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PBI-Honduras at IACHR GIEI ceremony as it begins investigation of the murder of Berta Cáceres

By
Brent Patterson
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Photo by CIDH-IACHR.

PBI-Honduras has posted:

“Today [February 14] we were at the presentation and installation of the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (GIEI), who will work to investigate intellectual authority and related crimes following the murder of Berta Cáceres and will propose a comprehensive reparation plan to the affected communities.

This group is the fourth to settle in Latin America and its function is to carry out an international technical investigation in the case of the murder of the defender Berta Cáceres. The GIEI installation sets a precedent for the investigation of crimes against people defending land and territory in Honduras.

From PBI we will follow with great attention the development of research and highlight the work of the GIEI to guarantee a remedial result to communities affected by extractivism.”

GIEI to provide technical assistance to investigation

Página 12 further explains:

“The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has appointed a group of experts to provide technical assistance to Honduras to investigate the mastermind of the murder of environmentalist Berta Cáceres, which occurred on March 2, 2016, in the west of the country.

The Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (GIEI) for the case of Berta Cáceres was installed in Tegucigalpa by the president of the IACHR, Andrea Pochak, in an event that was attended by senior Honduran officials, Austra Berta Flores, mother of the environmentalist, as well as her daughters Laura and Bertha Zúñiga Cáceres, and members of the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH).”

A mandate of six months

Proceso Digital adds:

“The Interdisciplinary Group is composed of Ricardo Guzmán Loyo [from Guatemala], Roxanna Altholz [United States] and Pedro Biscay [Argentina]. Likewise, Mr. Jaime Vidal will serve as its Executive Secretary. The experts who make up the GIEI Honduras were selected by the IACHR based on criteria of technical suitability, autonomy, independence, and impartiality, within the framework of an ongoing dialogue with the State and the representative party. The GIEI Honduras will have its own technical team on the ground and guarantees of autonomy to ensure the right to truth and justice.

Its mandate will be six months from its installation. Throughout its work, the GIEI Honduras will present partial reports and a final report, which will be publicly accessible.”

The country’s economic and political powers

Criterio.hn further notes:

“When asked by Radio Progreso about how they will maintain their independence in a case involving the country’s economic and political powers, Pedro Biscay stated that there are fundamental guarantees established within the document signed between the State of Honduras and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to guarantee unrestricted access to documentation of all the elements of interest to deepen the ongoing investigation and reach the most important aspects of the country. high spheres of responsibility linked to crime.”

Convictions and confirmation of sentencing so far

Another article in Criterio.hn notes:

“Last Friday, February 7, the Plenary of the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) ratified the sentence of 30 years in prison against Sergio Rodríguez, changing his role to “inducer” in the murder of Berta Cáceres. Rodríguez was the last of the material authors and middle managers linked to the crime pending confirmation of sentence.

In November of last year, the Criminal Chamber confirmed the conviction of the other seven people sentenced for the murder of Cáceres. The names of the people whose sentence in the degree of material authorship was final are: Douglas Geovanny Bustillo (ex-military); Mariano Díaz Chávez (army major); Edilson Atilio Duarte; Elvin Rápalo Orellana; Henry Javier Hernández Rodríguez; and Óscar Torres Velásquez.

The sentence against Roberto David Castillo was also final, in the degree of intermediate material authorship, although its aggravating circumstances were modified, which resulted in the reduction of the sentence from 22 and a half years to 20 years.”

Those who defend rivers, forests and community lands

Photo: COPINH coordinator Bertha Zúniga. Photo by Horacio Lorca/Criterio.hn.

Bertha Zúniga Cáceres, general coordinator of the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH) and daughter of Berta Cáceres, says:

“Today an agreement is signed to heed the call of Berta Cáceres, which is the call of the Gualcarque River and the call of the peoples who defend rivers, forests and community lands at a time when the communities defending the territories continue to be threatened, attacked and unfortunately attacked by the same economic powers. politicians and military who wanted to silence the voice of Berta Cáceres, COPINH and the Lenca people.”

The voice of Berta Caceres

Berta Cáceres gave this speech in San Francisco on April 20, 2015: “We must shake our conscience free of the rapacious capitalism, racism and patriarchy that will only assure our own self-destruction. Our Mother Earth – militarized, fenced-in, poisoned, a place where basic rights are systematically violated – demands that we take action.”

Less than a year later,  Caceres was shot dead in her home on March 2, 2016.

