Chiapas/International: Mariano Abarca’s Relatives Appeal to Canadian Supreme Court over Embassy Investigation 

@ La Izquierda Diario

In Mexico, mining activity has left a series of social and economic effects. In the case of Chiapas, an emblematic case is that of Mariano Abarca Roblero, a community leader and environmental defender assassinated in 2009 for his fight against mining, especially for his complaints about the impacts of a barite mine in Chicomuselo.

In 2007, the company responsible for this project, Blackfire Exploration, received “significant support”from the Canadian Embassy in Mexico. Proof of this is that a high-level delegation was sent to Chiapas to pressure state authorities “so that they protect the company and quell the protests” despite the fact that Mariano Abarca was under threat from the mining workers. Seven weeks later, Mariano was shot dead in broad daylight. In 2018, the defender’s family and non-governmental organizations from Mexico and Canada formally requested the Canadian government to investigate the actions of said diplomatic institution.

In October 2021 it was announced that a hearing was scheduled for his investigation. However, despite having compiled a document of almost 1,000 pages of evidence, the Commissioner did not accept said complaint “based on a mere technicality.” For this reason, in a statement signed by the family of Mariano Abarca, the organizations Mining Watch Canada and Otros Mundos, stated their willingness to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada to pave the way for the Commissioner for the Integrity of Public Administration to retake the investigation, which would represent the first time that Canada’s public sector has been subjected to the scrutiny of the highest court.

For more information in Spanish:

Familia de Mariano Abarca solicita permiso para apelar al Tribunal Supremo de Canadá (Chiapas Paralelo, 19 de abril de 2022)

Familia del asesinado defensor ambiental mexicano Mariano Abarca solicita permiso para apelar al Tribunal Supremo de Canadá (Otros Mundos, 19 de abril de 2022)

Familia de ambientalista solicita apelar al Tribunal Supremo de Canadá (Diario de Chiapas, 20 de abril de 2022)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Chiapas: Court of Canada to Review Behavior of Embassy in Mariano Abarca Case (October 20, 2021)

Chiapas: 5 years since the murder of mining critic Mariano Abarca (December 15, 2014)

Chiapas: Anti-Mining Activist Mariano Abarca Killed (December 1, 2009)

National: Threats against Researcher Violeta Nuñez and Journalist Ernesto Ledesma (April 19, 2022)

Oaxaca: Presentation of Report on Human Rights Violations in San Jose Mining Project (March25, 2022)

Oaxaca: Symbolic Occupation of SEMARNAT To Denounce “Servile” Attitude with Mining Interests (March 4, 2022)

National: Supreme Court of Justice Will Analyze if Mining Law Violates Rights of Indigenous Peoples (January 18, 2022)