Description

On Wednesday, July 7th, 2010 at 7:30 PM in the small community San José Nueva Esperanza in the village of Maquivil, municipality of San Miguel Ixtahuacán, Ms. Diodora Antonia Hernández Cinto was shot. She is part of the resistance movement against the human rights violations being committed by the company. She has been active in her community Sacmuj, where the company has extensive exploration interests and the inhabitants fear impacts on their natural water springs and the violation of their right to consent. She has been threatened a number of times for her participation in this movement.

A culture of intimidation continues to exist in the municipalities of Sipacapa and San Miguel Ixtahuacan. Many who have come out as outspoken advocates against the mine have been threatened or targeted with violence.