Today’s murder of our compañero Nelson García, from the Río Chiquito community
The Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH) calls public attention
to today’s murder of our compañero Nelson García, from the Río Chiquito community in the Cortés
Department, at the hands of two unknown persons.
We regrettably inform you that compañero Nelson García was murdered when he arrived at his mother-
in-law’s house to have lunch, after spending all morning helping move the belongings of displaced
families from the Río Chiquito community.
The murder occurred in the midst of an eviction carried out against the community of Río Chiquito in the
Río Lindo area, in the Cortés Department, during which approximately 100 police officers, 20 military
police officers, 10 soldiers and several people from the DGIC (General Criminal Investigations
Administration) invaded the territory reclaimed by 150 families, on which more than 75 had built their
houses with the materials and efforts at hand.
The eviction took place at noon today, using tractors and heavy machinery to destroy the wood houses
that the compañeros and compañeras from COPINH had lived in for almost two years, leaving them
without a roof over their heads. Similarly, they destroyed the community’s garden and fields, using
tractors to destroy the yucca, sugarcane, banana and small corn fields, violating all kinds of rights. They
even destroyed an artisanal oven and killed chickens belonging to the community.
The community of Río Chiquito has protected its territory since it was first donated to the women of the
community. However, they have been attacked by the municipal authorities, especially by the former
mayor, who used three front men in order to displace the compañeros and compañeras and to sell the
land.
Compañero Nelson García was an active member of COPINH in defense of the right to housing, we
remember him for his active participation in the process of reclaiming the land and establishing the
community of Río Chiquito. We lament this new death, 13 days after the vile murder of our General
Coordinator, Berta Cáceres.
The murder of our compañero Nelson García and the displacement of the community of Río Chiquito
add to the war against COPINH, which seeks to do away with its more than 22 years of advocacy,
resistance and building.
Today’s attacks join the large number of threats, attacks, murders, intimidation and criminalization
directed against COPINH.
Since the murder of our compañera Berta Cáceres we have been subjected to a large number of
incidents which demonstrate the complete lack of interest on the part of the Honduran State to
safeguard our lives and the work we carry out. As well as its disregard in implementing the preliminary
injunctions accorded us by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH). The injunctions
were issued on March 6 and today, nine days later, they murdered a compañero.
How is one supposed to trust the State’s investigation if it is criminally harassing the coordinating body
of our organization with the statement that it is investigating our supposed participation in the murder,
while it doesn’t investigate the sources of the threats?
How is one supposed to believe that justice will be done in the case of our leader Berta when they won’t
implement the measures necessary for the protection of her family, and the daughters and compañeros
of our compañera Berta have been chased by an armed man in the city of Tegucigalpa during meetings
with the authorities?
Since the day of Berta’s murder, the offices of COPINH in La Esperanza have been monitored by
unknown persons, intimidating those who are still resisting, following the legacy of our leader.
Similarly, the compañeros and compañeras of the community of Río Blanco suffered attacks when they
traveled to the city of Tegucigalpa in order to present their case to entities such as the Ministry of the
Interior and representatives of the diplomats of the G16.
In addition, there was an incident in which compañeros from the community traveled to Río Gualcarque
and were attacked with shotgun fire by security guards from the Agua Zarca hydroelectric project that
fortunately did not wound any members of the community.
All these attacks form part of an extermination plan against our organization and we are calling for
national and international solidarity in order to fight against it.
We demand an end to the persecution, harassment and war against COPINH.
We demand that the Honduran State respond to the death of our compañeros and compañeras and for
there to be no more impunity.
We demand justice for our compañera Berta Cáceres.
With the ancestral force of Lempira, Mota, Etempica, Berta, our voices rise up, full of life, justice and
peace.
Berta lives, the struggle continues!!!
La Esperanza, Intibucá, Honduras. Issued on March 15, 2016.
to today’s murder of our compañero Nelson García, from the Río Chiquito community in the Cortés
Department, at the hands of two unknown persons.
We regrettably inform you that compañero Nelson García was murdered when he arrived at his mother-
in-law’s house to have lunch, after spending all morning helping move the belongings of displaced
families from the Río Chiquito community.
The murder occurred in the midst of an eviction carried out against the community of Río Chiquito in the
Río Lindo area, in the Cortés Department, during which approximately 100 police officers, 20 military
police officers, 10 soldiers and several people from the DGIC (General Criminal Investigations
Administration) invaded the territory reclaimed by 150 families, on which more than 75 had built their
houses with the materials and efforts at hand.
The eviction took place at noon today, using tractors and heavy machinery to destroy the wood houses
that the compañeros and compañeras from COPINH had lived in for almost two years, leaving them
without a roof over their heads. Similarly, they destroyed the community’s garden and fields, using
tractors to destroy the yucca, sugarcane, banana and small corn fields, violating all kinds of rights. They
even destroyed an artisanal oven and killed chickens belonging to the community.
The community of Río Chiquito has protected its territory since it was first donated to the women of the
community. However, they have been attacked by the municipal authorities, especially by the former
mayor, who used three front men in order to displace the compañeros and compañeras and to sell the
land.
Compañero Nelson García was an active member of COPINH in defense of the right to housing, we
remember him for his active participation in the process of reclaiming the land and establishing the
community of Río Chiquito. We lament this new death, 13 days after the vile murder of our General
Coordinator, Berta Cáceres.
The murder of our compañero Nelson García and the displacement of the community of Río Chiquito
add to the war against COPINH, which seeks to do away with its more than 22 years of advocacy,
resistance and building.
Today’s attacks join the large number of threats, attacks, murders, intimidation and criminalization
directed against COPINH.
Since the murder of our compañera Berta Cáceres we have been subjected to a large number of
incidents which demonstrate the complete lack of interest on the part of the Honduran State to
safeguard our lives and the work we carry out. As well as its disregard in implementing the preliminary
injunctions accorded us by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH). The injunctions
were issued on March 6 and today, nine days later, they murdered a compañero.
How is one supposed to trust the State’s investigation if it is criminally harassing the coordinating body
of our organization with the statement that it is investigating our supposed participation in the murder,
while it doesn’t investigate the sources of the threats?
How is one supposed to believe that justice will be done in the case of our leader Berta when they won’t
implement the measures necessary for the protection of her family, and the daughters and compañeros
of our compañera Berta have been chased by an armed man in the city of Tegucigalpa during meetings
with the authorities?
Since the day of Berta’s murder, the offices of COPINH in La Esperanza have been monitored by
unknown persons, intimidating those who are still resisting, following the legacy of our leader.
Similarly, the compañeros and compañeras of the community of Río Blanco suffered attacks when they
traveled to the city of Tegucigalpa in order to present their case to entities such as the Ministry of the
Interior and representatives of the diplomats of the G16.
In addition, there was an incident in which compañeros from the community traveled to Río Gualcarque
and were attacked with shotgun fire by security guards from the Agua Zarca hydroelectric project that
fortunately did not wound any members of the community.
All these attacks form part of an extermination plan against our organization and we are calling for
national and international solidarity in order to fight against it.
We demand an end to the persecution, harassment and war against COPINH.
We demand that the Honduran State respond to the death of our compañeros and compañeras and for
there to be no more impunity.
We demand justice for our compañera Berta Cáceres.
With the ancestral force of Lempira, Mota, Etempica, Berta, our voices rise up, full of life, justice and
peace.
Berta lives, the struggle continues!!!
La Esperanza, Intibucá, Honduras. Issued on March 15, 2016.