On March 8, 2016, we gathered on the sidewalk outside the Embassy of Honduras in Ottawa to demand justice.

PBI-Honduras began accompanying COPINH in May 2016.

Along with PBI-Honduras, we will continue to monitor all the processes seeking justice for Caceres and the defence of Lenca territory.

PBI-Mexico accompanies the People’s Front at press conference demanding justice for Samir Flores Soberanes

By
Brent Patterson
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PBI-Mexico has posted: “In the framework of the Global Day: Justice for Samir Flores Soberanes! 6 years of impunity, yesterday we accompanied the @fpdtampt [the People’s Front in Defense of Land and Water, Morelos Puebla Tlaxcala] in the press conference and delivery of documentation for Justice for the murder of the Nahua defender.”

Investigation by FGR FEADLE

Proceso reports:

“Seven days before the sixth anniversary of the murder of Samir Flores Soberanes, an opponent of the Morelos Integral Project (PIM), representatives of the People’s Front in Defense of Land and Water, Morelos Puebla Tlaxcala, with the support of social organizations, requested the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) to follow up on lines of investigation that involve politicians from the Morena party with crime and organized crime.

They added that because Samir was a broadcaster for an indigenous radio station, through a request from his family members, six months ago the FGR took over the case through the Special Prosecutor’s Office for Attention to Crimes against Freedom of Expression (FEADLE).

However, they pointed out, so far the FEADLE “does not have a theory of the case”, hence the Front decided to deliver its considerations on the lines of investigation that would have to be addressed to punish those materially and intellectually responsible for the murder of the community leader.”

Cuauhtémoc Blanco and Hugo Erik Flores

Mexico Times reports organizations have presented their theory of the case that evidences the relations of the narco-government in Morelos in the death of Samir Flores. “Among those who point out and demand that an investigation be carried out are federal deputies Cuauhtémoc Blanco and Hugo Eric Flores, as they are allegedly involved with the material authors, members of the Los Aparicio cell.”

Photo: Juan Carlos Flores Solís of the Peoples’ Front in Defense of Land and Water Morelos, Puebla, Tlaxcala (FPDTAMPT) at the press conference points to a banner titled: “Narco-government relations in the murder of Samir Flores”.

Cuauhtémoc Blanco was the governor of Morelos at the time of the murder, while Hugo Erik Flores was the delegate of the federal government for the state of Morelos.

Photo of Hugo Erik Flores and Cuauhtémoc Blanco from Animal Politico.

Role of cartels

The Mexico Times also reports:

“Juan Carlos Flores, a lawyer for the People’s Front in Defense of Land and Water of Morelos, Puebla and Tlaxcala … indicated that “it is an open secret in the eastern region of Morelos, that it was they (Los Aparicio) who killed Samir and that from this they have achieved political and criminal control of the entire area.

He also recalled that on January 4, 2022, a photo was released in which [Mexican politician] Cuauhtémoc Blanco [who is “allegedly involved with the material authors, members of Los Aparicio”] appears with members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel – linked to the Los Aparicio group -, Guerreros Unidos and Comando Tlahuica.”

Photo from Tercera Vía.

Role of AMLO

And the Proceso article notes:

“The activists recalled that Samir Flores was murdered ten days after the then President Andrés Manuel López Obrador visited the region where the PIM [Morelos Integral Project] is being built, on February 10, 2019, and unleashed “expressions of hatred” against the indigenous peoples who were demonstrating against the mega-works, calling them “conservative left-wing radicals”.

They emphasized that on February 19, one day before his murder, Samir Flores confronted Hugo Erick Flores, who served as state delegate of the Welfare Secretariat for Integral Development Programs in Morelos, and who was pointed out by the members of the Front as a political operator to silence the protests.”

Global Day of Justice

Somos el medio adds: “During the press conference, the collectives detailed the activities of the Global Day “Justice for Samir Flores Soberanes!”, which will take place from February 19 to 23, 2025. The objective is to make impunity visible and demand justice in a case that remains unsolved.”

Periodistas Unidos further notes: “So far, 69 activities have been registered in 17 countries, with the participation of 234 conveners, 147 organizations and 87 individuals.” There will also be “a massive mobilization on February 21 in Mexico City, which will depart from the Ministry of the Interior to the Zócalo.”

