Thousands protests in Mexico over environmental activists murder

Thousands of protesters have marched in Mexico City following the murder of an environmental activist.

Samir Flores Soberanes, who was also a journalist, was shot twice in the head in his home in Amilcingo, south of Mexico City, on Wednesday.

The state government said a murder investigation was underway, and that so far there is “no indication that the murder is related” to an upcoming referendum on the Morelos Comprehensive Project.

The protesters held signs saying "Samir didn't die, the government killed him"; "Samir lives"; and "Justice for Samir".

As the march made its way through Mexico City, thousands gathered in Amilcingo to lay Flores to rest.

Flores was a longstanding opponent of the Proyecto Integral Morelos (PIM), a development project that includes two new thermoelectric plants and a 150km (93 miles) natural gas pipeline in the state.

His death came just days before Saturday and Sunday's public referendum on the plants.

Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador expressed regret about the killing but said the referendum would go ahead. "I'm very sorry about the murder," he said. "The consultation we have to continue because it is a process that was already agreed to."

Activists fear that the pipeline will contaminate the local water supply, which would predominantly affect the indigenous communities in the area.

Flores's family and friends were joined by many others in Amilcingo on Friday for a funeral procession through the streets. The procession paused at the offices of Amiltzinko Community Radio, where Flores worked as a producer.

The contents of a note found next to Flores's body were not disclosed by police. An environmental group he worked with said it believes the murder was linked to his opposition to the pipeline.

Environmental activists were killed in record numbers in 2017, the latest year for which there are figures. According to data gathered by Global Witness, 201 were murdered.

Mexico saw the second highest number of murders after Brazil, with 15 killings, a more than fivefold rise over the previous year.