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

[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????

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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
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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/