The Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) has issued the definitive ruling that the El Escobal mine, operated by Minera San Rafael, located in the municipality of San Rafael Las Flores, Santa Rosa, can resume operations immediately. In its ruling, which protects the NGO Legal and Environmental Action Center (CALAS), the court orders the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) to carry out prior consultation in accordance with Convention 169 of the International Labor Organization (ILO) .
In the brief information that was released on the Twitter of the Judicial Organism, it is indicated that the court considered that the Xincas residents of Jalapa and Santa Rosa were not consulted, although the polygon of influence of the mine is only San Rafael Las Flores .
In addition, it established that the Congress of the Republic, within a year, must legislate in regard to the holding of prior consultations, just as the Constitutional Court ruled in the Oxec case.
AmCham, like other private sector entities, expressed concern that Tahoe Resources, Inc., the owner of the company, had a loss of 45% of the value of its shares in international exchanges.
The suspension of operations for two months caused the state to stop receiving more than Q250 million in taxes and royalties, in addition to affecting the economic activity of San Rafael Las Flores and put at risk more than 1,600 jobs.