Outcome: Juan López was murdered in his vehicle on September 14, 2024 in Tocoa, Honduras. The alleged hitman and two alleged accomplices have been charged with murder and are in custody awaiting trial. No intellectual authors of the murder have been prosecuted or brought to justice so far. We will continue monitoring the investigations into Juan’s murder and expressing concern about the situation of his family, the Municipal Committee for the Defense of Common and Public Goods (CMDBCP) and their lawyers, as well as calling the Honduran authorities for justice for Juan López and protection for his family, members of the CMDBCP and their lawyers.
NO FURTHER ACTION IS REQUESTED. MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO SENT APPEALS.
On Saturday, September 14, environmental defender and coordinator of the Municipal Committee for the Defense of Common and Public Assets (CMDBCPT), Juan López, was murdered as he was leaving his work as a community and religious leader in the parish of San Isidro Labrador in the municipality of Tocoa, department of Colón, northern Honduras. According to public reports, Juan López was shot by an unidentified person on a motorcycle. We demand the Honduran authorities to ensure a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation into the killing of Juan López, as well as other killings and attacks against the defenders of the Guapinol river, to refrain from using the justice system to harass them, and to ensure integral protection to Lopez’s family, CMDBCPT members, their legal team, and witnesses.
DEADLINE EXTENDED FROM DECEMBER 26, 2024 TO APRIL, 2025
PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: April 20, 2025
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]
Other Urgent Actions for this Case
- First UA Issued: [Honduras UA 85.24]
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