President asks for help in mining talks

The Government has asked the Guatemalan Church to mediate in negotiations between indigenous groups and the mining industry, writes Isabel de Bertodano.

Last month eight people were killed and six injured after serious episodes of violence in the municipality of San Juan Sacatepéquez, north of Guatemala City.

Last week President Otto Pérez Molina and a group of ministers went to the nunciature in Guatemala City to meet members of the Catholic hierarchy. The Government  asked the Church for “mediation to encourage dialogue and resolve the situation”.