Global Day in countries whose companies involved in PIM

Educa Oaxaca highlights: “The global day will include the installation of six busts of Samir Flores in Mexico, the United States, the Basque Country, France and Italy, countries whose companies were involved in the PIM. Among them are [the Spanish company] Elecnor, [the French company] Saint Gobain, [the Italian company] Bonatti and [the Australian company] Macquarie.“

The PIM megaproject

And the EU-LAT Network has explained: “The PIM consists of two combined cycle gas thermoelectric plants in Huexca, Morelos; a 160 km gas pipeline that crosses the states of Tlaxcala, Puebla and Morelos; two 12 km aqueducts to transport drinking water and discharge water that will be used by the thermoelectric plant, modifying the composition and flows of the Cuautla River (Morelos); and a 20 km high voltage network.”

Enegas and Elecnor sell to Macquarie

La Jornada de Oriente has explained: “The PIM was concessioned to three Spanish companies: Elecnor and Enagás, for the construction of the gas pipeline, and Abengoa for the construction and operation of the thermoelectric plants.”

In December 2021, the Chicago-based international law firm Baker McKenzie noted it had “advised Enagás and Elecnor on the agreement to jointly and equally sell the Mexican companies Gasoducto de Morelos and Morelos O&M to Macquarie for a total amount of US$173.8 million (154.2 million euros). Specifically, the purchase of the Mexican companies was carried out by MIP V International, a subsidiary of the Macquarie fund.”

Now, Educa Oaxaca notes: “The Macquarie company “bought the Morelos gas pipeline at a very low price of 160 million dollars, when the gas pipeline cost 400 million,” Juan Carlos Flores Solís, a member of the People’s Front in Defense of Land and Water Morelos, Puebla, Tlaxcala (FPDTAMPT), reported at the press conference.”

Chart: Macquarie offices in Canada.

Abengoa

Writer-researcher Martha Pskowski has also noted that in November 2010 “the governor [of Morelos] awarded the construction of the thermo-electric plant to the Spanish company Abengoa, with a $440 million investment.”

Bonatti

PODER has explained: “The Italian company Bonatti was contracted to install the 160-kilometer-long pipeline and was responsible for carrying out the initial conversations and negotiations with inhabitants of the communities through which the work would pass to obtain the permits for passage.”

Saint-Gobain

And this statement on Samir’s assassination signed by multiple organizations – including Friends of the Earth international , 350.org, Institute for Policy Studies, CIVICUS, Corporate Europe Observatory – highlighted: “French company Saint-Gobain is one of the main beneficiaries.”

Additionally, La Jornada de Oriente has reported: “Abroad, groups from France and Germany spoke out against the Saint-Gobain firm for being an essential part of the lobbying or international lobbying for the construction of the Morelos Gas Pipeline. They stressed that the work was carried out during the mandate of former governor Rafael Moreno Valle, in Puebla, and Graco Ramírez, in Morelos, who on a trip to the French country stressed that the comprehensive project ‘opens conditions for the expansion of companies in the manufacture of glass and automobiles.’”

Le Journal de Montréal further reports:

“The French company is considered a giant in the construction industry around the world. At the end of 2023, it had 160,000 employees in 76 countries, including Canada. The former CEO of Hydro-Québec, Sophie Brochu, has been a member of the company’s board of directors since June.

Photo: “Sophie Brochu Independent Director Member of the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee”

In its most recent annual report (2023), the Caisse de dépôt et placement [an institutional investor that manages the Québec Pension Plan] revealed that it owns nearly 2.4 million Saint-Gobain shares for a value of $231 million. This is considerably more than the 318,478 shares held by the Caisse in 2022, for a total of $21 million as of December 31, 2022.

Its main shareholders: Group Savings Plan Fund (8.73%) BlackRock Inc. (8.07%) Caisse de dépôts et consignations [a French public financial institution] (3.53%).”

Chart: Top institutional holders in Saint-Gobain.

Image from Saint-Gobain report.

Alamos Gold and Zacatecas Silver

And the People’s Front has linked Toronto-based Alamos Gold (its Esperanza Gold Project mine is situated in Morelos). In November 2020, they posted: “Lopez Obrador’s [support for the PIM] betrays the peasant and the promise of change of his government, to favour transnational corporations [including] Canadian miners like Alamos Gold.”

In February 2022, Toronto-based Alamos Gold Inc. announced “it has entered into a binding agreement to sell its non-core Esperanza Gold Project (“Esperanza”) located in Morelos State, Mexico to Zacatecas Silver Corp. (“Zacatecas Silver”) for total consideration of up to $60 million…”

Images: The Zacatecas Silver office in Vancouver, Canada.

