Topacio Reynoso killing and the Escobal silver mine
- 1 people died.Topacio Reynoso, aged 16, killed 13 April 2014 in Mataquescuintla.
A 16-year-old was killed in Mataquescuintla, Guatemala, in April 2014. The record lists her among people killed who opposed the Escobal silver mine, which has been suspended since 2017 by a Constitutional Court order.
By Constitutional Court order pending an ILO 169 consultation; the Xinka denied consent (concluded 2023, published May 2025); Pan American disputes the result.
Status As of May 2025: mine suspended since 2017; consultation result (Xinka denied consent) published and disputed by Pan American Silver; no prosecution for the killing found.
- Topacio Reynoso and her family — She was killed at 16; her father is the subject of a Kairos Canada justice campaign. Kairos Canada
- Victims of the 2013 shooting of protesters — Subject of Garcia v Tahoe, settled July 2019. Pan American Silver (SEC filing)
What happened
Topacio Reynoso was killed on 13 April 2014 in Mataquescuintla, Guatemala. She was 16. The record lists her among people killed who opposed the Escobal silver mine, which was operated by Tahoe Resources, 40% owned by Goldcorp.
A prosecution for her killing was not found. The source cited for this is a Kairos Canada campaign page that demands justice for her father.
A related matter, Garcia v Tahoe, concerned the 2013 shooting of protesters. It was settled in July 2019. Pan American Silver said in its filing that it "apologizes to the victims and to the community".
Since 2017 the mine has been suspended by order of the Constitutional Court pending a consultation under ILO Convention 169. The consultation concluded in 2023 and its result was published in May 2025: the Xinka denied consent. Pan American Silver disputes the result.
- 2013Protesters shot; later the subject of Garcia v Tahoe
- 2014Topacio Reynoso, 16, killed on 13 April in Mataquescuintla
- 2017Escobal mine suspended by Constitutional Court order pending an ILO 169 consultation
- 2019Garcia v Tahoe settled in July; Pan American Silver apologised to the victims and the community
- 2023ILO 169 consultation concluded; Xinka denied consent
- 2025Consultation result published in May; Pan American disputes it
What was said
“apologizes to the victims and to the community”
Where accounts differ
Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.
The Xinka denied consent (consultation concluded 2023, result published May 2025).
Pan American SilverHow it looked
Shown
Recorded
- Topacio Reynoso was killed on 13 April 2014 in Mataquescuintla; she was 16.
- The Escobal mine has been suspended since 2017 by Constitutional Court order pending an ILO 169 consultation.
- The Xinka denied consent in the consultation (concluded 2023, published May 2025).
- Garcia v Tahoe, over the 2013 shooting of protesters, was settled in July 2019.
Who gained
Reached nature or the ground
Gained elsewhere
Responses on record
- pan-american-silver (July 2019): Apologised to the victims and to the community in the Garcia v Tahoe settlement. · Pan American Silver (SEC filing)
- pan-american-silver (May 2025): Disputes the result of the ILO 169 consultation. · Pan American Silver
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
- 2019-07SettledGarcia v Tahoenot on record · Civil · Victims of the 2013 shooting of protesters → Tahoe Resources
Case over the 2013 shooting of protesters at the Escobal mine, settled in July 2019. Pan American Silver said it "apologizes to the victims and to the community". Pan American Silver (SEC filing)
- 2017Outcome not on recordConstitutional Court suspension of the Escobal mineConstitutional Court · Administrative · →
The Constitutional Court suspended the mine in 2017 pending an ILO 169 consultation. Pan American Silver
Insurers
What nature saw
Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.
What we don't know
Nature
- Not measured Harm to nature: No independent ecological evaluation is on record.
Court
- Unclear Constitutional Court suspension of the Escobal mine: outcome not on record.
Accounts
- Disputed Was the ILO 169 consultation result valid?
Record
- None on record No prosecution for the killing of Topacio Reynoso was found.
- None on record The sources in the sources reviewed do not state who killed her or whether the killing was linked to the mine.
Did the harm stop?
The mine has been suspended since 2017 by Constitutional Court order pending an ILO 169 consultation.
Who paid?
Not established in the sources reviewed; the settlement terms of Garcia v Tahoe are not given.
Sources
Company or project
- Garcia v Tahoe settlement filingPan American Silver (SEC filing) · 2019-07
- Pan American Silver response on the Escobal consultation (hosted by Earthworks)Pan American Silver · 2025-05
Communities and civil society
- Take action: demand justice for Topacio Reynoso's fatherKairos Canada ·