IRTF News

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.

Wounaan indigenous communities in Chocó Department impacted by violent clashes between paramilitary groups, the rebel group National Liberation Army (ELN), and state security forces; Sebastían Carpio Necheche was seriously wounded when an anti-personnel mine exploded.

attempted assassination of LGBTI rights defender David Valle in Tegucigalpa

killing of labor rights defender Eugenio López y López during a peaceful protest of former agricultural workers in Coatepeque, Quetzaltenango Department

murder of Roberto Antonio Gómez, father of student activist Andy Johan Gómez Jerónimo of the University Student Movement (MEU) at National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) in Tegucigalpa

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)

shooting death of Carlos Maaz Coc and injuries to other Maya Q’eqchi’ people when riot police attacked their peaceful demonstration calling for government to resolve the contamination of Lake Izabal in El Estor, Izabal Department, polluted by nickel mining.