Smear Campaign Against Environmental Defenders

Members of the Centre for Environmental, Social and Legal Action (CALAS) have been the target of a smear campaign after they challenged the license of the San Rafael mining company in court. On 5 July, the Supreme Court of Justice notified it would provisionally suspend the mining company’s licence. CALAS members are at risk of further attacks.

Members of the Centre for Environmental, Social and Legal Action (CALAS) have been the target of a smear campaign after they challenged the license of the San Rafael mining company in court. On 5 July, the Supreme Court of Justice notified it would provisionally suspend the mining company’s licence. CALAS members are at risk of further attacks. 1) TAKE ACTION Write a letter, send an email, call, fax or tweet:

• Urging the Guatemalan authorities to take immediate steps to provide full and appropriate protection to CALAS’ members, in consultation with them and in accordance with their wishes;
• Calling on them to publicly recognize the important and legitimate work of CALAS’ members and all human rights defenders working on land, territory and environmental issues in Guatemala.

Contact these two officials by 17 August, 2017:

Minister of Interior Francisco Manuel Rivas Lara Fax: +502 2413 8658 Email: [email protected] –OR- [email protected] Twitter: @mingobguate Salutation: Dear Minister

Ambassador Gladys Marithza Ruiz de Vielman Embassy of Guatemala 2220 R St. NW Washington DC 20008 T: 202.745.4953 -OR- 202.745.3873 Email: [email protected] Contact Form: http://guatemalaembassyusa.org/la-embajada/contacta-con-nosotros/ Salutation: Dear Ambassador

2) LET US KNOW YOU TOOK ACTION Click here to let us know if you took action on this case! This is Urgent Action 167.17 Here’s why it is so important to report your actions: we record the actions taken on each case—letters, emails, calls and tweets—and use that information in our advocacy. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

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