A fisherman who prefers to remain anonymous due to fear of being criminalized, rides his boat at dawn on Lake Izabal. El Estor, Izabal, Guatemala. April 1, 2019.

A fisherman who prefers to remain anonymous due to fear of being criminalized, rides his boat at dawn on Lake Izabal. El Estor, Izabal, Guatemala. April 1, 2019.

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Catholic priest Ernesto Rodea Moreno, from Colima, Mexico, poses for a photo next to a portrait of Saint Oscar Romero inside the Church of San Pedro Apostol. Saint Oscar Romero was a recognized human rights advocate and was assassinated while giving mass

Catholic priest Ernesto Rodea Moreno, from Colima, Mexico, poses for a photo next to a portrait of Saint Oscar Romero inside the Church of San Pedro Apostol. Saint Oscar Romero was a recognized human rights advocate and was assassinated while giving mass in San Salvador on March 24, 1980. El Estor, Izabal, Guatemala. March 28, 2019.

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Heidi Maaz (left), 17, Zoila Maaz (center), 14, and Sara Cuz, 18, prepare corn tortillas to sell in a shack adjacent to the Maas home. Heidi and Zoila are the younger sisters of Carlos Maaz, fisherman who was shot dead, allegedly by a Police officer, duri

Heidi Maaz (left), 17, Zoila Maaz (center), 14, and Sara Cuz, 18, prepare corn tortillas to sell in a shack adjacent to the Maas home. Heidi and Zoila are the younger sisters of Carlos Maaz, fisherman who was shot dead, allegedly by a Police officer, during a protest march on May 27, 2017. El Estor, Izabal, Guatemala. March 28, 2019.

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Emilio Maaz sits outside his home. He is the father of Carlos Maaz, fisherman who was shot dead, allegedly by a Police officer, during a protest march on May 27, 2017. El Estor, Izabal, Guatemala. March 28, 2019.

Emilio Maaz sits outside his home. He is the father of Carlos Maaz, fisherman who was shot dead, allegedly by a Police officer, during a protest march on May 27, 2017. El Estor, Izabal, Guatemala. March 28, 2019.

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Sunday scene on the banks of Lake Izabal in El Estor, a predominantly Q'eqchi' Mayan town. El Estor, Izabal, Guatemala. March 31, 2019.

Sunday scene on the banks of Lake Izabal in El Estor, a predominantly Q'eqchi' Mayan town. El Estor, Izabal, Guatemala. March 31, 2019.

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Everilda Che, wife of Oscar Yat, and their six-year-old daughter Jennifer, embrace in the family's kitchen. Yat was arbitrarily arrested and held for numerous months in 2018 due to a land conflict with CGN-Pronico where several peasants purchased and/or o

Everilda Che, wife of Oscar Yat, and their six-year-old daughter Jennifer, embrace in the family's kitchen. Yat was arbitrarily arrested and held for numerous months in 2018 due to a land conflict with CGN-Pronico where several peasants purchased and/or occupied a territory claimed by the mining company. El Estor, Izabal, Guatemala. March 30, 2019.

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Juan Ixim, 70, a Q'eqchi' Mayan fisherman, prepares his nets on Lake Izabal. Behind him, the CGN-Pronico mining plant and the open pit scars due to mining activity are visible on the Sierra de Santa Cruz. El Estor, Izabal, Guatemala. April 1, 2019.

Juan Ixim, 70, a Q'eqchi' Mayan fisherman, prepares his nets on Lake Izabal. Behind him, the CGN-Pronico mining plant and the open pit scars due to mining activity are visible on the Sierra de Santa Cruz. El Estor, Izabal, Guatemala. April 1, 2019.

