The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are investigating a Calgary based mining company for bribery allegations in Mexico. The Blackfire Exploration Ltd company is said to have made monthly ‘pay offs’ to the local mayor for a mine they operate in the Mexican state of Chiapas, to prevent protestors from interrupting the mining operations.
The incident was criticized by Mariano Abarca in Mexico and when he was murdered in 2009 the mine was shut down temporarily. Abarca was shot in a ‘drive by’ shooting in front of his home on November 27, 2009. The RCMP is not investigating the homicide but the alleged bribes paid by the company.
Julio César Velazquez Calderón , the local mayor was paid about $19,300 to keep the peace and prevent local members of the community from taking up arms against the mine. José Luis Abarca Montejo, son of Mariano Abarca has taken a leadership role in his community since his father was killed. He made a visit to Canada in September 2010, when he supported calls for stronger legislation to regulate Canadian mining companies overseas.
As per the company’s official line they were unaware that the money was being paid as a bribe. They believed that the funds were being used for public works in a close by town. Mining Watch Canada is happy that the Blackfire operations were being investigated under the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act.
Jamie Kneen, Communications Coordinator for MiningWatch Canada said that it was the only law that holds Canadian companies accountable for their activities outside the country. They hoped that it would bring about some justice in this case. If a case this egregious can’t be successfully prosecuted there’s little hope for accountability in the myriad of other cases they were hearing complaints about.