NYT investigates mining violence in Guatemala

The New York Times takes a look at some of the violence perpetrated by mining companies and their allies against indigenous people with Guatemalan Women’s Claims Put Focus on Canadian Firms’ Conduct Abroad.

For decades, overseas subsidiaries have acted as a shield for extractive companies even while human rights advocates say they have chronicled a long history of misbehavior, including environmental damage, the violent submission of protesters and the forced evictions of indigenous people.

Legal cases in Guatemala and Canada are beginning to break the grip of impunity. There have been improvements in Guatemala's courts. However, I hope that Canadian and American courts do not therefore conclude that all criminal cases can be heard in Guatemala where the crimes took place. Impunity is still the norm.