Canadian Fact-finding Delegation Discovers Mexican Community Devastated by Blackfire Mining Activities

April 21, 2010

OTTAWA, 21 April 2010 – A Canadian delegation that visited Chiapas, Mexico following the murder of social activist Mariano Abarca and the involvement of several employees of the Calgary-based mining company Blackfire Exploration has concluded that Blackfire should leave Chiapas, and the Canadian Parliament needs to act now to prevent further international mining conflicts from turning deadly.

Blackfire’s barite mining operation near the town of Chicomuselo in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas was closed by state environmental authorities on December 7, 2009. Mariano Abarca Roblero was shot dead in front of his house on November 27, 2009.

“What we found during our investigation was a community devastated by the ever-present intimidation, violence, bad mining practices, environmental destruction, and legal harassment – and the bloody murder of Mariano Abarca, who spoke up against this destruction,” said Rick Arnold, of Common Frontiers.

– Read full text of Media Release

Additional Documents
– Chiapas Delegation Report Executive Summary
– Chiapas Delegation – Full Report
– Scan of Memorandum of Understanding between Grecia Ejido & Blackfire
Exploration
– Scan of Lease Agreement between Grecia Ejido & Blackfire Exploration
– Scan of SEMAVI Report on Closure of Payback Mine