Misael Mata Acensio Killed
Part of Maya Q’eqchi’ resistance to Montreal-based Central America Nickel (CAN) in Guatemala
On May 14, 2025, Misael Mata Acensio was shot dead. Misael was part of the 54 Maya Q’eqchi’ communities defending Mountain 1019 of the Sierra Santa Cruz in eastern Guatemala against illegal incursions of Montreal-based Central America Nickel (CAN).
Misael was killed days after Rights Action’s educational road-trip in Guatemala “Global order, injustice and resistance in Guatemala” - a course offered by Professor Catherine Nolin, University of Northern British Columbia - met in Rio Dulce with villagers from the 54 communities alliance against the mining incursions of CAN (Central America Nickel).
Nickel mining threatens Sierra Santa Cruz. Livingston communities demand protection
By Juan Bautista Xol, Prensa Comunitaria, May 5, 2025
(translated by Rights Action)
https://prensacomunitaria.org/2025/05/mineria-de-niquel-amenaza-la-sierra-santa-cruz-comunidades-de-livingston-exigen-su-proteccion/
Representatives of the 54 communities traveled to the capital city with their own resources on April 24 to meet in the Congress of the Republic, with the three deputies from Izabal, Edgardo Ramírez, Juan Ramón Rivas and Thelma Ramírez, and the ministers of Energy and Mines and Environment. The meeting was also attended by the departmental governor of Izabal Carlos Tenas and the municipal mayor of Livingston, Enrique Xol.
The meeting was to demand the immediate cancellation of any mining license to the company Río Nickel [owned by Montreal-based Central America Nickel], which intends to operate in the Sierra Santa Cruz, located in the municipalities of Livingston and El Estor, Izabal, as well as Chahal and Cahabón, Alta Verapaz. Representatives of the 54 communities demanded that authorities protect the special protection area, Sierra Santa Cruz, which they say is threatened by the interest of mining companies. The authorities deny that mining exploration and exploitation licenses have been issued in the area.
The community members point out that the mining operation in the mountains would contaminate the rivers and water sources which is why they reject the extractive activities. “We do not want mining and we demand the cancellation of the licenses, we want a favorable outcome for our people,” the community members told authorities at the meeting.
Although the Ministers of Environment and Energy and Mines indicated to the community that there are no mining licenses in Izabal, the villagers presented documents indicating that licenses were granted in 2022 and 2023 during the government of Alejandro Giammattei.
For the community authorities, these licenses are an outrage and a mockery for the population of Livingston because they were granted through a deceitful and discriminatory consultation during a government that is accused of serious corruption crimes. […]
“We cannot live without water”
Enrique Che, ancestral authority in the Rio Pita community, assures that they defend the Sierra Santa Cruz because it harbors flora and fauna. The destruction of the hill could cause the loss of natural resources.
“We cannot live without water, that is why we are fighting to demand the cancellation of the license, we do not want a mining company to destroy our hill as is happening in El Estor,” said Che referring to the activity of the mining company Compañía Guatemalteca de Níquel (PRONICO) in that municipality. […]
60-year Nightmare of Fenix Mine in Q’eqchi’ territories of Panzos, El Estor, Livingston
1964-2004: INCO (Canadian owner) and EXMIBAL (subsidiary in Guatemala)
2004-2008: Skye Resources (Canadian, incorporated by former INCO directors) and CGN (new name of EXMIBAL)
2008-2011: Hudbay Minerals (Canadian, bought mine from Skye Resources) and CGN
2011-Present: Solway Investment Group (Swiss, with Russian investors) and CGN/ PRONICO (a second subsidiary company)
2024-Present: Fenix Nickel Company (USA), a new subsidiary of Solway Investment Group
2024-Present: Central America Nickel (Canada) and Rio Niquel (Guatemala subsidiary)
Occurring in waves over this entire time, mining in this Q’eqchi’ region of the Sierra Santa Cruz has been characterized by corruption, forced evictions and land theft, human rights violations including killings, rapes, lawfare (criminalizing community defenders), environmental and health harms and, for the most part, complete impunity in Guatemala and in the home countries of the companies (mainly Canada, also Switzerland and most recently the U.S.).
The recent settlements of landmark Hudbay Minerals lawsuits (see May 21, 2025 communique: https://rightsaction.org) are a hugely important exception to this almost iron clad norm of impunity.
Corrupted, repressive government of President Giammattei
The Rio Dulce community members we met with find it incredible that yet another mining company arrives in the Q’eqchi region – this time, Rio Nickel (Central de América Nickel) -, claiming to have the needed mining licenses, when they knew nothing about this whatsoever.
They reminded us CAN/Rio Niguel’s alleged licenses were granted during the government of President Alejandro Giammattei who is directly implicated in corruption schemes with mining companies in this region and who allegedly received financial benefits from drug traffickers.
Cynical hypocrisy
Furthermore, Giammattei is barred from entering the U.S. and Canada due to this alleged corruption, yet the U.S. and Canada imposed sanctions on Giammattei only after he left office in January 2024. During his entire time in office, the U.S. and Canada referred to the Guatemalan government as a “democratic ally”, maintaining and pushing for expanded North American investments and business interests in the country. (More information: Rights Action, April 10, 2025)
Call by Q’eqchi’ people
Rights Action supports this call of the Q’eqchi’ people for:
Suspension: Immediate suspension of all mining operations in Q'eqchi' region of El Estor, Panzos, Livingston.
Investigatory commission: Formation of a commission to investigate violences and harms of mining against Q’eqchi’ people and the environment between 2004-2024.
Reparations: Preparation of a compensation plan for people and communities that suffered the violences and harms.
Consultation process: Then, implementation of a consultation process, based on prior and complete information in the Q'eqchi' language to decide if mining operations might continue in the future.
Rights Action calls on organizations and people - particularly in Canada, Switzerland and the U.S., home to the mining companies – to initiate, or continue with your education and activism work to pressure our governments, and our mining companies to stop all mining, and to comply with these fair and balanced demands of the Q’eqchi’ people.
Landmark Hudbay Minerals lawsuits
May 21, 2025 statement: https://rightsaction.org
TESTIMONIO–Canadian Mining in the Aftermath of Genocides in Guatemala
Edited by Catherine Nolin & Grahame Russell (Between The Lines, 2021)
https://www.testimoniothebook.org/