Rights Action
July 10, 2018
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Hudbay Minerals/CGN lawsuits: Seeking Justice for Rape, Murder & Repression in the Mining Industry
Photo-essay #1, from Toronto examinations for discovery, by Grahame Russell, July 10, 2018
Guatemala City, July 5th, some of the Lote 8 women/plaintiffs came to the airport to say goodbye to German Chub and Angelica Choc (widow of Adolfo Ich), heading to Toronto, Canada, to be questioned by Hudbay/CGN’s team of lawyers from the Faskens Martineau law firm.
Photo by Jacking McVicar, who accompanied German and Angelica to Toronto, and during part of their time in the city.
These examinations for discovery (depositions) are part of landmark lawsuits to hold Hudbay and CGN (its formerly owned subsidiary company Guatemalan Niquel Company, now owned by Solway Investment Group, http://www.solwaygroup.com/) accountable for mining repression in Guatemala, including: the 2007 gang rapes of the 11 women by Hudbay/CGN security guards, soldiers and police; the 2009 targeted killing of Adolfo Ich and shooting-paralyzing of German Chub.
From November 8-24, 2017, in Toronto, Canada, eleven Mayan Q’eqchi’ women/plaintiffs from the remote village of Lote 8 were questioned by Hudbay/CGN's lawyers. From July 9-13, 2018, German and Angelica are being similarly examined (deposed).
July 9, 10am: Angelica Choc and German Chub, with Grahame Russell (Rights Action), outside the TD towers, at King and Bay St. in the heart of Toronto’s financial and corporate sector.
On September 27, 2009, Hudbay/CGN’s private security singled out and killed Angelica’s husband, Adolfo Ich; on the same day, German Chub was shot and left paralyzed by the same guards.
Lawyer Cory Wanless accompanying German, day #1.
Since these lawsuits were initiated in 2010, Hudbay has spent apparently substantial amounts of money having its company lawyers and Fasken Martineau lawyers fight the charges. At the same time, it is widely believed that Hudbay is bank-rolling a parallel but separate criminal trial in Guatemala, against Mynor Padilla, Hudbay/CGN’s former head of security {and a former Lieutenant-Colonel in the feared Guatemalan army}, charged with the murder of Adolfo and shooting of German.
It may be another 2-4 years before these lawsuits get to a formal trial before a jury. German, Angelica and the Lote 8 women, their lawyers and supporters, will continue to tell the truth and fight for some measure of justice and reparations, for as long as Hudbay chooses to drag this out …
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Tax-deductible donations (Canada & U.S.)
Thank-you to countless people, and some institutions, who have donated funds so far. Funds raised are paying for many of the costs of the plaintiffs as they seek justice in Canadian and Guatemalan courts; funds are also being used to support the plaintiffs and their home communities – they continue to live in precarious conditions due to threats received and attacks suffered because of their involvement in seeking justice, and due to the illegal, violent evictions and loss of homes and lands they suffered due to the mining companies.
Make check payable to "Rights Action" and mail to:
- U.S.: Box 50887, Washington DC, 20091-0887
- Canada: (Box 552) 351 Queen St. E, Toronto ON, M5A-1T8
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