Specific Instance Complaint to the Canadian National Contact Point – Goldcorp Inc.

The complaint, filed by the coalition Frente de Defensa San Miguelense (FREDEMI) and prepared by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), argues that Goldcorp Inc. and its subsidiary Montana Exploradora de Guatemala, S.A. have violated human rights and environmental standards. Key allegations include the acquisition of communal indigenous lands without free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC), causing structural damage to homes via explosives, contaminating local water sources with arsenic and cyanide, and depleting water resources. The document also highlights a pattern of retaliation and criminalization of community protesters. FREDEMI requests that the Canadian National Contact Point investigate these claims and recommend that Goldcorp suspend operations, close the mine, and adopt a policy respecting indigenous consent.

• Goldcorp is accused of violating communal property rights and the right to free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) by acquiring land in San Miguel Ixtahuacán through individual sales sanctioned by a mayor rather than indigenous authorities.
• The Marlin Mine is alleged to have contaminated the Cuilco and Tzala rivers; a 2008 study by COPAE found arsenic levels up to seven times higher than U.S. EPA limits, while the Latin American Water Tribunal noted risks of acid rock drainage.
• Goldcorp's water consumption, estimated at 250,000 liters per hour, is associated with the drying up of six wells and several springs in the community of Agel.
• The complaint alleges a pattern of retaliation against anti-mine protesters, including the filing of criminal complaints against community members and death threats against the director of ADISMI and the local Catholic priest.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2009). Specific Instance Complaint to the Canadian National Contact Point – Goldcorp Inc. https://www.ciel.org/Publications/FREDEMI_SpecificInstanceComplaint_December%202009.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. Specific Instance Complaint to the Canadian National Contact Point – Goldcorp Inc. 2009. https://www.ciel.org/Publications/FREDEMI_SpecificInstanceComplaint_December%202009.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=Specific Instance Complaint to the Canadian National Contact Point – Goldcorp Inc. |date=9 December 2009 |url=https://www.ciel.org/Publications/FREDEMI_SpecificInstanceComplaint_December%202009.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2009specific, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{Specific Instance Complaint to the Canadian National Contact Point – Goldcorp Inc.}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2009}, month = dec, url = {https://www.ciel.org/Publications/FREDEMI_SpecificInstanceComplaint_December%202009.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }