On November 29, 2010, representatives of Cabricán (Quetzaltenango), Santa Cruz del Quiché and Uspantán (El Quiché) traveled to the capital to present to the national authorities the results of community referenda held in the three municipalities. Upon exiting the building housing the Guatemalan Congress, community leaders from the three municipalities denounced that officials cited to receive the results of referenda held in their municipalities did not show up.
A community leader shows the Libro de Actas, or official registry, recording the votes cast in his community. On November 29, 2010, representatives of Cabricán (Quetzaltenango), Santa Cruz del Quiché and Uspantán (El Quiché) traveled to the capital to present to the national authorities the results of community referenda held in the three municipalities regarding mining and hydroelectric projects.
Community members in Santa Cruz Barillas, Huehuetenango, carry a cross bearing the name of Andrés Francisco Miguel, slain on May 1, 2012, allegedly by private security guards under contract of the Hidro Santa Cruz hydroelectric project. Following the murder, in the face of unclarified acts of vandalism and alleging the robbery of weapons from a local military outpost, the executive government declared state of siege in the municipality. 2012