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They also feared the threat to Lake Izabal, which has been polluted by the Guatemalan Nickel Company (CGN PRONICO) – [formerly owned by Hudbay Minerals; owned since 2011 by Swiss company Solway Investment Group and most recently together with Solway’s U.S.-based subsidiary Fenix Nickel Company] – and which operates illegally in El Estor. They believed that the activation of new mining licenses could contaminate the natural resources.
The murder of the defender has caused fear among his family, who have decided to protect their identities from any reprisals, as they say they have no problems with anyone, although they pointed out that the incident could have been due to Colindres' participation in the protests, referring to the blockade of the main road in the community of San Antonio Sejá in Livingston.
“We don't have problems with anyone, nor did he like to look for trouble. He was a hard worker and very friendly with people, all in defense of natural resources,” his relatives said.
They ask the government for security
His fellow activists also expressed their concern and asked the government to provide the necessary security for the community so that no one else is killed. They added that their struggles were simply to protect the lives of the people and the flora and fauna in the Sierra Santa Cruz, and that their only crime was to have 10 mining exploration and exploitation licenses in the municipality canceled.
“Our crime was to get the 10 mining exploration and exploitation licenses [of Rio Niquel / Central America Nickel] canceled. The owners may be angry because they may have paid a lot of money and now they want to take our lives,” they said.
On July 31, 2025, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN) informed community representatives that the licenses had been canceled. Several irregularities were found in the authorization of these environmental permits.
Prensa Comunitaria sought the police report on the Colindres case, but after several calls to the local police station, the authorities did not respond.
The crime against Colindres marks the second murder of a defender who participated in the protests. The first was Misael Mata, a native of the Las Flores community, who was killed in May of this year [2025].
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