Violence, intimidation and judicial persecution directed at communities in Honduras because of their peaceful opposition to mining operations imposed without consent is growing in recent months.
Two communities – La Nueva Esperanza and Locomapa – are notable examples of a disturbing escalation in the persecution of human rights defenders acting to protect the country’s natural resources, complicity on the part of state actors and impunity for the perpetrators of abuses.
Mid-September, the mining company operating in Nueva Esperanza filed a complaint against the attorney’s representing the Nueva Esperanza community, an action which appears to parallel the judicial persecution which resulted in an arrest warrant issued for Bertha Caceres, human rights defender with COPINH last week, despite national and international outcry.
The attached summary documents the resistance which has been happening in these two communities and some of the repercussions which have resulted from the resistance.