The undersigned organizations, express our deep concern about the
serious incidents that occurred on Friday, April 15 in the town of San
Francisco de Ojuera -Department of Santa Barbara where a dozen people
were injured.
On Friday April 15, 2016, approximately 400 people, members of Honduran
and international human rights organisations, social movements and the
media, travelled to the Gualcarque River as part of a caravan to
commemorate the murder of Berta Cáceres, the international meeting was
known as “Berta Cáceres lives”. The signatory organisations were present
at the meeting and observed patterns of attacks against international
and national organisations that are replicated in other regions of the
country and have originated from deep social conflict.1
Below we describe the events witnessed:
– Around 2 pm, the peaceful caravan arrived at the community of San
Ramon, municipality of San Francisco de Ojuera. Participants at the
front of the commemorative march were confronted by a group of about 30
people who expressed their support for the Agua Zarca hydroelectric
project implemented by the company Desarrollo Energéticos S.A. (DESA).
They carried placards with inscriptions supporting the hydroelectric
project and against the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous
Organizations of Honduras (COPINH), brandishing machetes and issuing
serious threats against COPINH and other participants in the
international meeting. Despite the significant presence of police and
army along the entire route of the international caravan, there were
just six police officers positioned in front of the group.”
– The caravan continued its journey to the banks of the River Gualcarque
where a spiritual ceremony was held in memory of Berta Cáceres.
– At approximately 5 pm, the caravan ended and a few metres before
reaching the buses for their return transport, the same group of people
appeared; shouting, insulting, threatening and wielding their machetes.
Unexpectedly these people started throwing stones at people who were
walking towards the buses. This created panic as people had to run
several metres to protect themselves. As a result of this incident, a
dozen people in the caravan were wounded after being hit by stones, and
at least two people were beaten by the group of people. The attackers
also issued death threats to members of COPINH, particularly its new
general coordinator Tomas Gomez. Amongst the people who were assaulted
and injured were people who are beneficiaries of precautionary measures,
including several members of the general coordination of COPINH.2
– Faced with the violence that broke out, the National Police did not
react immediately, only intervening after several people in the caravan
insistently requested it. We are concerned that the Honduran authorities
did not ensure the safety of those present and did not take immediate
action against the attacks.
These events have occurred in the context of repeated complaints against
the DESA company. These complaints hold the company responsible for the
murder of Berta Cáceres as well as for multiple threats and attacks
against members of communities and COPINH because of their opposition to
the Agua Zarca dam. In light of these developments, we express our
serious concern about the situation of extreme vulnerability for
organisations, communities and human rights defenders in Honduras, and
in particular members of COPINH. The organisations below reiterate our
support to requests from Berta Cáceres’ family and members of COPINH,
urging the Honduran government to sign an agreement with the
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), creating a committee
of independent experts to investigate the murder of Berta Cáceres and
other cases of human rights defenders who have been killed in Honduras,
despite having been granted precautionary measures from the IACHR.
In this context characterised by the closure of spaces for human rights
defenders, we are also concerned that situations like the one above make
difficult international accompaniment and observation to help protect
spaces for non-violent conflict resolution and the promotion and defence
of human rights in Honduras. The work of international accompaniers and
observers in the country responds to requests from organisations and
civil society who have the right to defend their rights, and to seek
support and international observation when faced with threats and
attacks.
Taking into account the views expressed above and the responsibility of
States to ensure the protection, respect and fulfilment of international
human rights law, we call upon the international community to undertake
the following actions to put a stop to and prevent this escalation of
violence against the defence of human rights:
• Issue a statement to the President of the Republic, Commissioner for
Human Rights and the Ministry of Justice, Interior and Human Rights:
◦ Expressing appreciation and support for the work of national and
international organisations participating in the caravan on 15 April.
◦ Showing concern at the situation described above and the lack of
immediate reaction by the authorities present to the reported violence.
◦ Reminding the Honduran State of its obligation to protect human rights
defenders, and emphasising the importance of the work they carry out in
Honduras. It is also important to highlight the importance of the work
carried out by international observers and accompaniment organisations
when their presence is requested due to threats and attacks.
• In particular, we call on the Diplomatic Corps and Ministries of
Foreign Affairs and / or Aid Agencies to ask for the competent
institutions to clarify the events reported, urging a prompt, impartial
and thorough investigation into the attacks and threats made by the
aggressors and into the actions of the national police.
Express publicly, through the appropriate channels, support for the
work of human rights defenders in Honduras and their right to receive
support from international organisations and other organisations.
“Human rights and fundamental freedoms are the birthright of all
human beings; their protection and promotion is the first responsibility
of governments”3
Organizations:
– International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), in the framework
of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
– Front Line Defenders
– Honduras Solidarity Network in North America (Honduras Solidarity Network in North America)
– Hondurasdelegation (Germany / Austria)
– Ecumenical Office for Peace and Justice (Germany)
– World Organisation against Torture (OMCT), in the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders.
– Peace Brigades International (PBI Honduras)
– The International Platform against Impunity (Plataforma Internacional contra la Impunidad.)
– PROAH (Proyecto de Acompañamiento internacional en Honduras)
– Protection International
– Witness for Peace (Acción Permanente por la Paz)
1. Two days after these incidents, 17 April 2016, the Canada-Honduras
Delegation for Justice, Land and Life went to the opencast gold mine
San Andres in La Union, Copan. As the Canadian delegation approached the
city of Azacualpa, a group of about 180 mine workers – some armed with
machetes, sticks and stones – blocked the street. The delegation
reported that the police were present but initially failed to act. The
delegation was later notified that they could travel safely to the
community and the police managed to disperse the crowd. Mining Watch and
other NGOs from the delegation, however, have expressed serious concern
about this kind of intimidation.
2. Members of the coordination of COPINH are beneficiaries of IACHR precautionary measures 112-16 of 03.05.2016.
3.Adopted by the UN World Conference on Human Rights (157/93)