Photo: Alamos Gold is located at 181 Bay Street (in suite 3910) in Toronto. That’s the office tower with the “TD” symbol at the top.

Avispa Midia has also reported: “Gathered [at the “First Assembly of the Nahua people of Morelos against mining and megaprojects of death” in April 2022], the Nahua peoples denounced the mining project “paradoxically called ‘Esperanza'”, for the exploitation, in open-pit pits, of gold and silver. This concession, for the Canadian companies Alamos Gold and Zacatecas Silver, is located just 500 meters from the Xochicalco site [an archaeological site and UNESCO World Heritage Site].”

Photo: The Xochicalco Archaeological Site.

We continue to follow this.

The call for British Columbia premier David Eby to defund the C-IRG in March 4 provincial budget

By
Brent Patterson
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Stand.earth says:

“This March, B.C. Premier David Eby will be presenting the budget, giving him the perfect opportunity to defund and disband the Critical Response Unit (CRU-BC), formerly known as the Community-Industry Response Group.

The C-IRG became very well known for their violent policing of land defenders opposing the Coastal Gaslink Pipeline, the Trans Mountain Pipeline, and clearcut logging in Fairy Creek.

Sign this petition from our allies to add your voice so our Premier and his cabinet know we are demanding they defund and disband the CRU/C-IRG.”

And changecourse_ca has a “Call to action: Defund the CIRG!” — with the same petition link as noted above — that further notes:

“Use the link in our bio to send an email demanding the BC government defund the critical industry response group (CIRG.) CIRG is a racist policing body created specifically to protect resource extraction projects and industry, and criminalize Indigenous resistance. The BC budget is set to be released on March 4, take action today to tell @davidebybc to defund CIRG. Follow @abolishcirg to stay tuned!

Click the link in our bio to take action”

PBI-Guatemala accompanies the Indigenous Community of San Francisco Quezaltepeque as they call for Ancestral Law 6086 and resist mining

By
Brent Patterson
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On February 12, PBI-Guatemala posted

“Today #PBIaccompanies the San Francisco Quezaltepeque Indigenous Community in the ceremony of handing over of rods to the 23 new Indigenous Authorities of the recently created Council of Ancestral Maya Ch’orti’ San Juan Ermita Indigenous Communities and to 5 new Indigenous Authorities of the Maya Ch’orti’ Indigenous Council of Olopa Chiquimula.

More than 12 communities of this municipality are organized to publicly express the legitimacy of their leaders and to defend their community autonomy.”

The Facebook post by the Indigenous Community of San Francisco Quezaltepeque included that the ceremony was: “Accompanied by international peace brigades PBI.”

The Maya Ch’orti’ Indigenous Council of Olopa further explain: “Today indigenous authorities of the Comunidad Indígena San Francisco Quezaltepeque and the Consejo Indígena Maya Ch’orti’ de Olopa Chiquimula and Camotan in assembly delivered sticks of authority to representatives of communities of San Juan Ermita and Olopa, in this way strengthens the organization of the Maya Ch’orti’ people for the defense of the territory of projects that violate their rights.”

They add: “Today indigenous authorities of the Maya Ch’orti’ Indigenous Council of Olopa Chiquimula and the Indigenous Community San Francisco Quezaltepeque and Camotan in assembly delivered rods of authority to representatives of communities of San Juan Ermita and Olopa, also ask to approve law 6086 biodiversity law and ancestral knowledge.”

The Biodiversity and Ancestral Knowledge Law Initiative (6086)

Earlier this year, Prensa Libre explained:

“Deforestation, climate change, the introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and extractive activities threaten both the ecosystems and the cultural traditions that have sustained these lands for centuries. Faced with this reality, the Biodiversity and Ancestral Knowledge Law Initiative (6086) emerged, a legislative proposal aimed at safeguarding these fundamental pillars for the country’s sustainability.

In 2017, a diverse group of actors, including ancestral authorities, indigenous and peasant organizations, academics, lawyers, and deputies, came together to discuss the negative effects of the imposed development model and seek viable solutions. After years of consensus and collaboration, Bill 6086 was introduced, a legal framework that represents collective aspirations to protect biodiversity and ancestral knowledge.”

Initiative 6086 includes:

“Community management of natural resources: The law proposes that indigenous communities have greater control over their territories and resources. This approach not only recognizes their role as guardians of the environment, but also promotes sustainable development models that respect cultural and environmental principles.

