Indigenous leader Margarito Díaz González murdered at home

Friday, September 14, 2018  

Margarito Díaz González, an indigenous leader who was opposing development on the territory of Wixarika people, was murdered at his home in Mexico on September 8.

According to news reports, González was shot in the face in Nayarit, in the western area of Mexico. His wife was present at the time, teleSUR said.

¡Asesinado el Marakame Margarito: Activo defensor de los sitios y lugares sagrados del Pueblo Wixárika!

NO a la Impunidad! @gobiernonayarit @aegnayarit #Justicia ¡#NiPerdón, #NiOlvido!https://t.co/7v5Knz0Xgg@acostanaranjo @EmilioAlvarezI @rosefem1 @palomabonfil @PGR_Nay pic.twitter.com/CIV3JX9D7w

— Enoe Uranga (@EnoeUranga_) September 11, 2018

González was a marakame, or spiritual leader, among the Wixarika, who are also known as Huichol. He was fighting plans for a dam and mining developments on sacred areas, according to teleSUR.

The National Human Rights Commission in Mexico issued a statement on Wednesday condemning the murder. The agency urged authorities to examine whether González's opposition to the La Maroma dam project, which would supply water to several states in Wixarika territory, was a factor in his death.

Indigenous Wixarika Leader and Activist Murdered in Mexico (teleSUR September 12, 2018)
Mexico rights group slams killing of indigenous activist (The Associated Press September 12, 2018)
Margarito Díaz González, el guía del Pueblo Wixárita, fue asesinado en Nayarit (Animal Politico September 12, 2018)
Condena ONU-DH asesinato del defensor indígena Margarito Díaz González (El Universal September 13, 2018)