In November 2018, a Honduran court convicted seven people for the murder of indigenous leader and human rights defender Berta Cáceres. 38 months after the unfortunate event, her family and members from the Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH, for its acronym in Spanish), still demand that the Honduran authorities also investigate, prosecute and convict the masterminds of this crime.

Three years after the murder of Honduran rights activist Berta Caceres for her leadership in the campaign against the Agua Zarca hydroelectric project, indigenous people are still being excluded from any consultative process in the extractives industry.

Oxfam has confirmed that Voith and Siemens will no longer supply components of the Agua Zarca hydroelectric project in Honduras. The project has been fiercely opposed by the local communities, including the Indigenous rights defender Berta Caceres who was murdered for her protests in March last year.

The Agua Zarca hydroelectric project in Honduras began construction without the approval of the Indigenous community affected by the work, according to a new independent report commissioned by one of the backers.

The Dutch Development Finance Company (FMO) and Finland’s Finnfund, two of the development banks backing the Agua Zarca hydroelectric project in Honduras, yesterday announced they would seek an exit to their involvement in the project. Today’s announcements are important in bringing us one step closer to finally shutting down the tainted Agua Zarca project.

Oxfam strongly condemns the assassination of Nelson García, the second indigenous rights activist to be killed in Honduras in less than two weeks. The ongoing violence against this community is shocking, inexcusable, and must end.
 

Oxfam supporters around the world are pressuring the backers of the Agua Zarca dam project in Honduras to withdraw, and are urging for an independent investigation into the murder of a local Indigenous leader who opposed the project.

The assassination last week of Honduran activist Berta Cáceres – who championed the cause of indigenous land rights – shows that international companies have no place now in continuing their support for the Agua Zarca dam she was fighting against.