Latin America

Judi Lynn

(160,621 posts) Tue Jan 27, 2015, 02:53 AM Jan 2015

Honduras – Torture and killing of human rights defender Juan Francisco Martínez

Posted 2015/1/16
Honduras – Torture and killing of human rights defender Juan Francisco Martínez

On 5 January 2015, the body of human rights defender Mr Juan Francisco Martínez was found in the village of Tapuyman in the Santa Elena Municipality of La Paz. The human rights defender, whose body bore marks of torture, had been killed on 4 January 2015.

Juan Francisco Martínez was a member of the Movimiento Indígena Lenca de la Paz - Honduras – MILPAH (Lenca Independent Movement of La Paz - Honduras), and worked on issues relating to the rights to water, land and territory for the Lenca community. MILPAH is also supported by the Centro Hondureño de Promoción al Desarrollo Comunitario – CEHPRODEC (Honduran Centre for the Promotion of Community Development). Two concessions have been approved for the construction of hydroelectric projects in the municipality of San Jose and the town of Santa Elena. Local communities are opposed to these mega-projects and the negative impact they will have on their already limited access to natural resources.

When the human rights defender's body was found, it showed signs of torture, as well as having been stabbed a number of times in the chest. One of his hands was still tied with what appeared to be laces from military boots. The assassination comes in the context of death threats received by Juan Francisco Martínez and his family since August 2014, and the killing of his son in July 2014. On 11 January 2015, a request for an investigation into the killing was filed before the Public Prosecution's Office.

Front Line Defenders is gravely concerned at the killing and alleged torture of Juan Francisco Martínez, which appear to be directly linked to his legitimate and peaceful work defending environmental and land rights. Front Line Defenders further expresses concern regarding the physical and psychological integrity and security of the human rights defender's family.

- See more at: http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/27936#sthash.Sg8Fjux3.dpuf

3 replies

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Honduras – Torture and killing of human rights defender Juan Francisco Martínez (Original Post) Judi Lynn Jan 2015 OP

This is terrible. To me such men are the true heroes of this world. sibelian Jan 2015 #1

You're right. He undoubtedly would have been getting warnings before they did this to him. Judi Lynn Jan 2015 #2

I can never shake the feeling that if perhaps if more of us were like him sibelian Jan 2015 #3

sibelian

(7,804 posts)

1. This is terrible. To me such men are the true heroes of this world.

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Tue Jan 27, 2015, 03:13 AM

Jan 2015

He could not have been unaware of the risks.

Judi Lynn

(160,621 posts)

2. You're right. He undoubtedly would have been getting warnings before they did this to him.

Reply to sibelian (Reply #1)

Tue Jan 27, 2015, 04:49 AM

Jan 2015

That seems to be the pattern. Lots of threats are delivered, the death squads can even get people's phone numbers which are not listed, and the trend has always seemed to follow warnings preceding the murders. They like to terrorize their victims first. People as courageous, and committed as this man was usually intend to be in it for the duration, feel their cause is right. There are some who cut and run, but far more get murdered than one would have expected.

They are good, good people, fighting to protect their families, their neighborhoods, their way of life which is always under siege from the ones who believe they are powerful enough to simply take everything from everything.

Predation at its starkest. There's no dignified name to put with this.

sibelian

(7,804 posts)

3. I can never shake the feeling that if perhaps if more of us were like him

Reply to Judi Lynn (Reply #2)

Tue Jan 27, 2015, 05:54 AM

Jan 2015

or his willingness to sacrifice were more common, there would not be enough leeway for such evil men to do the things they do.

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