Land Grabbing Is Killing Honduras' Indigenous Peoples

Land Grabbing Is Killing Honduras' Indigenous Peoples

By: Andrea Reyes Blanco and Tim Shenk


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A woman holds a cross with a sign featuring Berta Caceres that says, "I will return and I will be millions." | Photo: Reuters

Published 5 April 2016
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Berta Caceres wasn’t the first and, unfortunately, she won't be the last. The world-renowned Lenca leader, assassinated last month in Honduras for her opposition to government-backed megaprojects, is one of an increasing litany of fallen fighters for Indigenous and environmental rights in Honduras and around the globe.

The pattern of murder and criminalization of those who would defend land and the rights of rural people has only become more evident. We argue that this pattern responds to the land grab phenomenon that has intensified since the global financial and food crisis of 2007-2008.

On March 15 another Honduran environmental and Indigenous activist was murdered. Nelson Garcia was an active member of the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras or COPINH. His murder took place “when he came home for lunch, after having spent the morning helping to move the belongings of evicted families from the Lenca indigenous community of Rio Chiquito,” said COPINH.

Garcia was a colleague of the recently slain Caceres, working with communities opposing the Agua Zarca hydroelectric dam project. The Agua Zarca dam project, now on hold, would provide energy for the numerous extractive projects slated for Honduras in the coming decade. Since the 2009 coup d’etat against President Manuel Zelaya, 30 percent of Honduran territory has been allocated to mining concessions.

More:
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/opinion/Land-Grabbing-Is-Killing-Honduras-Indigenous-Peoples-20160405-0029.html