#Honduras

PBI observa la audiencia inicial contra tres imputados de la empresa Inversiones Los Pinares/Ecotek por daños #ambientales al Parque Nacional Montaña de Botaderos Carlos Escaleras.

El Comité Municipal en Defensa de los Bienes Comunes y Públicos exige #justicia y resalta la presunta existencia de una estructura criminal detrás de la instalación de la empresa y del asesinato de liderazgos comunitarios, como el del #defensor Juan López

#DDHH #Guapinol #DerechosHumanos #extractivismo

Honduras: Anti-mining activist Juan Lopez shot dead

#JuanLopez is the fourth member of an #environmental #activism group based in in #Tocoa to be killed since 2023.

President #XiomaraCastro condemned the murder and has ordered an investigation.

September 16, 2024

"An #AntiMining #EnvironmentalActivist in #Honduras who protested to preserve #TropicalForests and rivers was killed over the weekend, even after warnings to better ensure his safety.

"Juan Lopez, 46, was gunned down as he left church Saturday in the northeastern town of Tocoa, police said on Sunday.

"Honduran President Xiomara Castro condmened the apparent murder of Lopez, a member of the Libre party she's allied to, in comments online.

"'We condemn the vile murder of our comrade and environmental leader Juan Lopez in Tocoa, Colon,' she said. 'I have ordered that all the capabilities of law enforcement be used to clarify this tragedy and identify those responsible.'

Multiple members of Lopez's enviromental organization killed

"Lopez belonged to the Municipal Committee for the Defense of Common and Public Goods, an environmental organization in Tocoa on the country's Atlantic coast.

"Three other members of the group were killed last year in what the organization saw as retaliation.

"The group had suffered threats and harassment for years amid efforts to preserve the #Guapinol and #SanPedro rivers, and the #CarlosEscaleras #Nature Reserve, as the presence of #mining and #hydroelectric companies increased.

"Honduran Attorney General Johel Zelaya said the 'reprehensible' murder would not go unpunished, and paid tribute to Lopez's #activism.

"'His life was an example of struggle. He never gave up in his incessant battle, hand-in-hand with the people to preserve natural resources,' Zelaya said on X.

Lopez aware of risks of his activism

"An outspoken member of the ruling #LibreParty, Lopez had recently publicly called for the resignation of Libre officials caught on video negotiating bribes with drug traffickers in 2013.

"Carlos Zelaya, a brother-in-law of president Castro, was caught up in that video. He resigned his seat in congress after admitting he took part in that meeting with drug gangsters.

"'If you leave home, you always have in mind that you do not know what might happen, if you are going to return,' Lopez had said in 2021 when speaking of his activism with AFP.

"Lopez had also raised the alarm himself earlier in the year, saying he had noticed two people on motorbikes observing him in locations around his home.

Activist deaths high in Latin America

"Global Witness, a British NGO, says Honduras is one of the world's most dangerous countries for environmental activists.

"#LatinAmerica accounted for 85% of all the world's environmentalists who were killed last year, with 18 deaths registered in Honduras, according to #GlobalWitness.

"The United Nations resident coordinator in Honduras, Alice Shackelford, said Lopez had been threatened for his activism and praised his determination to stand up to powerful interests.

"'We condemn the terrible murder of Juan Lopez, a human rights defender threatened for his work,' she said in a post."

km/msh (AFP, Reuters)

https://www.dw.com/en/honduras-anti-mining-activist-juan-lopez-shot-dead/a-70223466

#JusticeForJuan #GuapinolRiver #WaterDefender #SaveTheForests #DefendTheSacred
#NoMiningWithoutConsent #Greenwashing #WaterIsLife #SaveTheRivers #EMCO #InversionesLosPinares
#MunicipalCommitteeForTheDefenseOfCommonAndPublicGoods

"Honduras: Asesinato de defensores contra minera despierta condena mundial"

Honduras dos asesinatos en Guapinol relacionados a la defensa del agua frente a la extracción minera.

👉 https://avispa.org/?p=92994 🐝

#Honduras #JusticiaParaGuapinol #Guapinol #JusticeForGuapinol #RíoBlanco #AlyDominguez #JairoBonilla #Minería #Mining #WaterIsLife #AguaEsVida #DefensaDelTerritorio #Crimen #PueblosOriginarios #Urgente #PolicíaNacional #DDHH #Justicia #OACNUDH #CA #CentroAmérica

Defender los bienes comunes sigue costando la vida en #Honduras. Este cobarde asesinato evidencia que persiste la impunidad y la connivencia entre intereses económicos e instituciones.
Nuestra solidaridad con vuestra lucha. Un fuerte abrazo a las comunidades, familiares y amigos.
RT @guapinolre: 🚨🚨#Alerta ante asesinato de defensores Aly Dominguez y Jairo Bonilla de #Guapinol.

Expresamos nuestro profundo pésame a sus familias y exigimos una investigación indepe…

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/MiguelUrban/status/1612491158793457665

RT @guapinolre: #ALERT 🚨🚨2 water defenders from #Guapinol murdered in #Honduras.
Our deepest condolences to families of Aly Dominguez & Jairo Bonilla.
We demand an independent investigation & protection from Castro Gov't including cancelation of mining licence.
More: https://www.guapinolresiste.org/post/alerta-ante-asesinato-de-defensores-en-guapinol

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/Left_EU/status/1612154226830086144

📌Después de 29 meses de #detenciónilegal, la Corte Suprema de #Honduras otorga amparos para la libertad de los #DefensoresDeGuapinol; tribunal decide hoy (14) cuándo serán liberados.

👉 https://avispa.org/?p=48563

#FreeThemNow #Guapinol #GuapinolInocente