Police arrest 25 as protesters block road at Tahoe's Escobal project, Guatemala

Police arrested 25 people after protesters blocked a road close to Vancouver-based Tahoe Resources' (TSX: THO, NYSE: TAHO) Escobal silver project in Guatemala, press reported. The arrests were made when police encountered resistance while attempting to restore access to the project, news organization Siglo 21 said. No details of any injuries were reported. The protesters had set up a makeshift shelter on land close to the gate to the project, demanding the government revoke Tahoe's mining license for the project which was approved by the energy and mines ministry in Aprilfollowing delays of about a year. Commissioning is anticipated in 4Q13, and commercial production in 1Q14. Tahoe has already committed US$251mn of Escobal's US$327mn construction costs, the company said in March. The project is expected to produce 20Moz silver annually for 10 years from 2017. NATIONAL PROTESTS In a separate development, protests organized by rural development NGO Codeca were held in the capitals of 20 of Guatemala's 22 departments on Thursday (Apr 11), calling for a halt to mining projects in the country and the nationalization of electricity generation, AFP reported. The country has seen high levels of opposition to the industry, with a surveyin January showing 66% of respondents are anti-mining.