On August 19, the Maya Q'eqchi community of Agua Caliente, El Estor, Izabal, filed a petition with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights against Guatemala for violating their rights to property, self-government, due process of law, and judicial protection. The small community of 385 people has been fighting to protect their nickel-rich lands and resources from exploitation for more than 40 years. A former subsidiary of HudBay Minerals from Canada, Compañía Guatemalteca de Níquel, was awarded a license to extract nickel from lands belonging to 16 Maya Q’eqchi’ communities, including Agua Caliente, without consulting the communities. In February 2011, Guatemala’s Constitutional Court ruled in favor of Agua Caliente, recognizing their rights to collective property, and ordered corrective actions. Guatemala, however, has not fully complied with court orders. Having exhausted all of the state processes, the community is seeking justice through the regional human rights system.
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Source: Indian Law Resource Center
