Honduras: The repression of legitimate protest
Kimberly was one of at least 13 people killed – and scores injured – as police cracked down on demonstrations across the country. The unrest follows allegations of fraud in the presidential election.
It’s the latest assault on the right to peaceful protest in Honduras – where 90% of attacks on people trying to protect the environment are never investigated.
Our international community is very concerned about the unfolding events.
There is a high risk that the situation in Honduras will deteriorate. This could leave ordinary citizens and activists at risk of further violence and human rights abuses.
Honduras is no stranger to attacks against activists, indigenous communities, opposition supporters, government critics, and others. More than 120 environmental activists have been killed since 2010, according to Global Witness. They include the internationally recognised indigenous campaigner Berta Cáceres, murdered in March 2016.
Criminalising peaceful protest
Peaceful protest is a fundamental human right. It's absolutely crucial, especially for communities whose land, water and sacred places are threatened by big polluting projects.
In February 2017 Honduras introduced new so-called anti-terrorism legislation. These vaguely worded laws classify terrorist acts as activity designed to “intimidate or cause terror or force the state …to act", and “public support for such acts”. The legislation makes these activities punishable by up to 8 years in prison.
The new laws were seemingly introduced as part of a crackdown on violent gangs. But human rights groups believe protesters and journalists could be prosecuted under these laws. They could be imprisoned for exercising their rights to freedom of expression or peaceful protest, legitimate reporting or simply asking questions.
The vagueness of the legislation means that communities protesting at the destruction of their land could be charged with acts of terrorism.
At least 35 people are reported to have been detained under charges of terrorism, since the election unrest began – according to the Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Torture and their Relatives, a Honduran human rights group.
What’s the Honduran government’s attitude to human rights?
President Juan Orlando Hernandez's government stands accused of complicity in human rights abuses – not least through failing to investigate attacks against indigenous communities and activists peacefully defending their land and culture.
Environmental activists are frequently attacked and endangered through public statements and social media.
In 2015 senior government figures accused rights defenders of attempting to discredit the government and of lying to defame the country. Hernandez failed to condemn these statements. Nor did he take steps to legitimise the role of human rights defenders. Instead he accused them of receiving money from organised crime gangs.
90% of attacks on environmental defenders are not investigated, according to human rights groups.
Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organisations of Honduras (COPINH)
The bravery and dedication of Honduran movements and communities can't be over emphasized.
One such organisation is COPINH. This indigenous organisation peacefully defends the rights of the Lenca people – their environmental, cultural, economic, social, health, education, and Indigenous rights. Respect for the Lenca's spiritual and cultural vision of Mother Earth is at the heart of COPINH's work.
Its opposition to the destruction of natural resources has come at a heavy price.
The late Berta Cáceres was leader of COPINH. Before her murder she had received numerous death threats. Colleagues and their relatives had been murdered. She and others in COPINH had been subjected to politically motivated charges. Tomas Gomez, who took on the leadership of COPINH after her death, himself survived an assassination attempt in October 2016. Three other members of COPINH survived attempts on their lives in July 2017.
Nearly 2 years after Berta's death, the trial of 7 people charged with her murder is yet to progress. The people responsible for ordering the killing are not thought to have been arrested.
Attacks on people peacefully defending their land and culture are in part driven by the economic interests of a powerful political elite. Almost total impunity for the killers of activists and a weak judicial system mean that justice is an elusive dream for many.
International role
In 2011, Honduras announced it was open for business, encouraging investment in mining, hydroelectric projects and agribusiness.
This push has trampled on the rights of indigenous communities. There appears to have been little attempt to consult communities and respect their wishes. Violence against people who resist such projects amounts to systematic intimidation. Those financing and supporting these projects are fuelling abuses against indigenous communities – as well as environmental destruction.
Turning the spotlight on such destructive developments – such as the Agua Zarca dam project – has been a key part of COPINH's work. And there have been some wins. In mid 2017 pressure by COPINH and the Lenca community saw the Dutch development bank (FMO) and Finnish Fund for Industrial Cooperation (FinnFund) finally pull out of the Agua Zarca dam.
But many other international financial institutions continue to invest in Honduras. And governments, in particular the US, goes on giving financial aid.
The US State Department says Honduras has been supporting human rights and fighting corruption – despite the appalling level of human rights abuse and well-documented corruption in the country. In 2017 the US gave $17.3m in security assistance to Honduras.
What can you do?
Friends of the Earth groups around the world, including in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, regularly take action in support of communities in Honduras and in calling for justice for Berta Caceres.
Local people will always have the most important role but our international community can also play a big part. It's vital that we offer solidarity to the people most affected. Simply knowing you're not forgotten, and that your voice is being amplified around the world, can have a profound effect.
When Gustavo Castro, director of Friends of the Earth Mexico, was in danger in Honduras in 2016, thousands of people worldwide joined in the pressure and publicity. It helped keep him safe and enabled him to leave Honduras.
International pressure also played its part in FMO and FinnFund’s decision to stop funding the Agua Zarca dam.
Collectively across the planet we do make a difference.
Please help us raise awareness today by sharing social media posts on our Facebook and Twitter pages. You can also share posts from Friends of the Earth International. Thank you.