Five years after her murder, the long search for justice in the case of Berta Cáceres continues. In 2016, Berta was murdered while supporting Indigenous Lenca communities in opposing the Agua Zarca Hydroelectric Dam, a project of the Desarrollos Enérgeticos S.A. company, DESA.
In 2018, seven men were convicted for her murder including an active duty military officer, and two former DESA executives. Thanks to the arduous efforts of Berta’s family, her legal team, COPINH and sustained national and international pressure, the Trial for DESA hydroelectric company CEO and former military intelligence officer David Castillo concluded yesterday. Castillo is the first person to be tried as an intellectual author of her murder.
Judges are expected to make a ruling in this historic, emblematic case this week. It is essential that the final decision in the David Castillo trial and other ongoing investigations into Berta’s murder be monitored closely by the international community. Progress in achieving accountability for Berta Cáceres’ murder is fundamentally important for progress toward justice and protection for human rights defenders and other activists in Honduras.