Guatemala: Community leader shot – Marlin mine activities must be suspended

Guatemala, July 15, 2010: On July 7th, two unknown men shot Ms. Diodora Antonia Hernández Cinto in her home. She is a community leader of the movement against the Marlin Mine. On May 20th, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) ordered the suspension of activities at the Marlin Mine which belongs to the Canadian company Goldcorp Inc., as precautionary measures to protect the indigenous communities´ lives and physical integrity. On June 23rd, the government of Guatemala announced that it will comply with the measures ordered by the IACHR. However, violence against communities persists. The mining company has declared that it will not cede. Several weeks have now passed and implementation of government’s promise is still pending.