Human rights defender Ms Deodora Antonia Hernandez Cinto (Doña María) has been shot in the head in an assassination attempt on 7 July 2010. Deodora Antonia Hernandez Cinto is a member of the Asociación para el Desarrollo de San Miguel Ixtahuacán – ADISMI (Development Association of San Miguel Ixtahuacán) and has previously received threats as a result of the Association's opposition of the mining activities being carried out in the municipality by the Montana Mining Company. The Marlin mine is owned by Montana Explorada de Guatemala, S.A., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Goldcorp Inc.

On 7 July 2010, at approximately 19:00, Deodora Antonia Hernandez Cinto was shot in the right eye by two young unidentified men who had entered her home in San José Nueva Esperanza, in the village of Ágel, San Miguel Ixtahuacán. The two men had arrived at the home asking for accommodation, they were told that was not possible but were offered two cups of coffee. When Deodora Antonia Hernandez Cinto entered with the coffee she was shot in the face before the two individuals ran off in the direction of the village of San José Ixcaniche. On route to this village there is a street that leads to the mining area. In addition, neighbours of the human rights defender temporarily detained two men in a car who admitted that they were waiting for workers from the mine who were on night duty. Two members of the National Civil Police (PCN) arrived to the scene but did not take the names of the individuals or the registration of the vehicle.

Deodora Antonia Hernandez Cinto was taken to a health centre in San Miguel Ixtahuacán, before being transferred to the regional hospital in San Marcos. As a result of the attack the human rights defender lost her right eye.

On 20 May 2010 the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) granted five precautionary measures to the inhabitants of 18 communities in the vicinity of the Marlin mines, with 20 days for full completion thereof. Within these measures was the temporary closure of the mining operations. On 24 June 2010 the President of Guatemala confirmed that these precautionary measures would be complied with but that the temporary closure of the mine would take some time. On the same day, in San Miguel Ixtahuacán, ADISMI released a statement again calling for the complete closure of the mine as a result of the social, environmental and health impacts it is having on the communities. On 3 June 2010 a gathering was held in the central park of the capital city opposing the mining operations, following which a memorandum was presented before Congress, calling on the President to oppose the mining operations in San Miguel Ixtahuacán and Sipacapa.

It should be noted that within the communities there are also those who support the mining operations. On a previous occasion, in September 2009, Deodora Antonia Hernandez Cinto reported that she had been threatened by a member of the Consejo Comunitarios de Desarrollo – COCODE (Community Development Council) as a result of her opposition to the mining operations.

Other members of ADISMI, including Carmen Mejía, Juan Méndez and Gregoria Crisanta Pérez, have reported receiving a series of telephone threats and of attempts to run them over on the roads in the communities.

Front Line believes that the attempted assassination of Deodora Antonia Hernandez Cinto, as well as the threats against other members of ADISMI, is directly related to her work in the defence of human rights, particularly her involvement in the movement against the mining operations in the region and her work in highlighting the social, environmental and health impacts of large-scale mining in Guatemala. Front Line is seriously concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Deodora Antonia Hernandez Cinto, and all other members of ADISMI.

Front Line calls on you to urge the authorities in Guatemala to:

1. Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the attempted assassination of Deodora Antonia Hernandez Cinto, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;

2. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological security and integrity of Deodora Antonia Hernandez Cinto and all members of ADISMI;

3. Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders in Guatemala are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals, and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.