BREAKTHROUGH REGARDING LEGAL LIABILITY OF CANADIAN MINING CORPORATIONS FOR ABUSES OVERSEAS

Mayans’ lawsuit against HudBay over shootings and rapes at mine in Guatemala to proceed in Canadian courts

TORONTO, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – Feb. 25, 2013) – In an important precedent-setting development for the accountability of Canadian mining companies for alleged overseas human rights abuses, victims of rape and murder at a Guatemalan mine are now able to sue a Canadian mining company in Canadian courts.

Guatemalan Mayan villagers who are suing Canadian mining company HudBay Minerals for the alleged gang-rapes of eleven women, the killing of community leader Adolfo Ich and the shooting and paralyzing of German Chub at HudBay’s former mining project in Guatemala recently learned that HudBay has abruptly abandoned its legal argument that the lawsuit should not be heard in Canada, just before an Ontario court was set to determine the issue. As a result, and for the first time, a lawsuit against a Canadian mining company over alleged human rights abuses abroad will be heard in Canadian courts.

“This is a stunning victory for human rights, and paves the way for future lawsuits against Canadian mining companies” said Murray Klippenstein, lawyer for the Mayan plaintiffs. “Corporations be warned – this case clearly shows that Canadian companies can be sued in Canadian courts for alleged human rights atrocities committed at their foreign operations.”

Read the entire article by Rights Action here: http://rightsaction.org/action-content/breakthrough-regarding-legal-liability-canadian-mining-corporations-abuses-overseas