Honduras: Investigate Murder of Rights Lawyer
Source: Human Rights Watch
Honduras: Investigate Murder of Rights Lawyer
Killers of Antonio Trejo Should Be Brought to Justice
September 24, 2012
Authorities in Honduras should ensure a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation into the killing of attorney Antonio Trejo Cabrera, Human Rights Watch said today. Trejo, a lawyer who advocated for peasant land rights and publicly opposed the creation of special autonomous development zones, was shot and killed on September 22, 2012, after attending a wedding south of Tegucigalpa.
Authorities need to act swiftly to bring to justice those responsible for Trejos murder, and send a clear message that attacks on human rights defenders will be dealt with firmly, said José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch.
Trejo was shot several times at approximately 9:30 pm, just after he exited the church where the wedding had taken place. He was taken to the hospital but died shortly after arriving. The circumstances of his murder strongly suggest that it was a targeted killing and he was not a victim of common crime.
According to news reports, police have opened an investigation into Trejos murder.
Trejo was the lead lawyer for a peasant group in the Bajo Aguán Valley, the Movimiento Auténtico Reivindicador Campesino del Aguán (MARCA), which has had a longstanding territorial dispute with local landowners. More than 80 people have been killed in related violence in the valley in the last three years, according to local human rights groups.
Read more: http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/09/24/honduras-investigate-murder-rights-lawyer
For vital depth, background, please see Octofish's thread:
If you like Charter Schools, you're gonna love Charter Cities.
THE WORLD'S FIRST CHARTER CITIES IN HONDURAS: From neo-liberalism to neo-colonialism
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021408422#post12
flamingdem
(39,303 posts)Wouldn't it be a good thing to cover this in the mainstream press!!?
DollarBillHines
(1,922 posts)The real power in Honduras is wielded by US Corporations and fundie religioso.
We have already seized offshore properties and developed some beautiful resorts.
Our non-profit has been denied entry.
DollarBillHines
(1,922 posts)"We have met the enemy and it is us."
The indigenous people are screwed. The fundies are working their asses off to soften the field.
The police "investigation" will consist of a broad brush and a barrel of whitewash. The script has already been written.
DBH