Eleven die in Guatemala village conflict

Sacatepequez, GUATEMALA: Indigenous people rest on the ground on September 22, 2014 in the village of Los Pajoques, San Juan Sacatepequez municipality, 35 km west of Guatemala City, where soldiers have been deployed following confrontations between residents of the area. Guatemala declared a state of prevention in the indigenous town of San Juan Sacatepequez to prevent further acts of violence after 11 indigenous people died in a clash that saw residents turn guns on their neighbours over plans to build a road and a cement plant. The conflict escalated because some in the indigenous community are being forced to leave their homes due to the construction, while others have been in favour of the plant and sold some land for the road. AFP PHOTO/Johan Ordonez

September 23, 2014
GUATEMALA CITY 014 (AFP) - Eleven indigenous people were killed in a village west of the Guatemalan capital after clashes that saw residents turn guns on neighbors over plans to build a road and a cement plant, authorities said Monday.

The death toll in San Juan Sacatepequez had been eight, but three further fatalities were confirmed, police said, as they deployed 200 officers and 300 army personnel in a bid to deter further trouble.

Interior Minister Mauricio Lopez has said authorities were working to determine what additional actions will be taken after the clashes that began overnight into Saturday in the town of ethnic Maya farmers.

The conflict escalated because some in the indigenous community are being forced to leave their homes due to the construction, while others have been in favor of the plant and sold some land for the road.