To: The United States House of Representatives and The United States Senate
Congress: Probe Assassination of Berta Caceres in Honduras
Just Foreign Policy
Congress should press the Honduran government for an independent investigation, prosecution, and punishment of those responsible for the assassination of Berta Caceres in Honduras. Congress should condition future U.S. assistance to the government of Honduras on the results of an independent investigation.
Why is this important?
Honduras has lost one of its most courageous indigenous leaders, Berta Caceres. Caceres was the General Coordinator of the National Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras. In 2015, she won the Goldman Environmental Prize for her activism and leadership. She was assassinated on March 2.
Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont said: “… this horrific crime demonstrates that no one, not even an internationally known social activist, is safe in Honduras if they speak out against corruption or abuse of authority… The immediate question is what President Hernandez and his government -- which has too often ignored or passively condoned attacks against Honduran social activists -- will do to support an independent investigation, prosecution, and punishment of those responsible for this despicable crime. And beyond that, what steps will the government take to protect the many other Hondurans who have been deemed in need of protection, and to stand up for the rights of people like Berta who risk their lives in peacefully defending the environment and their livelihoods. The answers to those questions will weigh heavily on the Congress’s support for future assistance for that government.” [1]
Urge Congress to demand an independent investigation by signing our petition.
References:
1. http://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/reaction-of-senator-patrick-leahy-d-vt-ranking-member-senate-appropriations-subcommittee-on-the-state-department-and-foreign-operations-on-the-assassination-of-berta-caceres-in-honduras
Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont said: “… this horrific crime demonstrates that no one, not even an internationally known social activist, is safe in Honduras if they speak out against corruption or abuse of authority… The immediate question is what President Hernandez and his government -- which has too often ignored or passively condoned attacks against Honduran social activists -- will do to support an independent investigation, prosecution, and punishment of those responsible for this despicable crime. And beyond that, what steps will the government take to protect the many other Hondurans who have been deemed in need of protection, and to stand up for the rights of people like Berta who risk their lives in peacefully defending the environment and their livelihoods. The answers to those questions will weigh heavily on the Congress’s support for future assistance for that government.” [1]
Urge Congress to demand an independent investigation by signing our petition.
References:
1. http://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/reaction-of-senator-patrick-leahy-d-vt-ranking-member-senate-appropriations-subcommittee-on-the-state-department-and-foreign-operations-on-the-assassination-of-berta-caceres-in-honduras