“Our aim is that all mining activities in the country be suspended, as the International Labour Organization (ILO) has already demanded”, said Guatemalan leader Mario Nij, after submitting a letter to the government.

 
Nij highlighted that the ILO had asked President Colom to suspend mining activities, in the same way that tens of communities have expressed their rejection in popular consultations which are valid for the international body.

 
The Commission of Experts in the implementation of ILO conventions and recommendations analyzed in their 2009 report two mining cases, among them the case of Marlin Mine of Montana Exploradora of Guatemala SA/Goldcorp in Sipacapa and San Miguel Ixtahuacan, and demanded Alvaro Colom´s administration to suspend mining operations of both companies.

 
“Our only crime is to save what our ancestors have left us and that we want to leave for our children, because mining destroys mountains, water sources and pollute everything”, said Nij.

 
42 consultations have been carried out in the country, where 600 thousand people opposed to mining. Meanwhile, Hector Nuila, MP from the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unit said that in the short term “thousands of Guatemalan and Salvadoran people will be affected by the pollution of rivers. The MP said that exploration and exploitation activities in the region will pollute Ostua and Lempa Rivers, located in the border between Guatemala and El Salvador.

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