JUSTICE FOR WATER DEFENDER KILLED

Dear Attorney General,

I am writing to express my deep dismay and concern about the security situation of the defenders of the Guapinol river in Tocoa. Human rights defender and community leader, @MP_Honduras @sedhHonduras must thoroughly investigate the murder of environmental defender Juan López, protect his family, the members of the Tocoa Municipal Committee for the Defence of Public Goods, and their lawyers and witnesses. #JusticeForJuanLopez @guapinolre, was killed in the municipality of Tocoa on September 14, 2024. Community members in Tocoa – Aly Magdaleno Domínguez Ramos, Jairo Bonilla Ayala, and Oquelí Domínguez – were also killed in 2023.

The people of Guapinol and other communities of Tocoa have faced continued attacks because they peacefully challenge the legality of a mining project in the Carlos Escaleras National Park, including the unjust detention of eight defenders of the Guapinol river, known as the “Guapinol eight”.

The authorities responsible for the investigation of the killing of Juan López must guarantee the right of the human rights defender’s families to justice, truth, and reparation. Though some progress has been made on identifying those responsible for the murder, I ask for this investigation to continue until all of those involved with the murder of this defender are identified, considering the victim’s human rights work as a hypothesis for these crimes. I also urge you to ensure that authorities refrain from using the justice system to harass the defenders of the Guapinol river and take immediate steps to fully provide appropriate protection to Lopez’s family, CMDBCPT members, their legal team, and witnesses in accordance with them.

Yours sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]