Tahoe Resources Mining exec in Guatemala gave direct orders to kill protestors "God damn dogs"

[Catherina]

Tahoe Resources Mining executive in Guatemala gives direct orders to kill protestors
Thursday, 09 May 2013 15:35 The Guatemala Times

Alberto Rotondo, executive of Tahoe Mine, San Rafael in Guatemala, gave direct orders to assassinate members of the community San Rafael Las Flores.

The investigation of the mining conflicts in San Rafael Las Flores, Santa Rosa, took a 180 degrees turn, after the Public Ministry submitted audio from wiretapping as evidence. In the audio it can be clearly heard how Alberto Rotondo, head of the San Rafael Mining Security outfit ordered to assassinate opponents of the mine.

The newspaper Siglo.21 published today a report titled “Rotondo ordered: Kill those sons of B..”, the report documents how the Security Chief gave direct orders to assassinate mining protesters and opponents of the mining project.

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Rortondo was apprehended at the airport La Aurora, when he trying to flee the country. Wire tapping of conversations between him and his son reveal that he planned to leave Guatemala for a while, because “I ordered to kill some of these sons of Bitches.”

Sources: La Hora Guatemala, Siglo XXI.

http://www.guatemala-times.com/news/guatemala/3653-tahoe-resources-mining-executive-in-guatemala-gives-direct-orders-to-kill-protestors.html

Interesting comment underneath, from a gringo probably because guatemala times is a paper for/by gringos,

Well, the smoking gun has finally appeared. The Canadian mining companies have been denying any wrong doing- always, without exception. Not just in this mine, but in all others where conflict situations exist. This proofs once again, that nothing will stand in the way of the shareholders profits. Blood money and more blood money. Canadians wake up. One report says that President of Guatemala Otto Pérez got a direct phone call from the CEO of Tahoe Resources to act. Otto Pérez implemented a state of siege and suspended civil rights, arresting many members of those communities. They have no constitutional guarantees, but the Tahoe Resources Security executive has all his rights intact. How come????

,

Coralia Orantes

[e-mail]
Rotondo ordered: Kill those sons of a ...

Wiretap allowed criminal charges against the security chief of the mine

"Kill those sons of a ...". That's one of the instructions Alberto Rotondo, Chief of Mine Security in San Rafael gave his subordinates. He was recorded by an authorized use of wiretaps by prosecutors.

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The preliminary investigations found that Rotondo gave the order to attack the community, he also ordered the crime scene to be cleaned up and change the police report.

The recordings were made by Juan Pablo Oliva, who, according to the San Rafael mine consults for media monitoring and security within the premises.

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The information reveals Rotondo making several statements: “God dam dogs, they do not understand that the mine generates jobs". "We must eliminate these animal pieces of shit". "We can not allow people to establish resistance, another Puya no".

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http://www.s21.com.gt/nacionales/2013/05/09/rotondo-ordeno-maten-esos-hijos-gran

Guatemalan doctors are on record that live ammunition was fired, not rubber bullets.
CONTRAST THIS WITH

TAHOE CLARIFIES REPORTS REGARDING INCIDENTS NEAR ESCOBAL PROJECT
Back to News

VANCOUVER, B.C. (May 1, 2013) – Tahoe Resources Inc. (TSX: THO, NYSE: TAHO) has issued this statement to clarify inaccurate media reports about violent incidents that have broken out in recent days in the region around its Escobal silver project in southeast Guatemala.

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During the evening shift change of Saturday, April 27, 2013, a protest involving approximately 20 people armed with machetes turned hostile. The Escobal security force used tear gas and rubber bullets to repel the protestors at the mine gate. These individuals left the area following this incident and some were treated at hospitals and released.

“Our investigation has shown that only non-lethal measures were taken by our security. We regret any injuries caused by rubber bullets, but we take the protection of our employees and the mine seriously,” said Mr. McArthur. The government is investigating the incident with the Company’s full cooperation.

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Tahoe’s Guatemala security manager was detained by authorities on Tuesday due to the highly charged atmosphere and inaccurate press reports about Saturday’s events. He has not been charged with any crimes, and the Company expects him to be released when the government investigation is complete.

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http://www.tahoeresourcesinc.com/tahoe-clarifies-reports-regarding-incidents-near-escobal-project/

[Catherina]

1. Unbelievable! Now the Mine says 2 other killers of theirs weren't employees

These people are unbelievable. So the whole state of siege was for these killers? For their lies? I wonder how Molina feels now. No wonder he so hurriedly, unexpectedly lifted the siege today.

Even the Archbishop has had it

"This shows that the demonstrations against mining are legitimate, and due to the lack of responsibility on the part of the authorities, they should apologize." - Nery Rodenas, Archbishopic of Guatemala"

http://www.s21.com.gt/nacionales/2013/05/07/vinculan-empleados-mina-muerte-pnc

Tahoe: Alleged cop killer in Guatemala not employee

Tahoe Resources responded to Guatemala media report claiming alleged cop killer was an employee and confirms two charges against now freed security chief.

