Chiapas: Possible Renewed Mining Activity in Chicomuselo Reported

Sipaz

The San Pedro y San Pablo Parish of Chicomuselo issued an urgent statement due to the aggravation of the situation in this area. This document follows the public complaint that the Movement in Defense of Life and Territory made on September 26^th over the threats, harassment, and intimidation against human rights defenders in the municipality. This is due to the interest of companies and individuals in restarting mining.

In the statement they report the entry of several cargo trucks to transport mining material, especially barite. They also denounce that since 2007 people from outside the region have carried out anthropological studies, which is why people began the process of resistance by raising awareness of the care and defense of the land.

The parish reported that “the environmental complaint has been formally filed with the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (PROFEPA) on the case and the response has been evasive, arguing that there are no security conditions to carry out the investigation in the face of the wave of violence and insecurity that is taking place in the region.”

They demanded that PROFEPA carry out the corresponding investigation in light of these activities that violate their rights and that the state and federal government make an official declaration that there is no permit to renew the mining concessions in Chicomuselo.

For more information in Spanish:

Comunicado del Pueblo Creyente de la Parroquia San Pedro y San Pablo (20 de octubre de 2022)

Denuncian la falta de responsabilidad de los gobiernos ante posible reactivación minera en Chicomuselo (Chiapas Paralelo, 20 de octubre de 2022)

Pobladores denuncian reactivación de actividad minera en Chicomuselo (Pie de página, 10 de octubre de 2022)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Chiapas: Parroquia de San Pedro y San Pablo de Chicomuselo celebra sus 50 años (July 26, 2022)