Margarito Diaz Gonzalez

Margarito Díaz González, 60, was the Marakame (spiritual leader) of the Wixárika people and member of the Union of Ceremonial Centers of Jalisco, Durango and Nayarit. He was also a member of the Security Council of Wirikuta. He was murdered in his home on 8/9/2018 in the community of Aguamilpa, in the state of Nayarit, Mexico. According to reports, a gunman arrived at the Marakame’s home and shot him in the face while he was sleeping. 

Through the Union of Ceremonial Centers of Jalisco, Durango and Nayarit, the Marakame and his companions were able to secure the deeds to the land of the ceremonial center of Aramara in San Blas, which has been vandalised on several occasions due to lack of vigilance on the part of the municipal authorities.

Translated from the report by El Universal


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Region:Americas

Country:Mexico

Department/Province/State:Nayarit

Sex1:Male

Age:60

Date of Killing:08/09/2018

Previous Threats:No information

Type of Work:Community leader

Organisation:Marakame (spiritual leader) and community security council member

Sector or Type of Rights the HRD Worked On:ESC Rights

Sector Detail:Extractive industries/Mega projects, Indigenous Peoples' Rights, Land Rights

More information:Front Line Defenders

1This database records an individual's chosen gender identity. If they do not self-identify as male or female they can use the option of recording other/neither or use the term NBGI (non binary gender identity).