Demonstrators concerned about contamination of the country’s largest lake, Lake Izabal, and the Dulce River took to the streets Saturday in El Estor, located nearly 100 miles northeast of the capital city, after talks over the operation of a nearby nickel mine broke down…Artisanal fishers and other concerned residents set up a blockade on a main street, only to soon be met by a counter protest, sparking clashes between opposing sides. According to local media, tensions broke into gunfire, killing one civilian and injuring six police officers…Protesters opposing the mine argue that pollution in Lake Izabal and the Dulce River have already affected the environment and the local artisanal fishing industry. The nickel extraction project is operated by a Guatemalan subsidiary, known as Pronico, of private EU-financed international mining conglomerate Solway Investment Group, headquartered in Switzerland…
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