Posted: Thursday, 09 May 2013

HALIFAX, NS (MINEWEB) - As its security chief in Guatemala was freed from police custody, Tahoe Resources repudiated a press report in Guatemala that said Claver Alarcon Lemus, arrested this week for allegedly killing a police officer near Tahoe's Escobal silver project April 30, was a company employee.

Latin America news-outlet Siglo21 reported Tuesday that Lemus worked for Tahoe (here and here). But Tahoe spokesperson Ira Gostin emphatically denied the link saying Lemus was neither a direct nor contract employee of Tahoe.

“We don't even know where that comes from,” Gostin said, answering questions by phone on Wednesday.

...

http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb/content/en/mineweb-whats-new?oid=189463&sn=Detail

Alarcon's arrest occurred yesterday in Colonia Las Margaritas, San Juan Sacatepequez, pursuant to a warrant issued by the Criminal Court of First Instance of Santa Rosa for murder and attempted murder. In the house where he was apprehended were seized two pistols and 15 rounds of ammunition.

According to the investigation, Alarcon have had instructions to attack the villagers and during the riots protesting shot and caused the death of the PNC, who had come to the aid of the people.

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The second person arrested was Juan Pablo Oliva Trejo, mining consultant course San Rafael, who is in the Military Hospital.

The arrest took place last Saturday, and he is accused of harboring members of corporate security to attack the protesters. Davila said he did not know on that point and preferred to leave everything in the hands of the authorities.

The third detainee is Alberto Rotondo, security chief, whom research suggests ordering the assault weapons against the community, on April 27. Rotondo was captured on April 30 in La Aurora International Airport while attempting to travel to Italy. Today you will hear in his first statement following the court case.

...

http://www.s21.com.gt/nacionales/2013/05/07/vinculan-empleados-mina-muerte-pnc

[Catherina]

2. Amnesty International Statement. Slams Tahoe Resources

Document - Guatamala: Public Statement on Tahoe Resources’ Escobal Project

8 May 2013

AI Index: AMR 34/009/2013

Public Statement on Tahoe Resources’ Escobal Project

In advance of the Annual General Meeting of Tahoe Resources to be held on 9 May, 2013 in Vancouver, Amnesty International urges the company to acknowledge mounting human rights concerns associated with its Escobal Silver Mine project in Guatemala. Amnesty International further calls on the company’s investors to recognize the impact on human rights of the Escobal project and, in turn, insist that the company take immediate corrective action consistent with international human rights standards.

Research conducted by Amnesty International, including corresponding with the company, reveals significant gaps between what the company is reporting to investors and the reality on the ground. Recent tension and violence around the site of the Escobal Project highlight failures of the Guatemalan state obligation to protect the human rights of local communities, and Tahoe Resources’ failure to respect those rights. Amnesty International is confident that investors – and the Canadian public which owns shares in Tahoe Resources through the Canada Pension Plan – will agree that it is crucial that this project addresses environmental risks, ensures affected communities are consulted and respects the rights of people to peacefully protest such projects.

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Amnesty International Canada’s Business and Human Rights campaigner, Tara Scurr, says, “Investors should note that rather than respond to community concerns head-on, Tahoe Resources has instead blamed social unrest over the last six months on ‘paid’, ‘outside’, and ‘criminal’ influences. Such discourse only serves to inflame an already tense situation. By painting the protest movement as the product of criminal activity, Tahoe Resources shows it either fails to understand or does not take seriously the many real concerns that its mining project raises.” (For Tahoe Resources’ response, see appendix.)

The UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders has expressed serious concerns about the growing characterization of human rights defenders as terrorists and trouble-makers by State and non-State actors. She reports that such accusations are regularly used to delegitimize and impede the work of defenders and increase their vulnerability. Accusations like these easily lead to highly insecure environments where further attacks are more likely to occur.

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http://amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR34/009/2013/en/33858b4f-d240-46c1-b30d-f145ca780fab/amr340092013en.html

[Judi Lynn]

3. "Accusations like these easily lead to highly insecure environments

where further attacks are more likely to occur."

No shit, Sherlock! That's the point. It's an ancient tradition, taking pot shots at human right defenders publicly, using any media form available, then seeing the human rights workers as they mysteriously just get murdered. It's ALWAYS blamed on some unknown person. It just can get blamed on "anyone" even though the list of people who benefit from these murders is extremely short.

That's when the human rights workers start getting the death threats, followed by death itself. Just a matter of time. The human rights workers are causing too much trouble, drawing too much attention to the filthy business going on against the citizens who are standing in the road of what the oligarchy wants.

[Catherina]

4. Well said

"That's when the human rights workers start getting the death threats, followed by death itself. Just a matter of time. The human rights workers are causing too much trouble, drawing too much attention to the filthy business going on against the citizens who are standing in the road of what the oligarchy wants. "

Shoot, I read a great article about that very subject this afternoon but can't find it now.

Anyway, what you said.