Mexico City, February 26 (teleSUR-RHC)-- The Canadian Embassy in Mexico supports efforts by a Canadian mining company to violently quash peaceful protests in the state of Durango after communities began to speak out against the company’s destructive operations in the region, a new report released Wednesday reveals.

MiningWatch Canada and the United Steelworkers released the report after obtaining documents -- including embassy correspondence and briefing notes -- from the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) under an access to information request.

The documents reveal that the Canadian Embassy was directly involved in supporting Toronto-based mining company Excellon Resources in violating its agreement with the local agricultural community of Ejido La Sierrita, where it operates its La Platosa mine.

The diplomats were also directly involved in repressing protests and intimidating demonstrators, particularly in the summer of 2012.

“The results of our analysis in this report reinforce our concern that Canadian missions abroad are promoting and protecting the interests of Canadian mining companies to the detriment of the individual and collective rights of affected communities,” reads the report.