La Puya Photos
“La Puya” (the thorn) is the name of an encampment set up by campesino (farmer) women and men, young and old, north east of Guatemala City. Since march 2012, La Puya has been maintained at the entrance of an illegal mining operation initiated first by Radius Gold (Canada) and then Kappes Cassaday & Associates. Due to illegalities and widespread opposition, KCA was not able to begin operations, though every step of the way has been characterized by corruption and impunity, human rights violations and repression.
26 May 2012 La Puya Resistance, early days Drove outside Guatemala City to the roadway between the communities of San José del Golfo & San Pedro Ayampuc to meet with community members peacefully blocking the road into the Radius Gold mine adjacent to their towns. Radius is Vancouver-based and is facing amazing resistance for lack of proper consultation, bringing in the police a couple of weeks ago to scare them, and basically being bad corporate citizens. Photo: Catherine Nolin
26 May 2012 La Puya Resistance - San José del Golfo / San Pedro Ayampuc Community blockade at the entrance of Radius gold mine near San José del Golfo. The community members greeted us warmly and of course clarified that that is a peaceful protest and is a struggle for LIFE. Photo: Catherine Nolin
26 May 2012 La Puya Resistance, San José del Golfo / San Pedro Ayampuc Strong women leaders, including Yolanda Oqueli (right), spoke of wanting us to feel welcomed by open arms, open to us as human beings, not as Canadians. Two weeks later, Yolanda Oqueli was shot and barely survived an assassination attempt. Photo: Catherine Nolin
26 May 2012 La Puya Resistance, San José del Golfo / San Pedro Ayampuc Angelina Noj, from San Pedro Ayampuc, holds her son Esmit in front of the blocked entrance gate to the Tambor mine. The sign reads: Life is worth more than gold. No to mining. The mine, known as Progreso 7 Derivada, belongs to Exploraciones Mineras de Guatemala, S.A. (EXMINGUA), local subsidiary of Canadian company Radius Gold Inc. Photo: James Rodríguez
26 May 2012 La Puya Resistance, San José del Golfo / San Pedro Ayampuc Fellow community member Milton Carrera spent 20 years in Canada and just returned to San José del Golfo about a year ago. He said the main problem is that water is scarce. He recounted the lies, intimidations, attempts to buy their dignity ... and then 8 May 2012 400 Guatemalan national police arrived at 1:00am in an attempt to bring in 28 dump trucks for the company. Photo: James Rodríguez
26 May 2012 La Puya Resistance, San José del Golfo / San Pedro Ayampuc One of the community spokespersons - Antonio “Tono” Reyes - describes this as a struggle for LIFE. He said to us - 'don't be ashamed to be Canadians. There are bad people in Canada just as there are bad people in Guatemala.' They don't blame us for what Radius Gold is doing to their families. He said we must work together as humans. Photo: James Rodríguez
26 May 2012 La Puya Resistance, San José del Golfo / San Pedro Ayampuc Strong women leaders spoke of wanting us to feel welcomed by open arms, open to us as human beings, not as Canadians. Photo: James Rodríguez
26 May 2012 La Puya Resistance, San José del Golfo / San Pedro Ayampuc The community members in resistance who have come together to form the so-called North Metropolitan Peoples in Resistance Front (FRENAM), FRENAM members prepare tortillas in order to feed those protesters who will spend the night under the temporary shacks outside the entrance gate to the Tambor gold mine. “The Grandmother” serves dinner plates made up of rice, black beans and corn tortillas. Photo: James Rodríguez
14 May 2014 La Puya Resistance Camp UNBC Geography + Rights Action delegation at the La Puya Resistance camp Photo: Catherine Nolin
17 May 2017 La Puya community resistance (Radius Gold/KCA gold mine) Interviewing Alvaro Sandoval about the La Puya resistance, ongoing since March 2012. Photo: Catherine Nolin
17 May 2017 La Puya Resistance Todos Somos La Puya popular art in La Puya Photo: Catherine Nolin
14 May 2014 La Puya Resistance, San José del Golfo / San Pedro Ayampuc Delegation meeting with Alvaro Sandoval and fellow community members in resistance to the Radius Gold/KCA mining project. Photo: Catherine Nolin
16 May 2016 Guatemala City The La Sala de Vistas courtroom of the Guatemalan Supreme Court of Justice Daniel W. Kappes (right), President of Nevada-‐based mining firm KCA, attended the hearing. Mr. Kappes, who refused to give his name, directed journalists to defense lawyer Estuardo Ralón. When asked to confirm Mr. Kappes’ identity, Mr. Ralón stated: "Since there is so much insecurity in the country, it is best to keep this gentleman's identity anonymous. But yes, he is a major investor in KCA." Photo: James Rodriguez / MiMundo.org
17 May 2018 La Puya Resistance Grahame Russell with Alvaro Sandoval Photo: Catherine Nolin
16 May 2016 Guatemala City The La Sala de Vistas courtroom of the Guatemalan Supreme Court of Justice CALAS lawyer Rafael Maldonado argues for the plaintiffs -‐ communities of San Pedro Ayampuc and San José del Golfo -‐ during the hearing. Guatemala City, Guatemala. May 16, 2016. Photo: James Rodríguez / MiMundo.org
16 May 2016 La Puya Amalia Sandoval Palencia WATCH: After offering us coffee, rice and beans prepared in the La Puya kitchen, we asked Amalia Sandoval Palencia (a mother of four from San José del Golfo): 'As you know, KCA is a U.S. company and Radius Gold is a Canadian company. What might you like to say to North Americans? Amalia responds to our question: (2 minute clip): https://youtu.be/04gvXk2P09A Photo: James Rodríguez
16 May 2016 Guatemala City Lawyer Rafael Maldonado in La Sala de Vistas courtroom of the Guatemalan Supreme Court of Justice Catherine Nolin & James Rodríguez attended a hearing in which lawyers with the Centre for Legal, Environmental and Social Action (CALAS), on behalf of the mining-affected communities, petitioned for the final, definitive suspension of the mining license for the El Tambor mine (Progreso VII Derivada) owned by American-based Kappes, Cassiday & Associates (KCA), previously owned by Radius Gold. Photo: Catherine Nolin