A month ago, the defenders of human and indigenous rights and local organizations in defense of their territory like FREDEMI (Miguelense Defense Front), member of CPO (Council of Peoples of the West) applauded Guatemala’s government's decision to suspend the Marlin mine. However, the same organizations refrained from making celebratory statements. The CPO urged the government to expedite the administrative process, for the suspension to take effect without further delay, so its commitment would go beyond mere speech.

FIAN International calls for international action. CATAPA supports the action.

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.

Source: Huffington Post, 01/06/10

Author's note: Last week, following the visit of U.N. Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Rights James Anaya, the Guatemalan government agreed to abide by his requests and those of the Interamerican Commission on Human Rights, the Catholic Church, the International Labor Organization and others and has ordered the temporary suspension of operations at the Marlin Mine in the indigenous lands of Western Guatemala.

Several peasant, indigenous and environmentalist organizations from Guatemala are demanding the government to comply with a resolution of the International Labour Organization to immediately suspend some of the mining activities carried out by Cementos Progreso and Montana Exploradora in Guatemala.

Read more:  http://radiomundoreal.fm/Immediate-Suspension