For immediate release

6 June 2005

Guatemalan rights activist calls visit to Canada a success, strengthens dialogue with Glamis Gold, Canadian government

Montreal - The Social Justice Committee is pleased to acknowledge the success of the visit to Canada of Bishop Alvaro Ramazzini last week. Bishop Ramazzini met with NGOs and church groups in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto, and with Canadian government officials, to discuss aspects of a controversial mine project in Guatemala.

The Bishop took part in a public panel discussion June 1 at Concordia University, with representatives of Glamis Gold and the World Bank, which is providing financing for the mine. In the panel discussion, James Schenck, Manger for Sustainable Development for the Glamis' Marlin project in Guatemala, committed to dialogue and offered access to the mine site to Bishop Ramazzini and any persons of the Bishop's choosing. This would include Dr. Robert Moran, a critic of the mine's environmental impact assessment who has been unable to visit the site.

"I am very happy with this trip to Canada. All of my objectives were met. I am particularly happy about the possibility of future dialogue both with Glamis and the Canadian government." Bishop Ramazzini said. "I look forward to taking up the offer to visit the mine, and the Canadian government's offer for a meeting with Ambassador Lambert in Guatemala."

Social Justice Committee coordinator Derek MacCuish, who moderated the panel discussion, said he appreciated the willingness of Glamis Gold and World Bank representatives to come to Montreal to engage in a public dialogue.

"As a human rights organization, we hope that by initiating these kinds of dialogues we can contribute in some way to resolving outstanding issues at the Marlin mine," he said.

The Social Justice Committee sponsored Bishop Ramazzini's visit to Canada, in partnership with the Peace and Conflict Resolution Series at Concordia University.

 

For more information, contact:

Derek MacCuish

Tel: 514-933-6797 sjc@web.ca

- 30 -