PBI-Honduras observes trial of accused intellectual author of the murder of Lenca land defender Berta Cáceres

COPINH: “The daughters of #BertaCáceres, the legal team representing them, alongside COPINH, reaffirm their commitment to the fight for #JusticeForBerta.”

On April 29, PBI-Honduras posted about the trial of former DESA hydroelectric dam executive David Castillo who is accused of being an intellectual author in the murder of Indigenous Lenca land defender Berta Cáceres.

PBI-Honduras notes: “Today Rosalina Domínguez, Lenca indigenous leader of the community of Rio Blanco, Intibucá, testified: ‘The community should be consulted on the advantages and disadvantages of dam’.”

This refers to the Agua Zarca dam that DESA was building on the Gualcarque River without the free, prior and informed consent of the Lenca people.

The Intercept has reported that DESA executives had become angry when Cáceres’ protests disrupted their investment in the hydroelectric dam.

Castillo is alleged to have coordinated with, and provided funds to, the men who were the material authors of the murder of Cáceres.

She was killed in her home by gunmen on March 2, 2016.

In December 2019, when four hitmen were sentenced for this crime, Bertha Zúñiga Cáceres stated: “These sentences are a start in breaking the impunity, but we’re going to make every effort to ensure that all those responsible – the company executives and state officials identified in the trial – are prosecuted.”

She had also commented: “There is only one case open – which has also been extremely delayed – and that is of David Castillo, the president of the company. However, for us, David Castillo is a minor and in fact, the weakest representative of the powerful people that took the decision and economically lent support to this crime.”

The trial of Castillo – which is being transmitted on the COPINH Facebook page – is expected to continue until May 7.

PBI-Honduras has accompanied COPINH since May 2016.