The new corporation proposed digging a massive strip mine on the site of the town.
The people of the town resisted this, claiming that the government had violated its own rules in agreeing to this.
Reynal, the local Roman Catholic pastor had resisted attempts by the mining company to get his endorsement of their plans.
In August 2011, Reynal was given notice by the company that the Archbishop had agreed to the sale of the Church's property in the town.
On 1 September 2011, while Reynal-Restrepo was returning on his motorbike from the trip, he was stopped just outside the town and shot to death.