Honduran Supreme Court Releases Environmental Activists
Eight environmentalists who opposed the operation of an iron oxide mine in a national park had been tried in Honduras, and on Wednesday, February 9, six of them were found to be guilty of simple and aggravated damages against Inversiones Los Pinares, and of illegal deprivation of liberty and aggravated damages against a contractor. They reportedly faced up to 14 years in prison. The names of the six convicted activists are Ewer Alexander Cedillo Cruz, José Abelino Cedillo Cantarero, José Daniel Márquez Márquez, Kelvin Alejandro Romero Martínez, Porfirio Sorto Cedillo and Orbin Nahuan Hernández.
This ruling prompted a ‘downpour’ of criticism from international human rights organisations. The UN expressed ‘deep concern’ of the sentencing of those who ‘are defenders of human rights, of the land, the territory and the environment, who carry out commendable work in favour of democracy in the country’. Albaladejo Escribano, the UN representative in Honduras, stated that the activists are not deserving of ‘unfounded criminal actions’ and that ‘their release and full reparation is the right thing to do’. The head of Amnesty International for America said the verdict is ‘a shame and an affront to human rights in Honduras and the entire region’, also declaring ‘we will not rest until we see them released’.
This happened sooner than anyone expected, as in less than 24 hours, the Honduran Supreme Court ordered the release of the six activists. Defence lawyer Rodolfo Zamora stated that the order was based on an appeal filed almost two years prior to their conviction, against the constitutionality of the activists’ detention. In this appeal, the Supreme Court found the judge who initially ordered the detention was acting outside his jurisdiction, rendering the detention void. The release order was followed by celebration, as locals saw it as a victory in their opposition to the mining project.
The history of the project began in 2013, when a contested zoning decision led to the building of the iron oxide mine in the centre of Carlos Escaleras National Park. Due to fears of poisoned rivers, especially the Guapinol, which would threaten the life of people depending on the rivers for agriculture and fishing, local activists blocked the access road of the mining company in 2018. With Honduras being one of the deadliest countries in the world for activists, in particular land and water defenders, the opposition sparked a conflict between civilians, mine workers and military police which led to extreme acts of violence, injuries, deaths, and assassinations on both sides.
Zamora said locals are aware that ‘the only way to put a mine in the middle of a national park is through corruption’. One of the six activists, Orbin Hernández, stated that he believes that ‘most people are victims of the oligarchies and transnational businesses of the world’, and warned that any defender of rivers and forests can end up in a similar situation: being tried, charged, and imprisoned.
Full article can be found HERE.