2007 and 2009 Latin American Water Tribunal Hearings

In 2007, the verdict of the Latin American Water Tribunal (TLA) found the Honduran authorities “responsible for not enforcing their environmental legislation and international commitments to preserve their water sources and their population’s health and wellbeing” (TLA, 2007). In particular, the Tribunal found that Goldcorp’ subsidiary, Minerales Entremares de Honduras was responsible for damaging the environment and health of the inhabitants of the Siria Valley on the basis of evidence presented by the Siria Valley Environmental Committee (CAVS). The Tribunal’s jury called on the Honduran authorities and the company to establish an ongoing dialogue with all the parties involved in the dispute and urged them to find solutions to the problems. The Tribunal met in Guadalajara, Mexico in October 2007.

In May 2009, the Latin American Water Tribunal held a forum in Costa Rica to explore the regional experiences of open pit mining. Participants included academics, civil society organizations and public officials. The panel focused on the impact of open pit mining in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Peru, warning against the adverse effects in these countries. The Tribunal heard testimony from representatives of the Honduran Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (ASONOG) and the Siria Valley Environmental Committee (CAVS) regarding the impact of open pit mining on land and water in their country, including the specific impact of the San Martín mine. One of the participants from Honduras testifying on their experience, noted that “”Mining companies always go where there is potential water” (…) “The strategies that (mining companies) use is [sic] that they arrive and the government grants them an area to work and then they buy more land and people have to leave” (TLA, 2009).