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Carlos Ernesto Choc, 36, journalist for Prensa Comunitaria, prepares for a meeting with a member of the public prosecutor's special office on crimes against journalists. Choc has been criminalized due to his work as a journalist in his community of El Est

Carlos Ernesto Choc, 36, journalist for Prensa Comunitaria, prepares for a meeting with a member of the public prosecutor's special office on crimes against journalists. Choc has been criminalized due to his work as a journalist in his community of El Estor, particularly for covering the conflict between local fishermen and Solway's CGN-Pronico Nickel mine. El Estor, Izabal, Guatemala. March 28, 2019.

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David Choc (center), former insurgent guerrilla and current human rights advocate and Mayan spiritual guide, prepares to carry out a Mayan ceremony as two assistants watch. El Estor, Izabal, Guatemala. April 1, 2019.

David Choc (center), former insurgent guerrilla and current human rights advocate and Mayan spiritual guide, prepares to carry out a Mayan ceremony as two assistants watch. El Estor, Izabal, Guatemala. April 1, 2019.

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Jerry Choc Xol, 7, Q'eqchi' Mayan boy and son of David Choc, sits in a hammock at home. El Estor, Izabal, Guatemala. March 28, 2019.

Jerry Choc Xol, 7, Q'eqchi' Mayan boy and son of David Choc, sits in a hammock at home. El Estor, Izabal, Guatemala. March 28, 2019.

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Tula Esperanza Alvarez, 70, stands in her home. Her son Yuni Genoel Sandoval Alvarez died on August 14, 2016, inside the CGN-Pronico plant due to an explosion. El Estor, Izabal, Guatemala. March 30, 2019.

Tula Esperanza Alvarez, 70, stands in her home. Her son Yuni Genoel Sandoval Alvarez died on August 14, 2016, inside the CGN-Pronico plant due to an explosion. El Estor, Izabal, Guatemala. March 30, 2019.

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Clothes dry in front of a home in El Estor, Izabal, Guatemala. March 28, 2019.

Clothes dry in front of a home in El Estor, Izabal, Guatemala. March 28, 2019.

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Bedroom of the home of Oscar Yat, who was arbitrarily arrested and held for numerous months in 2018 due to a land conflict with CGN-Pronico where several peasants purchased and/or occupied a territory claimed by the mining company. El Estor, Izabal, Guate

Bedroom of the home of Oscar Yat, who was arbitrarily arrested and held for numerous months in 2018 due to a land conflict with CGN-Pronico where several peasants purchased and/or occupied a territory claimed by the mining company. El Estor, Izabal, Guatemala. March 30, 2019.

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Cristina Xol Pop, 24, sits at home.She is the widow of Carlos Maaz, fisherman who was shot dead, allegedly by a Police officer, during a protest march on May 27, 2017. El Estor, Izabal, Guatemala. March 31, 2019.

Cristina Xol Pop, 24, sits at home.She is the widow of Carlos Maaz, fisherman who was shot dead, allegedly by a Police officer, during a protest march on May 27, 2017. El Estor, Izabal, Guatemala. March 31, 2019.

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An armed security guard stands in the halls of the Human Rights Ombudsmans office. Jordan Rodas, the current Human Rights Ombudsman, requires at least five full time armed body guards and has restricted mobility due to credible threats against his person

An armed security guard stands in the halls of the Human Rights Ombudsmans office. Jordan Rodas, the current Human Rights Ombudsman, requires at least five full time armed body guards and has restricted mobility due to credible threats against his person due to his work in favor of human rights and against rampant corruption in the country. Guatemala City, Guatemala. April 3, 2019.

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The Death of Lake Izabal


In early 2017, a red slick appeared on Guatemala’s Lake Izabal, the country’s largest. Local Q’eqchi’ Mayan fishermen attributed the possible contamination to the activities of the Fenix Mine, an industrial project with a checkered past, including serious accusations of human rights abuses.


Protests were violently squashed by the National Police resulting in the death of fisherman Carlos Maaz and the criminalization of numerous local leaders and journalists. In July 2019, Guatemala’s Constitutional Court halted the project’s operations until a proper community consultation is carried out.


Published in Le Monde on June 21, 2019.

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