Regulation of extractive activities: Legal mechanisms are proposed to limit the environmental impact of extractive projects, ensuring a balance between economic development and environmental conservation.”

The Indigenous Community of San Francisco Quezaltepeque

The Indigenous Community of San Francisco Quezaltepeque belongs to the Maya Ch’orti’ people. They are resisting Minerales Sierra Pacifico S.A. This company has five exploration licenses for gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc. The Ch’orti’ people are concerned about the negative impacts of these mining activities.

Minerales Sierra Pacifico S.A. is a subsidiary of Vancouver, Canada-based Gold Group Management Inc.

Gold Group in Canada

The Gold Group Management website has noted that one of its member groups, Rackla Metals, has gold exploration “projects located in the eastern Yukon and western Northwest Territories, Canada.”

In May 2018, the Whitehorse Daily Star reported: “The [Yukon] territory’s assessment board has recommended approval of a 65-kilometre, all-season road through virgin wilderness to the Rackla Gold Property. Serious concerns have been raised [about the proposed road] by the First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun.”

The Maya Ch’orti’ Indigenous Council of Olopa

The Maya Ch’orti’ Indigenous Council of Olopa is working in the municipality of the same name, in the department of Chiquimula and formed by 14 communities.

The communities of Olopa are confronting the company American Minerals S.A., which was granted a 25-year antimony extraction license in 2012, without prior consultation with the communities. In 2016, when mining activities began, the communities became aware of the negative impacts of these activities on water and the environment, and demanded the closure of the project.

We continue to follow this.

PBI-Mexico accompanies Red Solidaria DH at cultural rally in Morelia for disappeared environmental defender José Gabriel Pelayo

By
Brent Patterson
-

PBI-Mexico has posted on Facebook:

“On Saturday, February 8, #PBI accompanied the Human Rights Solidarity Network in Morelia, Michoacán, to a cultural rally to draw attention to the disappearance of the environmental defender José Gabriel Pelayo Zalgado. During the activity there were readings of stories and poems, a memory tree and a speech to draw attention to the situation of widespread violence facing the Sierra Costa region and the disappearances of several environmentalist defenders. From PBI we were present as an international observation and will continue to support the Michoacán Human Rights Solidarity Network.”

Cultural rally with “tree of memory and a living anti-monument”

Cambio de Michoacán reports: “Almost a year after the disappearance of teacher and environmentalist José Gabriel Pelayo Zalgado, the Searching for Pelayo collective held a cultural rally in the Plaza Melchor Ocampo in Morelia. As part of the event, a tree of memory and a living anti-monument were placed in tribute to the disappeared environmentalists in the Sierra-Costa of Michoacán and Mexican territory.”

That article adds: “The group has warned about the unpunished operation of armed groups in the Sierra-Costa, the forced displacement of communities and the dispossession of territories for extractivist purposes.”

Tree and memorial memorial plaque removed

By February 12, El Sol del Morelia reported that the tree and memorial plaque had been removed by that morning.

That article adds “So far it is unknown if it was the Morelia City Council or an external person who removed these two symbols that were placed in memory not only of this environmentalist, but of others that have disappeared throughout the state.”

Extractive companies in Michoacán

Cambio de Michoacán has previously reported: “The acts of insecurity, [the Searching for Pelayo collective said] are taken advantage of by companies for extractivist purposes, such as mining companies that operate in the area, which generates a context of dispossession and forced displacement.”

Animal Politico has also reported that Pelayo was threatened by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) before being disappeared.

Canadian mining companies in Michoacán

In October 2024, EL PAÍS América reported: “The indigenous peoples of Michoacán have faced collusion between companies, organized crime and the government, according to the organization Peace Brigades International (PBI), organizer of the meeting in Madrid in which [María Eugenia Gabriel Ruiz is an Indigenous Purhépecha lawyer and member of the Human Rights Solidarity Network] participated.”

That article further highlighted: “14.61% of the state’s surface is exploited by 12 national and six foreign mining companies, according to official figures from 2018.”

That official report from the Mexican Geological Service (SGM), an agency of the Mexican government, lists addresses of 18 “companies exploring in the state – metallics” (see pages 24-25). That chart shows that 5 of the 6 foreign mining companies have addresses in Canada: Catalyst Cooper Corp., Terra Nova Gold Corp., Fischer Watt Gold Company Inc., Rome Resources LTD-IMMSA and Candente Gold Corp. The sixth foreign company listed in that chart, Silver Shield  Resources Corp., is based in Burlington, Ontario, Canada (the chart just does not provide an address for the company).

