Social Justice Committee monitors Mayan Indian occupation of Guatemala nickel mine property owned by Canadian Skye Resources

Outcome could affect Canadian government review of policies on corporate social responsibility in mining operations overseas

Montreal - Sept. 19 2006 - The SJC supports hundreds of Mayan Indian families who have occupied land in Guatemala owned by Canadian mining company, Skye Resources Inc., demanding that the company cede the land for subsistence farming. The company plans to reopen a dormant nickel project in 2008 but disputes over land rights and environmental concerns prompted more than 1 000 Mayan Indians to occupy two different areas of the property over the weekend.

The SJC is closely monitoring the situation as outcomes may impact Canadian Government policy on corporate social responsibility (CSR) for extractive industries. The Government is holding a series of multi-stakeholder roundtables in five Canadian cities to identify how extractive industries operating in developing countries can meet or exceed international CSR standards. The Montreal roundtable is scheduled for Nov. 14-16.

"We hope that the situation will not get nasty, as they often do in Guatemala. On the other hand, if it is handled well and the concerns of local people treated with respect it could prove a positive example of corporate responsibility," said Derek MacCuish, Coordinator of the Social Justice Committee.

Extractive industries follow a voluntary code of conduct for CSR. There are currently no mechanisms in place to ensure that companies observe international human rights and environmental standards, which have been adopted by Canada.