Luis Fernando Garcia Monroy

Luis Fernando Garcia Monroy is from the community of Volcantio, San Rafael las Flores, Guatemala. San Rafael las Flores is also where the El Escobal mine is located. The mine is owned by the Canadian-US company Tahoe Resources. Luis and his family are vocal opponents of the mine, and their activism and community leadership has had serious consequences. On April 27, 2013, Luis Fernando, his father and 5 other men were shot by the company’s security guards while peacefully protesting the mine. Luis Fernando was shot several times. Currently there are ongoing cases in Guatemala against the perpetrators and in Canada against Tahoe Resources. Luis Fernando is also a co-founder and representative of JODVID (Youth Organized in the Defense of Life), an organization created by the family and friends of Topacio Reynoso, another youth activist from Mataquescuintla, who was murdered on April 13, 2014 in an armed attack, which also left her father, Alex Reynoso seriously injured. Luis Fernando continues to work for justice in his community and for the closure of the mine.