Accompaniment

The Human Rights Solidarity Network (Red Solidaria DH) is accompanied by the Peace Brigades International-Mexico Project.

José Gabriel Pelayo Zalgado, 49, is an environmental activist and rural teacher who has been a member of the Popular Council of Chinicuila for three decades. He has been missing since March 19, 2024.

PBI-Colombia accompanies Board of Directors of ASCAMCAT during the Humanitarian Caravan to Catatumbo

By
Brent Patterson
-

PBI-Colombia has posted on Instagram:

“We accompanied the Board of Directors of ASCAMCAT [the Catatumbo Peasant Association] in the Humanitarian Caravan for Peace: ‘Let’s embrace Catatumbo’ in the municipality of El Tarra, Norte de Santander, in the context of the escalation of violence that has been unleashed in Catatumbo since January 16, causing a humanitarian crisis in the region that has not been seen for a long time.
Organizations and leaders expressed their rejection of the harassment and conduct in violation of International Humanitarian Law by the armed actors and demanded:
1) Immediate cessation of all hostilities by all armed actors, as well as any aggression, threat or stigmatization of leaders and civilian population.
2) Demilitarization of daily life in the region,
3) Full compliance with the Peace Agreement and the basic norms of International Humanitarian Law.
4) Implementation of humanitarian aid mechanisms in an immediate and effective manner.
5) Compliance with the Humanitarian Minimums and the Social Pact for the Territorial Transformation of Catatumbo.“

The Caravana

Prensa Latina further explains: “A humanitarian caravan made up of human rights associations and social groups arrived today [February 4] in the Catatumbo region, to call for an end to the violence that shakes that area of northeastern Colombia. …The humanitarian caravan departed from the municipality of Ocaña on February 2 and will conclude tomorrow its campaign of solidarity with the residents of El Catatumbo, where more than 52,000 people were displaced from their homes and more than 24,000 remain confined, according to data from the Ombudsman’s Office.”

The call for transnational solidarity

Adriana M. Pérez Rodríguez, a Colombian feminist researcher and PhD candidate at the University of Toronto, and Priscyll Anctil Avoine at the Swedish Defence University in Stockholm have co-authored an article published by the New York City-based North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA) that highlights:

“Historically, the response of the Colombian state in Catatumbo has oscillated between glaring negligence in social and educational terms and a heavily militarized presence. However, as several feminist scholars and activists have argued, ‘militarized peace’ will only increase insecurities, make humanitarian protection more complex, and escalate violent conflicts.

A crucial step of transnational solidarity is accountability. Violence in Catatumbo is a globalized violence that is sustained through the international criminalization of drug use, disputes between neighboring states, profits from drug trafficking by armed groups, the sexual exploitation of national and migrant women as a form of territorial control, the state’s unleashing of femicides, and land dispossession in the name of ‘progress’ for oil, coal, and palm oil.

From this perspective, what is happening in Catatumbo is not isolated from political and economic decisions taken at national and international levels.

Transnational solidarity implies above all else that affected populations are not forgotten. We cannot stop talking about Catatumbo. As the leaders of ASCAMCAT, the Catatumbo peasant association, have clearly stated: ‘the Catatumbo region cannot bear any more suffering.’”

Their article can be read in full at In the Face of Violence, Catatumbo’s Communities Call for Solidarity (NACLA, February 11, 2025).

We continue to follow this situation.

Previous reading: PBI-Colombia accompanies Humanitarian Caravan that seeks an end to armed violence against civilians in Catatumbo (PBI-Canada, February 5, 2025).

Listen to 35-minute Spanish-language Proceso “Surviving Violence” podcast on Peace Brigades International in Mexico

By
Brent Patterson
-

Proceso notes: “Episode 2. With the Zapatista uprising in Chiapas in 1994, international brigadistas began to arrive in Mexico. Empathy with the indigenous rebellion led many to want to know directly about social injustices and protect – even as human shields – the Indigenous peoples who have taken up arms. 30 years have passed since then and international observers are still active on Mexican soil. Their task has changed. Now they observe, accompany and seek to make the whole world aware of the human rights crisis in Mexico. And for many Mexican organizations, their presence is essential to be able to carry out their work under a cloak of a certain security.”

