Honduras elites blamed for violence against environmental activists

[Judi Lynn]

After the murder of at least 123 activists since 2009 military coup, the Global Witness group points to involvement of politicians and business moguls

Nina Lakhani
Tuesday 31 January 2017 10.41 EST



High-ranking politicians and business tycoons are implicated in a wave of violence against environmental activists in Honduras, according to an investigation by the anti-corruption group Global Witness, which says the country’s elites are using criminal methods to terrorize communities with impunity.

At least 123 land and environmental activists have been murdered in Honduras since a military coup d’état forced out the populist president Manuel Zelaya; many of the victims have been members of indigenous and rural communities opposing mega-projects on their territories.

. . .

One of the most explosive allegations is of a conflict of interest for Gladis Aurora López, leader of the ruling National party and vice-president of congress.

López’s husband controls the Los Encinos hydroelectric project in western Honduras, where three indigenous activists have been tortured and murdered, and two pregnant women were severely beaten by a group of civilians and state forces, causing one woman to have a miscarriage.

. . .

Despite growing international outrage about the violence, Honduras still receives millions of dollars of US aid.

“As Honduras’ biggest aid donor, the US should help bring an end to the bloody crackdown on Honduras’ rural population. Instead it is bankrolling Honduran state forces, which are behind some of the worst attacks,” said Kyte.

. . .

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/31/honduras-environmental-activists-global-witness-violence-berta-caceres