Aura Minerals bulls ahead with open-pit, cyanide-leaching gold mining in Honduras and Guatemala

Written By Grahame Russell

In Honduras, the former Canadian, now U.S.-Brazilian company Aura Minerals is pushing ahead with its destructive, repressive mining operation in Azacualpa. In Guatemala, Aura Minerals purchased the “Cerro Blanco” mine in Asuncion Mita from Bluestone Resources and renamed it the “Era Dorada” (Golden Era).

Below

  • Urgent action from Calan Institute about criminalization of six Indigenous Maya Chortí land defenders from Azacualpa

  • Statement from Bishop Antonio Calderón Cruz of the Diocese of St. Francis of Assisi, Jutiapa, Guatemala, giving voice to the wide-spread rejection in Asuncion Mita of the illegal mining operation

These land-rights-environmental defense struggles are taking place in the context of the U.S. carrying out an electoral regime change intervention in Honduras in December 2025, bringing back to power the organized-crime infiltrated National Party and their leader President Nasry Juan Asfura Zablah. In Guatemala, the decent but weak government of President Bernardo Arevalo is besieged by the “pact of corrupt’ traditional elites and the U.S., Canada and the West to keep Guatemala “open for business”.

Stand in Solidarity with the Six Indigenous Maya Chortí Defenders Criminalized by U.S.-Based Mining Company

From: Calan Institute <info@calaninstitute.org>
Sent: Monday, May 4, 2026 11:07 AM

 
 

Javier López Miranda, Antonio Hernandez Pesquera, Higinio Caballero, Gerardo García Pérez, Efrain Pesquera Vásquez and Javier Madrid – six Indigenous and environmental defenders  – have been criminalized by the corrupted Honduran judicial system in favor of the U.S.-based gold mining company, Aura Minerals.

 

In the face of neocolonial violent extractivism, we are calling on individuals and organizations to stand in solidarity with the defenders and their struggle, as their initial hearing will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, May 5th at the Santa Rosa de Copán Courthouse.

Take Action Toolkit HERE

What Can You Do?

You can film videos, post solidarity messages, or share graphics that publicly condemn the criminalization of the six defenders, and which denounce how the mining company and the State of Honduras operate in favor of the extractive, economic elite.

For all of these actions, we’re asking you to please tag the accounts shared below to build public pressure and use the hashtags #AzacualpaResiste & #FueraMinosa to build momentum.

Film a Video Condemning the Criminalization
Record yourself condemning the criminalization of the six Maya Chortí defenders of Azacualpa by the State of Honduras on behalf of the US.-based mining company Aura Minerals & call for justice. Share the video on social media, or send it to us at info@calaninstitute.org.

Share Messages on Social Media
Publish Social Media Posts: Use one of our graphics or message templates to express your solidarity with the defenders on social media. These are some sample messages: 

Stop the criminalization of the six Indigenous Maya Chortí defenders of Azacualpa in #Honduras. Defending the rivers and mountains is NOT a crime! #AzacualpaResiste

–

U.S.-based gold mining company Aura Minerals claims to “respect” human rights, yet it destroys cemeteries and criminalizes indigenous communities who defend the mountains and rivers!

–

In the face of extractive mining, the Azacualpa defenders struggle for the protection of their mountains and rivers. Stop the criminalization against the six defenders!

–

The State of Honduras continues to favor mining interests over the rights of Indigenous communities by approving permits without free, prior, and informed consent. Stop the criminalization of Azacualpa defenders!

–

Aura Minerals destroys the mountains, cemeteries, and rivers of Honduras. They also criminalize the Indigenous Maya Chorti defenders who protect their territory. #FueraMinosa

Download graphics to use with your post HERE

Share Our Article
The Azacualpa Six: Criminalization as Institutional Failure – Our team has published an article which argues that the prosecution of the Azacualpa Six is a gross misuse of the Honduran criminal justice system and an outgrowth of severe institutional failure.

