PRESS RELEASE
Tegucigalpa, March 21, 2016
The International Mission “Justice for Berta Cáceres”, today completed its visit to Honduras, which took place in this Central American country from March 17 to 21, and counted with the participation of 14 parliamentarians, expert ( e) and activists (s) from 9 countries of Latin America and Europe . There was among them, among others, a representative of the Mothers of the Plaza de May- founding line of MP (s) the Spanish and Mexican parliaments and the European parliament, an ex – judge of the Supreme Court of El Salvador, major unions representatives such as the AFL / CIO-CSA US and the national Union of workers of Mexico (UNT-CSA) and the major regional organizations such as Jubilee South members, Friends of the Earth Latin America and the Caribbean (ATALC) and global networks such as the global Campaign for dismantling the power transnational corporations and end their impunity.
The mission was established to meet the authorities and government bodies, judicial and parliamentary and representative (s) of the social movements of Honduras, the United Nations, the Embassy of the United States and representation diplomatic of the European Union in this country. All this in order to help shed light on the murder of the Lenca leader Berta Caceres indigenous occurred at the beginning of March this year and s upport the urgency of the immediate release of a member of MAPDER, Coordinator Other worlds AC / Friends of the earth – Mexico, Gustavo Castro Soto, and guarantee his personal integrity and his return to Mexico.
The fatal assault that claimed the life of the winner of the 2015 Goldman Prize and hit the renowned Mexican activist was considered by the Mission, not as an isolated event, but as part of a continuous and systematic repression of human rights defenders human rights and the environment in Honduras. In this country, a lot of infrastructure mega-projects are planned and implemented violently in the territories of indigenous and peasant communities, such as the project “Agua Zarca,” which fought against Berta Caceres and organization she was the coordinator of the Council of Popular and indigenous organizations (COPINH). Generally, these mega projects are implemented without being respected the right to prior consultation and informed communities. In the field of water resources in particular, following the 2009 coup, a general water law and mining was passed, which allowed be assigned without the relevant environmental analysis or compliance right to prior and informed consultation, a number of concessions and mining projects. These megaprojects are encouraged and promoted by the Association Agreements and investment protection as the one signed with the European Union. These treaties guarantee the interests of multinational companies, but do not include binding rules to sanction the respect of human rights. In this context, organizations of affected communities as COPINH are in the crosshairs of repression . Spanish MEP and member of the mission, Pedro Arrojo said about it: “We have collected the testimonies of many threats received by both Berta Caceres by members of his family and members from 2013 until COPINH ‘until today.”
Preliminary results of the mission were presented today at a press conference, which had wide media coverage and was broadcast live internationally. In its preliminary findings, the Mission stressed the seriousness of the lack of guarantees in Honduras regarding democratic principles, fundamental freedoms and human rights. In this regard, she recalled that judges are often subject to intimidation, resulting in a noticeable lack of independence of the judiciary from the government. The Mission also noted the flagrant violation of international law in the implementation of mega-projects and that of “Agua Zarca,” especially because of the actions and omissions of the company DESA and the Government of Honduras himself. She linked this with the close relationship between the government and various economic powers such as large companies and international financial institutions involved in these projects. The Mission said they had encountered no political will of the Government of Honduras to fight against impunity in cases of violations of human rights, the protection system itself does not work. This bankruptcy partly explains Berta Caceres, who enjoyed precautionary measures issued by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has been killed. At the same time, the Mission observed that there were no legal reasons to continue to restrict freedom of Gustavo Castro Soto , and prohibit his return to Mexico. Worse, according to its members, as direct witness of the murder of Berta Caceres Flores, his life is in danger if he stays in Honduras.
The mission statement of preliminary recommendations to the State of Honduras in general and specifically regarding the case of Berta Caceres and Gustavo Castro. It also issued preliminary recommendations to the US government and the European Union. In this regard, the International Mission said that the European Council should suspend the association agreement with Honduras as not observed the obligation “to achieve full respect of all human rights and fundamental freedoms” . The Mission also asked the government of the United States to clarify the terms and conditions of its participation in the investigation of the assassination of Berta Caceres. Furthermore, given the irregularities encountered in the investigation of the assassination of Berta Caceres and others COPINH, the Mission noted that a survey should be made on the funding provided by the Spanish State and the Union European Eurojustice the program.
During the press conference, it was emphasized that the Government of Honduras had shown a lack of transparency and clarity to the case of Berta Caceres. The International Mission, set forth to follow the request of COPINH, and before the great social distrust that generates impunity for many killings to date, has expressed support for the request for an independent investigation, with the participation of international organizations for human rights and the Inter-American Commission on human rights.
During the press conference, Gustavo Lozano, academic and lawyer of the coalition of social movements for land and water (MAPDER and REMA), recalled that “Gustavo Castro is a figure as important as Berta Caceres. The Mission international denounces the illegal retention in Honduras. ” In turn, Tom Kucharz, a member of the Global Campaign to dismantle multinational and end impunity announced that “a final report will be prepared and an intense work will be done with parliamentary institutions at regional level and International on the case. the international mission takes the ethical and moral obligation to make every effort to achieve justice for Berta Caceres. “
Contact with the Mission:
Latin America:
Local número: + 50489748879
J. Elosegui (Radio Mundo Real / Friends of the Earth International): + 598-98846967
A. Sandoval (Jubilee South Americas): + 50587136579
Europa:
P.Pof (Podemos): + 34-618 154 002
Mr. Vargas (International Campaign to dismantle corporate power and end impunity): + 34-662026497
AT. Guillamón (Entrepueblos / Entrepobles /
The delegation includes the following members:
Urbán Miguel Crespo – Europe, MEP PODEMOS – Left Group Unit Europe, Nordic Green Left GUE / NGL
Nora Cortiñas – Argentina, Mother of Plaza de Mayo Founding Line
Pedro Arrojo – Spain Podemos deputy of the Congress of diputés Spain.
José Olvera – Mexico, Mexico UNT-CSA, National Union of Workers / Trade Union Confederation of the Americas workers.
Beverly Keene – Argentina, Coordinator of Jubilee South Diálogo 2000 Argentina, Member of the international campaign to dismantle corporate power and to end impunity.
Mirna Perla Jimenez – El Salvador, Former Magistrate of the Supreme Court of El Salvador.
Brian Finnegan – USA, AFL / CIO – CSA. US Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations.
Zulma Larin – El Salvador, Network Coordinator of Community environmentalists and the Alliance for governance and justice.
Natalia Atz Sunuc – Guatemala, Friends of the Earth Latin America and Caribbean (ATALC), Member of the International Campaign to dismantle corporate power and to end impunity.
Gustavo Lozano – Mexico University and Lawyer of the Coalition of Social Movements for water and for land (MAPDER there REMA), coordinated with the movement of Central America
Tom Kucharz – Spain, political Assessor PODEMOS delegation of the European Parliament, a party to the International Campaign to dismantle corporate power and to end impunity.
Miguel Ángel de los Santos – Mexico Judge Advocate Iberoamerican Network.
