Garifuna people between jail and grave – Two more killed →

Is Honduran repression against Garifuna land defenders benefitting tourism companies, like “NJOI Trujillo Beach Residences” of Canada?

Below: Article by El Libertador

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Martín Abad Pandy, community land and rights defender, killed on March 4, 2021

Martín Abad Pandy, community land and rights defender, killed on March 4, 2021

Jenifer Sarina and Marianela Mejía Solorzano, Garifuna land defenders illegally jailed by regime in land dispute related to “Residencias Las Conchas”, where NJOI Trujillo Beach Residences operates from.

Jenifer Sarina and Marianela Mejía Solorzano, Garifuna land defenders illegally jailed by regime in land dispute related to “Residencias Las Conchas”, where NJOI Trujillo Beach Residences operates from.

While the onslaught of Canadian, American and European tourism operators on ancestral Garifuna lands along Honduras’ Caribbean coast began before the 2009 US and Canadian-backed military coup ousted Honduras’ last democratically elected government, violence and corruption by “international community” tourism investors and operators increased significantly since the June 28, 2009 coup. Honduras has been violently ruled by a military-backed, drug-trafficking regime since that time.

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Garifuna people between jail and grave – Two more killed
5 March 2021, El Libertador, http://www.web.ellibertador.hn/index.php/noticias/nacionales/2741-honduras-garifunas-entre-carcel-y-tumba-matan-otros-dos

There is no peace for the Garifuna people on the north coast of Honduras. The government [a narco-military regime, and "democratic ally" of the US, Canada, World Bank, etc.] is not complying with international law and sentences [of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights] to protect the lives and territories of the Garifuna peoples.

On Wednesday, March 4, after two Garifuna defenders were assassinated in La Ceiba, among them the community leader Martín Pandy, the National Police captured two Garifuna land and rights defenders in Trujillo on trumped charges of usurpation.

Honduran Garifuna communities continues to be under constant siege by criminal and government groups. This week, three members of the Garifuna Afro-Honduran ethnic group have been murdered and two women environmental defenders arrested. The Honduran Black Fraternal Organization (OFRANEH), has denounced the "terrifying" events that are once again disturbing the peace of the people.

Last Wednesday, in the community of Corozal, municipality of La Ceiba, some 400 kilometers north of Tegucigalpa, an attack took place that killed two Garífuna: Víctor Martínez and Martín Abad Pandy, the latter being president of the community council. In the attack, one of the perpetrators also lost his life and another subject was wounded.

OFRANEH has denounced that the crime against Pandy is due to the fact that he regularly gathered together young people to "protect and defend the rights of the community".

OFRANEH also recalled that last February 13, in the same sector, hired assassins murdered young Fernando Padilla. In this crime, according to testimonies, the assassins carried a list with the profiles of all the social activists of that community.

In this context, OFRANEH complains that the National Police, while at crime scene, did not order the deployment of officers to guard the area and provide security to the community. OFRANEH denounces that because of these crimes Corazal has been "under the intervention of the Honduran Narco-government".

The lawyer and defender of the Garífuna people, Naama Ávila, native of Corazal, lamented that today Corazal is almost destroyed, since "it is once again a victim of organized crime, which has installed itself with in the acquiescence of government security forces in the area".

The lawyer and social activist questioned why the government security forces "cynically facilitate the criminality that murders our people, extorts our entrepreneurs and plunders our resources. Foreigners arrive and impose themselves over an entire community, which out of fear keeps silent about the barbarities that happen every day in our communities".

Avila adds that she knew Pandy who, in addition to being president of the community council, was a gentle and kind entrepreneur, a tireless person who "with his pulpería (grocery store) helped his family to make a living". In addition, she remembers him because "he [Pandy] integrated efforts with young leaders, with the Rastas, with other entrepreneurs, with professionals, with Garifuna leaders abroad, to respond to the needs and demands of all the inhabitants".

"I am a witness of his love for the people, his work, his humility, and his desire to see Corozal move forward," said the social activist, who confesses to being hurt by a new crime in her hometown.

But the siege against the Garifuna does not stop there, because that same day at about 5:00 in the afternoon, the National Police executed an arrest warrant against the defenders Jenifer Sarina and Marianela Mejía Solorzano, who according to OFRANEH were arrested for alleged crimes of usurpation and damages to the detriment of the "alleged company 'La Sociedad de Bienes y Raíces Juca'".

OFRANEH recognizes that both are leaders of the community of Cristales, in the department of Colón, 410 kilometers north of the capital. This has led to protests and repression because the people are claiming an act of criminalization because the land they have defended belongs to the Garifuna.

Forced disappearance of the Garifuna 4
On March 18, it will be eight months since the forced disappearance of four Garifuna leaders of Triunfo de la Cruz, forcibly removed by a squadron in military fatigues. Since then, defenders of life have demanded the government to give an explanation for Alberth Snaider Centeno Tomas, as well as Milton Joel Martínez Álvarez, Suami Aparicio Mejía and Albert Sentana Thomas.

In relation to these and many more crimes, OFRANEH urges the national and international community to come to the aid of the Garifuna community fighting for the defense of their ancestral territory and the protection of their rights as a distinct and at-risk people.

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NJOI Trujillo Beach Residences
14-7500 ON-27
Woodbridge, ON Canada, L4H 0J2

Tres Conchas
3 km Carretera de Santa Fe,
Trujillo, Colon Honduras

Toll free: +1-888-960-NJOI (6564)
Toronto Office: +1-647-998-NJOI (6564)
Honduras Office: +504-9584-6848
https://www.njoitrujillo.com/

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Background: Forced disappearance of the Garifuna 5

Archives on OFRANEH
Articles, reports, films & urgent actions related to OFRANEH's work & struggle in defense of Garifuna territory & rights: https://rightsaction.org/ofraneh

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