Urgent Action: Land Defenders Threatened (Honduras: UA 109.20)

On 23 June 2020, the Civic Council of Popular Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH) publicly denounced threats against the organization. The previous day, they received a digital flyer in which an unknown group threatened to burn down the organization’s “Utopia” facility in La Esperanza, Intibucá department, after COPINH offered this space as an isolation center for people in prison infected with COVID-19. We urge authorities to ensure the safety of COPINH members and investigate all attacks against them.

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1. Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them.
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    Dear Minister Cueva, I am concerned about recent attacks against the Civic Council of Popular Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH). According to COPINH, on 22 June, members of the organization received a digital flyer in which an unknown group threatened to burn down the group’s “Utopia” facility in La Esperanza, Intibucá, after this space was offered as an isolation center for people in prison infected with COVID-19. The threats made against COPINH occur in a context of several recent attacks denounced by the organization, and in a hostile environment in Honduras for the defense of human rights in general due to the government’s measures to confront COVID-19. I therefore urge you to guarantee the safety of members of COPINH and to ensure the investigation of any attacks against them. Yours sincerely, ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

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