According to the information received by the ITUC, Fredy López was murdered on the night of 27 September, on leaving the farewell held for a doctor who had resigned from the hospital in Melchor de Mencos. He was shot to death by unknown assailants.

In a letter to the Guatemalan authorities, the ITUC joined with its affiliates in calling for urgent steps to ensure a full and prompt investigation into this terrible crime.

"This is yet another demonstration of the risks involved in being a trade unionist in Guatemala," said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow. "It is vital that the authorities commit to fully respecting the core ILO Conventions ratified by Guatemala, so that trade unionists can freely exercise their trade union activities without risking their lives."