by MiMundo.org which documents the community’s history, struggle, and the evictions which took place on January 8 and 9, 2007. The mentioned book can be ordered through an Internet self-publishing service by clicking here.

A community member admires the stunning color center-spread dedicated to the January evictions by New York’s The Indypendent inside its 99th Issue (February/March 2007).

Regarding the community’s land situation, Don Tomas explains: “Since yesterday we began to resettle inside the terrain because there was much dialogue [between CGN and the community over the past 6 months] but without any results. Therefore, we want to try once again to fight to regain what belongs to us. We want to cultivate, leave an inheritance to our children. But that means we must make an effort to do so. This decision to retake the land has already been declared to the government by CONIC [National Indigenous and Peasant Coordination].”

Most of the community members have lived in the neighboring village of Chichipate since the January 9th evictions and are convinced this land belongs to them and not the foreign mining company. During a military dictatorship in the 1960’s, a large piece of Chichipate which included the local cemetery was given to INCO, the Canadian mining company which is Skye Resources’ predecessor. This lost territory is what local inhabitants of Chichipate refer to as Barrio La Revolución and claim as theirs.

“This land which God has left for us should serve in benefit of everyone – our children, our relatives who will succeed us.” (2)

“At no point are we going to leave this land. We are determined to take upon the struggle and thank you for visiting us and because you remember what has happened to us and what will most likely continue to occur: violence in our community. We also hope that you continue to support us by divulging what happens to us and how our rights are violated. And well, we hope you continue to visit us, to help us… And that we may be able to fight for and attain this piece of land which has belonged to us and will belong to us again.” (3)

Sign at the entrance of Barrio La Revolución: “CONIC is present. Once again, the struggle continues.”