The reasons for the shooting are unknown, but townspeople say it stemmed from the opposition of local residents to the construction of the power plant.
Miguel's killing sparked violent disturbances in Santa Cruz Barillas, which forced President Otto Perez Molina's administration to declare a state of emergency.
The emergency decree was lifted after 18 days when authorities reestablished control in the community, where 17 people were taken into custody for allegedly being responsible for the riots, including the forceful takeover of a military barracks there as well as the destruction of several private homes.Great to know that the Guatemalan government was able to establish control over the victims of violence perpetrated by employees of the Spanish hydroelectric power company.
In other news, Guatemalan Interior Minister Mauricio López Bonilla reports that homicides have decreased by 485 between January 1 and May 25th compared to the same period last year. They count 1,894 deaths during this period (Prensa Libre, Inside Costa Rica, That's great news but I'm not sure where his numbers are coming from.
According to INACIF, 1,895 Guatemalans were killed through April 2012. INACIF reported 2,136 homicides during the same period last year.That's a difference of 240 or approximately 13% and a great continuation in the decline of the country's murder rate that has been going on for the last two-plus years. We'll have to wait another week or two until the PNC's numbers come out.
