Nos dirigimos a ustedes hoy para mostrarles nuestra solidaridad, haciéndolo extensivo a las comunidades garífunas afroindígenas de Honduras en su lucha por proteger sus comunidades de la apropiación de tierras y el asalto a la biodiversidad de la costa hondureña que es su medio de vida.
Como galardonadas con el Premio Nobel de la Paz nos hemos solidarizado con ustedes desde 2009, y en este sentido, instamos al gobierno de Honduras a respetar y mantener la resolución de la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos de 2015 que apela a que se devuelvan a la comunidad garífuna las tierras expropiadas por empresas extranjeras para proyectos turísticos. Asimismo, instamos al gobierno de Honduras a poner fin a la impunidad por actos de violencia y a los abusos de los derechos humanos.
Nos preocupa profundamente los ataques contra su comunidad, el más reciente de los cuales fue el secuestro de los cinco hombres garífunas (five Garífuna men who were abducted) quienes fueron secuestrados de sus hogares en Triunfo de la Cruz el 18 de julio, por hombres fuertemente armados que según se informa, llevaban uniformes de policía. Estamos sumamente preocupadas por las familias de estos hombres, incluidos sus hijos, y les enviamos nuestro respeto. Su trabajo es importante, y queremos reconocer sus sacrificios y las amenazas que enfrentan.
Gracias por su resistencia no violenta a los inversionistas extranjeros —incluidas las empresas canadienses— que muestran poco respeto por sus derechos, y que con la ayuda de los políticos hondureños, se apropian de las playas y los humedales para la construcción de proyectos turísticos. Esta resistencia es legítima y se permitiría en un estado democrático, y de hecho, no se toleraría la violencia contra ustedes
Estamos muy agradecidas por la valiosa labor de Miriam Miranda de OFRENEH, y de otros líderes locales, que se enfrentan a amenazas de muerte y a una represión sistemática por sus esfuerzos a defender sus derechos y llevar la paz a sus comunidades.
December 22, 2020
To the Garífuna Afro-Indigenous communities in Honduras:
We are writing today in solidarity with you, the Garífuna Afro-Indigenous communities in Honduras, as you struggle to protect your communities from land grabs and the assault on the biodiversity of the Honduran coastline which is your livelihood.
As Nobel peace laureates who have stood in solidarity with you since 2009, we call on the Government of Honduras to respect and uphold the 2015 Interamerican Commission of Human Rights ruling that calls for the land expropriated by foreign companies for tourism projects to be returned the Garífuna community. We also call for the Government of Honduras to bring to an end the impunity for the violence and human rights abuses.
We are deeply concerned at the attacks on your community—most recently, the abduction of the five Garífuna men who were abducted from their homes in Triunfo de la Cruz on July 18, by heavily armed men reportedly wearing police uniforms. We are deeply worried about the families of these men, including their children, and we send our respect. Your work is important, and we want to acknowledge your sacrifices and the threats you face.
Thank you for your nonviolent resistance to foreign investors—including Canadian companies—who show little regard for your rights and, with the help of Honduran politicians, appropriate beaches and wetlands for the construction of tourism projects. This resistance is legitimate, and in a democratic state, would be allowed and, indeed, violence against you would not be tolerated.
We are grateful for the work of Miriam Miranda of OFRENEH, and other local leaders, who face death threats and systematic repression for their efforts to defend their rights and bring peace to their communities.
We also acknowledge the profound loss your communities have experienced in recent years, and the ongoing dangers you face. Honduras became one of the most dangerous countries in the world for Black and Indigenous land and water defenders. A new report by Global Witness says Honduras was the most dangerous country per capita in 2019 for environmental defenders. Killings rose from four in 2018 to 14 last year. OFRENEH reports at least 17 Garífuna people were killed in 2019.
The killing and persecution of land defenders must come to an end—Honduras must respect universal human rights principles and end the impunity for the repression of those who seek land that is precious to the future of this planet.