Environmental Human Rights: News & Updates

unjust and arbitrary detention of indigenous and environmental rights defender Juan Eduardo Caal Suram, a member of the Artisanal Fishermen’s Guild (GPA), which has been calling for government action to resolve the contamination of Lake Izabal in El Estor, Izabal Department, polluted by nickel mining.

excessive use of force by police to break up a peaceful protest of neighbors blocking the installation of high voltage power lines (to service a sugar refinery) over their homes in Villa de San Francisco, Francisco Morazán Department, and unjust detention of seven protesters: Jorge Aguilar, president of CAPIRHO (Popular and Independent Environmentalist Committee for Water and Other Resources), Cristian Marisol Hernández Pineda (member of Boulevard Neighbors), Julio Zúniga, Rodolfo Quezada, Mario González, Juan Camilo Palma, Maicol Aguilar

excessive force by police and ESMAD (anti-riot squad) against small-scale artisanal miners in Antioquia Department organizing in resistance to Canada-based Gran Colombia Gold Corporation; two killed by police gunfire: Brando Stid Ochoa, Alexis Gregorio Acevedo

repression by the Military Police and two elite special command squads, the COBRAS and TIGRES, against peaceful protesters organized in resistance to the HIDROCEP hydroelectric dam on the Mezapa River; detention of leaders of MADJ (Broad Movement for Dignity and Justice) in Pajuiles, Tela municipality, Atlántida Department.

death threats in Bogotá against documentary filmmaker Bladimir Sánchez Espitia, who investigates mining companies, local police, or political figures that may have interests in those companies or their development projects.

illegal searches by National Police of the home of women’s and environmental rights defender Sonia Jeannette Sánchez Pérez in Santo Tomás, San Salvador Department

threats and attacks on three leaders of COPINH (Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras): national leadership coordinators Sotero Chavarría Fúnez and Asunción Martínez, and general coordinator Bertha Zúñiga Cáceres

excessive use of force by police against peaceful protestors of Tahoe Resources’ Escobal silver mine in San Rafael las Flores in Santa Rosa Department

continued unjust detention of Abelino Chub Caal, indigenous and environmental defender in Izabal Dept., where agricultural and extractive industry companies are in land disputes with local communities; still facing two of initial five criminal charges (cf letter Feb 24 2017)