“Attack on Xinka resistance leader, Julio David González”, 16 January 2021

This Saturday morning, on January 16, the Xinka Parliament reported that leader Julio David González was attacked at his home, located in Mataquescuintla, Jalapa [Guatemala]. González was shot and subsequently transported to a nearby medical centre. Kelvin Jiménez, a lawyer and member of the Xinka Parliament, noted that since last year, the Xinka Parliament has denounced multiple threats against González and others who form part of the organized resistance in Mataquescuintla, Jalapa.

Only 15 days ago, a complaint was filed with the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Crimes against Activists and Human Rights Defenders, for threats received by members of the resistance since the closure of the Escobal mining project, said Jiménez…

Jiménez said it is noteworthy that this attack took place one day after the Xinka Parliament announced the pre-consultation to be held on April 20, 2021, on the mining rights of the Escobal project, owned by Minera San Rafael* in the department of Santa Rosa.

In 2017, operations at the mine were suspended and in September 2018, the Constitutional Court confirmed the closure…The Guatemalan Unit for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (UDEFEGUA) documented at least 1004 instances of aggressions against defenders between January and December 15, 2020.