To listen to this 35-minute podcast in Spanish, click here.

“Surviving violence. Mexico, international urgency. Brigadistas”

As has been noted on the PBI-Mexico website: “PBI’s activities in Mexico began in 1994 when, following the Zapatista uprising, it received requests for an international presence in the state of Chiapas. In 1996 PBI started working with Mexican organizations as a member of the International Service for Peace (SIPAZ) coalition.”

Presently, one of the organizations that PBI-Mexico accompanies is the Peoples’ Front in Defence of Land and Water (FPDTA) that opposes the PIM megaproject and seeks justice for the murder of Samir Flores.

As NACLA has explained: “Flores was a vocal advocate for Indigenous rights and land protection, a member of the FDPTA and the Indigenous Governance Council (CIG), a Zapatista-affiliated organization of Indigenous groups across Mexico.”

On April 10, 2021, PBI-Mexico accompanied the Peoples’ Front on a march on the 102nd anniversary of the assassination of Emiliano Zapata, killed by soldiers in Ayala, Morelos in 1919, from whom the Zapatistas took their name.

For more about PBI-Mexico, please see their website.

PBI-Colombia regrets death of Wounaan baby due to mobility restrictions in the context of the armed conflict

By
Brent Patterson
-

PBI-Colombia has posted on social media: “We deeply regret the death of little Iker Andrés of the Humanitarian Biodiverse Reservation of the Wounaan community of Santa Rosa de Guayacán, and we extend our solidarity to the family and the entire community, who, with the Inter-Church Commission for Justice and Peace, we have accompanied on several occasions. We reiterate the demand for the return to the territory with full guarantees to the right to life, integrity, survival and permanence It is urgent that progress is made in #HumanitarianAgreements that reduce the serious affectations to the communities in the midst of the conflict and territorial control of the different armed groups.”

On February 10, the Commission for Justice and Peace further explained: “Report – Urgent. Baby Wounaan dies in the Biodiverse Humanitarian Reservation of the Wounaan community of Santa Rosa de Guayacán in the lower Calima, due to restrictions on mobility and control of armed structures.“

That article continues:

“Our Commission learned of the unfortunate death of a two-month-old baby at the Reservation last Sunday, February 9 at night.

The baby YKER ANDRÉS CEBALLOS MOÑA had a viral picture of fever and intestinal infection for more than eight days that could not be treated with traditional medicine nor do they have an adequate health center to attend emergencies or permanent medical assistance.

Given the seriousness of the symptoms, the community tried to take YKER to Buenaventura to be treated at a medical center, which was impossible due to the control of river mobility by the armed groups.

Indigenous and black communities along the banks of the Calima River have been victims of increasingly aggressive territorial control by illegal armed structures, including the Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces of Colombia and the National Liberation Army, and most recently by the FARC’s Jaime Martínez column. In view of which they have declared themselves in confinement.”

Their full article can be read here.

Previous accompaniment

On December 20, 2023, PBI-Colombia had posted: “We accompany @Justiciaypazcol [Justice and Peace] in the significant return of the Wounaan Community of Santa Rosa de Guayacán to its territory after two years of forced displacement. It is important to guarantee all security and protection measures so that the community can remain in #peace.”

Video clip: “At this moment the definitive return of the Santa Rosa de Guayacán community to its territory in Bajo Calima begins.”

PBI-Colombia has accompanied Justice and Peace since 1994.

We continue to follow this situation.

COPINH celebrates “popular victory” as DESA manager sentenced as “instigator” in the murder of Berta Caceres

By
Brent Patterson
-

Photo: The text says: “Alert! Popular Victory! Judges of the Supreme Court of Justice confirm the sentence of Sergio Rodriguez as author of the assassination of Berta Caceres and sentence him to 30 years in prison.”

The Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH) has posted:

“Popular victory!

Supreme Court judges confirm the conviction of Sergio Rodriguez as the perpetrator of the murder of Berta Caceres. 30 years in prison!

COPINH reaffirms its commitment to justice in Honduras and to the vindication of the rights of Indigenous peoples for which Berta Cáceres fought. We will not lower our guard until all those responsible for her murder, including the Atala family, face the consequences of their crimes.”

HCH Televisión Digital reports: “The Plenary of Magistrates of the Supreme Court of Justice CSJ ratifies, in a decision by majority vote, the sentence of 30 years imprisonment to DESA company manager, Sergio Rodriguez, for considering him ‘inducer’ in the murder of environmentalist Berta Caceres.”

