We sent to officials in Colombia about the kidnapping and assassination of José Enrique Roa Cruz, an ex-combatant and signer of the 2016 Peace Accords. His two body guards, assigned to him through the National Protection Unit (UNP) were also killed in the attack on January 14.
We wrote to officials in Honduras about the popular opposition to contaminating megaprojects among residents of Tocoa, Colón Department, in the Aguán Valley. Residents flatly rejected projects that are threatening the envirnonment, particularly their drinking water, by the companies Emco Holdings, Inversiones Los Pinares, and Ecotek (all three have interlocking ownership).
We urge that the government of Honduras respect and implement the demands of the popular assembly of more than 2,000 people held on December 9, 2023:
-cancel all permits and concessions to Emco Holdings (petroleum coke thermoelectric plant), Inversiones Los Pinares (iron oxide mining), and Ecotek (pelletizing iron oxide)
-offer protection measures to members of the CMDBCPT (Municipal Committee in Defense of the Common and Public Goods of Tocoa)
-sanction those responsible for the illegalities related to the mining project and the threats and stigmatization campaigns against the CMDBCPT
-independently investigate, prosecute and punish those responsible for the 2023 murders of CMDBCPT members Jairo Bonilla, Aly Domínguez and Oqueli Domínguez
-pay for reparation of damages to the core zone of the Carlos Escaleras National Park
The Peace Community of San José de Apartadó is made up of people living in a number of hamlets in the municipality of Apartadó. They maintain their right to not be drawn into Colombia's armed conflict and refuse to take sides with any of the parties to the conflict. They refuse to bear arms or provide information or logistical support to any armed party. In return, the members of the Peace Community demand that the parties to the armed conflict stay out of their communities and respect their decision not to participate in or to collaborate with the warring parties.
Since 2002, IRTF’s RRN has written more than thirty letters to Colombian officials about the human rights violations of the people of the San José Peace Community. Since the Peace Community was established in 1997, more than 200 of its members have been killed or subjected to enforced disappearance, while others have been threatened or sexually assaulted. The continued presence and threats from paramilitaries places members of the Community and other local inhabitants at increasing risk. Some of the threatening actions of the paramilitaries are taking place in areas with a military presence, confirming for residents a routine practice of camouflaging relations between the military and paramilitaries.
Journalists in Honduras carry out their work amid fear and self-censorship, and in a context of high risk and lack of protection by the authorities. While on his way home in Danlí, El Paraíso Department, on the night of December 21, 2023, journalist Francisco Javier Ramírez Amador, age 39, was attacked by armed individuals who also shot a police officer, an armed escort, who was with him. Francisco was killed; the pólice officer suffered two gunshots and was treated at a hospital.
We are urging that authorities in Honduras (1) publish the results of the investigation into the assassination of Francisco Javier Ramírez Amador and bring those responsible to justice, (2) strengthen the Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists of Honduras by providing more technical support, administrative assistance, funding, and improved processes for risk analysis and evaluation, and (3) ensure that all entities responsible for the implementation of prevention and protection measures work in a coordinated and articulated manner.
The article discusses the Association for Justice and Reconciliation (AJR) in Guatemala, formed in response to the country's armed conflict. The AJR played a crucial role in the landmark 2013 case that sentenced former dictator Efraín Ríos Montt for genocide. The interview with Romelia, a Maya Achí woman and AJR's leader, highlights their ongoing struggles for justice, historical memory, and transitional justice. Despite successes, challenges persist, including corruption, impunity, and efforts to obstruct justice. The AJR participated in the 2023 national strike for democracy, expressing concerns about the new government's ability to address corruption in the judicial system. Romelia emphasizes the importance of international support to continue their work for justice, historical memory, and the rights of Indigenous communities.
Communities and social leaders in both rural and urban areas of Colombia have experienced a significant increase in violence over the past year, making it difficult to find a safe haven. The narrative follows Erik, a farmer, who starts his day optimistically but highlights the underlying threat and danger faced by many. Armed groups roam freely, posing a heightened risk to social leaders, human rights defenders, and farmers. The article reflects on the grim reality of escalating violence, with a particular focus on El Guayabo, a campesino community accompanied by CPT Colombia for over a decade. The message extends prayers and thoughts to all affected peasant communities, expressing concern for their ability to cultivate the land and the fear of displacement. The hope is for a dignified life for all, free from violence, where stories can revolve around sunny days, cultivating the land, and sharing moments under an old mango tree.
Tens of thousands of Salvadorans have been jailed since President Nayib Bukele declared a State of Exception in March 2022, suspending several constitutional rights in the name of getting tough on violent crime. We wrote to the attorney general of El Salvador about the arbitrary detentions of innocent people, representing serious violations of due process. We have read reports of people captured without any proof of their ties to criminal gangs and who in some cases have been recaptured. Criminal law specialists in El Salvador have criticized these irregularities. They affirm that if a person has been released because it is determined that he or she does not incur criminal responsibility, and is captured on a second occasion for the same crime, that is an illegal detention.
We are urging that officials in El Salvador work to end the arbitrariness of the system, exhibited by the recapture of Salvadorans who were already released due to lack of evidence connecting them to criminal activity. Without guarantees of due process, all Salvadorans lose.
The article discusses the legal battle between U.S. investors and Honduras over the country's special economic zones (ZEDEs). These zones, allowing private corporations extensive autonomy, have faced criticism for lack of transparency and potential human rights threats. Honduran President Xiomara Castro aims to eliminate ZEDEs, a move opposed by the U.S. ambassador. A U.S. company operating a ZEDE is suing Honduras in an investor-state dispute settlement court, leveraging investment provisions under the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). The dispute raises concerns about the potential bankruptcy of Honduras, highlighting the complex challenges facing Castro's administration.
We have been following the developments regarding the El Fénix nickel mine in El Estor, Izabal Department, and the resistance to the nickel mine since 2009. The mining operations are damaging the environment in El Estor by contaminating Lake Izabal and other local water sources, threatening fishers’ source of income. Local communities (more than 90% of El Estor’s 82,500 inhabitants are indigenous Maya Q’eqchi’) have become victims of land grabbing, arson, and repression.
We are glad to learn that on December 15, 2023, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled that the government of Guatemala is responsible for human rights violations against the Indigenous Maya community that opposes the mine. The court found that various acts of aggression and violence have included attacks on life and harassment and threats to members of the community. We wrote to the Ministry of Energy and Mines of Guatemala and requested a statement from the government about their plans to adopt various reparation measures as ordered by the court.
The Colombian Ombudsman’s Office (DPC) has reported that 181 social leaders and human rights defenders were murdered in 2023, marking a 16 percent decrease from the previous year. The annual report highlights the challenging situation faced by those dedicated to promoting and safeguarding community rights. Despite the decrease, the Ombudsman expressed concern about ongoing risks in regions affected by armed conflicts. The most affected groups include community members, indigenous people, peasants, Afro-descendants, victims, SOGID-LGBTIQ+ individuals, and human rights activists. The report indicates that April, June, and July had the highest number of murders. Cauca, Antioquia, and Nariño accounted for 41% of the cases, with Cauca being the most affected. The Ombudsman calls for intensified efforts to protect human rights defenders, urging state entities to implement preventive measures. Despite the 2016 peace accord, serious human rights concerns persist in Colombia, including abuses by armed groups, limited access to justice, and high poverty levels, particularly affecting Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities. The government generally investigates these issues, but delays are common. Armed groups, including former guerrillas and drug traffickers, contribute to human rights abuses.
