Guapinol River defenders Aly Dominguez and Jairo Bonilla opposed to EMCO-Los Pinares mining project murdered in Honduras

Bufete Justicia para los Pueblos (Justice for the Peoples Law Firm) has tweeted:  “Aly Domínguez was part of the group acquitted after presenting himself voluntarily in 2019 after being criminalized by MP [the Public Ministry] and [the companies] EMCO-Los Pinares. We regret the murder of him and Jairo Bonilla, both defenders and parents. Our deepest condolences to their families and to the CMDBCPT [Municipal Committee in Defense of Common and Public Goods of Tocoa].”

Libertad Para Guapinol (Freedom for Guapinol) has also tweeted: “Alert to the murder of defenders Aly Dominguez and Jairo Bonilla from #Guapinol. We express our deep condolences to their families and demand an independent investigation to clarify the facts.”

Their statement says:

“Aly, brother of our colleague Reynaldo Domínguez, is also one of the 32 people criminalized by the mining company Inversiones Los Pinares and the State of Honduras for defending the Carlos Escaleras National Park against its illegal mining project.

Defenders of territory in the region face constant threats and harassment. Despite the multiple complaints and warnings we have made about the increased risk we face, state authorities refuse to guarantee the physical integrity of communities at risk for defending their water and territory from the illegal mining project. Nor do they put an end to environmental pollution caused by mining in a national protected area.

In view of the murder of the defenders, we express our deep condolences to their families and demand an independent investigation to clarify the facts.

To the government of Xiomara Castro, we demand the immediate cancellation of mining licenses in the Montaña de Botaderos Carlos Escaleras National Park that cause death and that it take urgent measures to guarantee the physical safety of defenders in Tocoa.“

Once Noticias also reports: “Users on social networks revealed that the victims were recognized environmental leaders who worked for the defense of the Guapinol River. It also transpires that both deceased were constantly persecuted, stigmatized and marginalized by a mining company, allegedly interested in exploiting the natural resources of the area, which is considered protected.”

We express our deep regret about the murders of Aly and Jairo.

Aly’s brother Reynaldo recently participated in a Peace Brigades International advocacy tour in the United Kingdom and Europe.