Criterio.hn further notes: “Although the conviction against Rodríguez was ratified, his role from ‘co-author’ to ‘instigator’ of the murder was changed.”

COPINH states: “After more than 6 years of waiting, the plenary of the Supreme Court of Justice of Honduras has confirmed the conviction of Sergio Ramón Rodríguez Orellana, ratifying that he is guilty of aggravated murder of the crime against our sister Berta Cáceres and the sentence of 30 years in prison. The plenary session has reclassified his responsibility as an author by inducement.”

The Criterio.hn article also reports that at the time of the crime, the majority shareholder of DESA was the company ‘Inversiones Las Jacarandas’ owned by the Atala Zablah family (“one of the most powerful family-owned business conglomerates” in Honduras, “a key shareholder in the DESA project” and “one of the most powerful families in Honduras, with numerous investments in finance, construction, and sports”.)

Contra Corriente also explains: “The Atala clan owns financial institutions, soccer teams, real estate, and other companies; a business empire that has made them one of the wealthiest families in the country. Daniel Atala Midence, Jacobo Atala Zablah, Pedro Atala Zablah, and José Atala Zablah are all prominent family members, and all served on DESA’s board of directors.”

For additional background, see  Corte de Honduras ratifica sentencia de autor del asesinato de Berta Cáceres (Avispa Midia, February 10, 2025).

COPINH’s coordinators have been accompanied by PBI-Honduras since May 2016.

Photo: On November 23, 2021, PBI-Honduras accompanied COPINH in their offices after DESA executive David Castillo was found guilty – but not yet sentenced – of “being co-collaborator in ordering the murder” of Berta Caceres.

PBI-Honduras accompanies sit-in at Supreme Court of Justice demanding justice in the femicide of Keyla Martinez

By
Brent Patterson
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PBI-Honduras has posted:

“ Today, 4 years after the murder of Keyla Martinez, we have accompanied the sit-in in front of the Supreme Court of Justice where they have requested that the judicial authorities resolve the appeals filed.

From PBI, we emphasize the importance of achieving comprehensive justice in Keyla’s case.”

Criterio.hn reports: “During the morning of this Friday, February 7, Norma Martínez in the company of representatives of human rights organizations, appeared at the facilities of the Judiciary demanding justice for the femicide of [26-year-old] Keyla Martínez, typified as negligent homicide.”

Almost one year ago, on February 17, 2024, El Pais reported: “Norma Rodríguez, mother of Keyla Martínez … expressed her disagreement with the five-year sentence imposed on the person responsible for the murder of her daughter. …The victim’s mother regretted the sentence and said that she will continue to fight for all those responsible for her daughter’s death to be convicted in a transparent manner.”

Proceso Digital now explains: “Keyla Martínez, who was a nursing student, was arrested on the night of February 7, 2021, [during the pandemic] for violating the curfew imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. She was found dead inside a cell of a police post in the municipality of La Esperanza, Intibucá.”

That article adds: “Doña Norma Rodríguez, mother of the young woman … reiterated that she did not agree with the five-year sentence imposed on her daughter’s murderer and described the Honduran judicial system as ‘rotten’.”

“The Sentencing Court of Siguatepeque convicted the police officer, Jarol Rolando Perdomo Sarmiento, for the crime of reckless homicide in its degree of commission by omission and not for aggravated femicide, as initially proposed. [Keyla’s mother] indicated that it is not only Jarol Perdomo who was involved, but also more members of the police such as Deputy Commissioner Melvin Alvarenga, Edgar Velásquez, who is supposed to be one of the main accomplices in this murder.”

We continue to follow this.

Further reading:

PBI-Honduras laments a police officer has not been sentenced in the femicide of Keyla Martinez in February 2021 (PBI-Canada, February 15, 2024).

PBI-Honduras accompanies COFADEH at trial of police officer accused in the murder of Keyla Martinez (PBI-Canada, October 18, 2022)

PBI-Honduras accompanies the Committee of Families of the Detained-Disappeared at trial in the murder of Keyla Martinez (PBI-Canada, October 3, 2022)

PBI-Honduras accompanies COFADEH at trial of police femicide of nursing student Keyla Martinez (PBI-Canada, September 26, 2022)

PBI-Honduras accompanies the National Network of Women Human Rights Defenders at memorial for Keyla Martínez (PBI-Canada, February 8, 2022).

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