Guatemala to seek 2 year moratorium on mining licences
The President of Guatemala, Otto Perez, will be asking the country’s congress for a 2 year moratorium on new metal mining licenses in hopes that it will calm tensions in mostly indigenous communities that have opposed to the industry.
“We are bringing a bill to congress in which we declare a two-year moratorium,” Perez said in a speech late Tuesday night. “We are asking congress to not give any more metal-mining licenses.”
“In May, Guatemala’s government declared an emergency in four towns, suspending citizens’ rights to protest in an area where people died during demonstrations against the Escobal silver mine belonging to Canadian miner Tahoe Resources Inc.”
