IRTF News

assassinations of two Embera indigenous elected leaders in Chocó Department: Aulio Isarama Forastero, governor of the Embera indigenous reservation Katru Dubaza Ancoso in Alto Baudó, killed by ELN rebels, and Ezquivel Manyoma, leader of Medio Baudó municipality, killed by Gaitanista paramilitaries; disappearance of Jhon Eriberto Isarama Forastero, a teacher also from the Katru Dubaza Ancoso reservation and brother of Aulio Isarama Forastero

assassinations of five political activists in one week throughout the country: José Jair Cortes (Nariño Dept), Liliana Astrid Ramírez Martínez (Tolima Dept), Miguel Pérez and Liliana Patricia Cataño Montoya (Antioquia Dept), Eliecer Carvajal (Putumayo Dept)

killing of Efgenia Vásquez Astudilo, reporter for an indigenous community radio station, while covering a Mobile Anti-Riot Squad (ESMAD) operation to evict members of an indigenous Kokonuko community occupying disputed land in Puracé, Cauca Department

massacre of seven farmers and injuries to at least 20 others when security forces shot indiscriminately into a crowd protesting eradication of their coca crops in Tumaco, Nariño Department

unjust and arbitrary detention of indigenous and environmental rights defender Juan Eduardo Caal Suram, a member of the Artisanal Fishermen’s Guild (GPA), which has been calling for government action to resolve the contamination of Lake Izabal in El Estor, Izabal Department, polluted by nickel mining.

assassination of community judge and defender of indigenous territories Celedonia Zalazar Point and her husband, Tito José González Bendles, at their home in the Tungla community in the Prinzu Awala territory of Prinzapolka municipality of the Autonomous Region of the Northern Atlantic (RAAN) on the Caribbean Coast

criminalization and harassment by authorities of Miriam Miranda, General Coordinator of the Black Fraternal Organization of Honduras (OFRANEH), at the behest of foreign investors building tourist resorts on Garífuna communal lands

excessive use of force by police to break up a peaceful protest of neighbors blocking the installation of high voltage power lines (to service a sugar refinery) over their homes in Villa de San Francisco, Francisco Morazán Department, and unjust detention of seven protesters: Jorge Aguilar, president of CAPIRHO (Popular and Independent Environmentalist Committee for Water and Other Resources), Cristian Marisol Hernández Pineda (member of Boulevard Neighbors), Julio Zúniga, Rodolfo Quezada, Mario González, Juan Camilo Palma, Maicol Aguilar

killing of Ana María Mepaquito, a 22-year-old indigenous woman and mother of three young children, caught in crossfire during clashes between paramilitary groups, the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel group, and state security forces that are threatening Wounaan and Embera indigenous communities in Riosucio, Chocó Department

assassination of union leader Tomás Francisco Ochoa Salazar, of the SITRABREMEN meat-packers union in Guatemala City, and shooting injury of union member Andy Noel Godinez