Student killed in the struggle to defend public education in the department of Santa Barbara

The following is a translation of a statement circulated (in Spanish) on the La Compa mailing list (the mailing list of the members of the Convergence of the Peoples of the Americas). The original statement is below.

HONDURAS: Student killed on the battlefront for public education in the department of Santa Barbara

Nahum Guerra, 17 years old, in his second year of agronomy studies at the "Pompilio Ortega" Agricultural School in Macueliso, Santa Barbara, was assassinated on August 22nd at 7:00pm while on shift with other student colleagues at the front gate of his college on the international western highway.

Nahum and his student colleagues had taken over the agricultural school with the purpose of defending public education, in front of a bonfire illuminating the Honduran flag. These students, heroic and patriotic, united their voices with thousands of students across the country in defense of their right to public education.

The State media campaign against students is no longer tolerable. A vehicle was circulating along the highway, and upon seeing the bonfire, the students, and the Honduran flag, its occupants shouted "Strikers, Strikers!" and opened fire on them. The bullets struck Nahum.

The people of the department of Santa Barbara condemn these acts of violence and impunity, and the violation of human rights. We declare ourselves in solidarity with the students of the agricultural school and with the family of Nahum in Cabañas, department of Copán, in light of this irreparable loss.

We condemn these acts of violence and death and consider Misters Porfirio Lobo [President of the Republic], Juan Orlando Hernandez [President of Congress], and Alejandro Ventura [Minister of Education] responsible for the education crisis in the country.

Long live the student movement!

Nahum may your death be a seed of liberty.

FNRP.SB
[National Front of Popular Resistence – Santa Barbara]

———- Forwarded message ———-

El joven de 17 años Nahun Guerra de segundo año de agronomia de la Escuela
Agricola "Pompilio Ortega" de Macueliso Santa Barbara, fue asesinado el dia
22 de agosto a las 7pm mientras hacia turno junto a otros compañeros de
colegio en porton frente a la carretera internacional del occidente del
pais.
Nahum y sus compañeros se tomaron las instalaciones de la escuela agricola
con el fin de defender la educcion publica frente a una fogata que iluminaba
la bandera de Honduras los jovenes con mucho heroismo y patriotismo se unian
a las voses de miles de estudiantes del pais, en defensa de sus derechos
como es la educacion publica.
La campaña mediatica  del Estado en contra de los jovenes a llevado a
niveles de intolerancia ya que un vehiculo circulaba por la carretera y al
ver la fogata, los estudiantes y la bandera de Honduras les grido
Huelgistas, Huelgistas, disparandoles y callendo las balas al estudiante
Nahum.
El pueblo de Santa Barbara condena estas acciones de violencia e impunidad
asi como la violacion de los derechos humanos.
Nos solidarisamos con los estudiantes de la escuela agicola, con la familia
de Nahum en Cabañas, Copan por tan irreparable perdida.

Condenamos este tipo de acciones de violencia y muerte siendo los
responsables de esta crisis educativa en el pais es el señor: Porfirio Lobo,
Juan Orlando Hernandez, Alejandro Ventura.

Que vivan los estudiantes
Nahum tu muerte sera semilla de libertad.
FNRP.SB
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Esta es la lista de trabajo de los miembros de La Convergencia de los Pueblos de las Américas (COMPA).
_______________________________________________

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