Read article HERE

Tag These Accounts for All Actions
If you are posting a video, graphic, or solidarity message, we ask that you tag the following accounts to build public pressure  

Instagram: 
@poderjudicialhonduras
@honduras_mp
@sernahn
@conservacionhn
@inhgeomin_hn
@usembassyhn
@auramineracao360

Facebook: 
Poder Judicial de Honduras
Ministerio Público Honduras (RRPP)
Instituto Hondureño de Geología y Minas - INHGEOMIN
Secretaria de RecursosNaturales y Ambiente
Instituto de Conservación Forestal ICF
Embajada de EstadosUnidos en Tegucigalpa
Aura Minerals

X/Twitter: 
@PJdeHonduras
@MP_Honduras
@sernaHN
@usembassyhn
@AuraMineralsNA

Thank you for your solidarity

The Calan Institute for Transterritorial Justice (CATRA) appreciates your solidarity. If you would like to support our work, you can donate to CATRA below through our fiscal sponsor, the San Carlos Foundation. (Note: you must include “CATRA” or “Honduras” on the dedication line.

Donate HERE)

The “Era Dorada” (Golden Era) mining operation constitutes a grave violation of the democratic will of the people of Asunción Mita

Diocese of St. Francis of Assisi in Jutiapa
4-70 La Ronda Street, Zone 1
Jutiapa (22001), Guatemala, C.A.

“For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now” (Romans 8:22)

In memory of Pope Francis on the first anniversary of his passing to the Father’s house, we declare:

Bishop Antonio Calderón Cruz, the presbyteral council, and the clergy of the Diocese of St. Francis of Assisi in Jutiapa, in communion with several community and environmental organizations, denounce that the advancement of the Cerro Blanco mining project of the Aura Minerals company, renamed “Era Dorada” (Golden Era), constitutes a grave violation of the democratic will of the people of Asunción Mita, as expressed in the Municipal Neighborhood Referendum of September 18, 2022, in which the majority of voters rejected metal mining.

Below are the key points of our statement:

1. The people have already said NO to mining

In the 2022 Municipal Neighborhood Referendum, the majority of the population expressed their opposition to the mining project. For the communities, this result constitutes a democratic mandate that must be respected by all.

2. We denounce the lack of concern on the part of national and local authorities

It is clear that they prioritize other interests over the welfare of the population and the protection of natural resources, leaving the people to fend for themselves in their legitimate struggles and most pressing needs. In the case of Asunción Mita, the will of the people, as expressed in the Municipal Neighborhood Referendum, has been ignored.

3. A Project Marred by Irregularities

As the Catholic Church in Jutiapa, together with several social organizations, we denounce the fact that the Cerro Blanco project has been plagued by administrative irregularities, the manipulation of environmental permits, and institutional decisions that have favored mining companies. Even the country’s courts and tribunals have been complicit in this effort to betray the will of the people.

4. Buying Support and Social Division

We acknowledge the legitimate concerns raised by communities when they report that companies have implemented strategies to exert social pressure through promises of employment and targeted projects that have led to conflict within the communities.

5. A Threat to the Water Supply for Millions of People

We are following the analyses of experts who warn that the project could affect the Ostúa–Lago de Güija–Río Lempa transboundary watershed, a vital source of water for millions of people in Guatemala and El Salvador.

For this reason:

WE AFFIRM that sovereignty resides with the people, and the people of Asunción Mita have already said NO to mining.

WE DENOUNCE that authorizing mining operations in violation of the public consultation constitutes a betrayal of the people’s democratic mandate.

WE WILL NOT ALLOW: mining greed to steal the water and the future of our communities.

We issue this statement in memory of Pope Francis, who continues to inspire and accompany us in these struggles for a dignified life for all peoples, through the enlightening Magisterium he left us, which guides us to always listen to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor (cf. LS 49)—cries that unite in the face of uncontrolled mining, which leaves wealth for a few and poverty, disease, and pollution for the local population.

Delivered at the parish festival of Saint Brother Pedro, Atescatespa-Jerez, Jutiapa

April 24, 2026
Bishop Antonio Calderón Cruz
Phone: (+502) 7844 0223 - Email: diocesisdejutiapa.gt@gmail.com

Send letters of protest to Aura Minerals

info@auraminerals.com, +1-305-239-9332, www.auraminerals.com

Rodrigo Barbosa, President & CEO, rbarbosa@auraminerals.com / João Kleber Cardoso, kcardoso@auraminerals.com / Richmond Fenn, rfenn@auraminerals.com / Monty Reed, mreed@auraminerals.com / Paula Gerber, pgerber@auraminerals.com / Glauber Luvizotto, gluvizotto@auraminerals.com / Stephen Keith, snskeith@gmail.com / Philip Reade, philip.reade@outlook.com

More information

Aura Minerals in Honduras
https://rightsaction.org/aura-minerals-archives

Contact

Aura Minerals (previously Bluestone Resources) in Guatemala

Contact

Grahame Russell
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