Martín Morales, a defender from the Triunfo de la Cruz Garífuna community in the Honduran Caribbean, murderedcondemned the Honduran Black Brotherhood Organization (Ofraneh) for demanding that authorities take action this Monday to catch those responsible.
Morales’ body was found in the Gam River this Sunday.It was in Triunfo de la Cruz, a black community 3 kilometers from the tourist municipality of Tela, one day after she disappeared, Ofraneh said. This river is located near the salvaged Secundino Torres site (common property on the part that overlaps with an area of Punta Izopo National Park), which has become “the dump for the corpses of the defenders of the area.” From the Triunfo de la Cruz,” he said, “We condemn this new death and the illegal occupation of Garifuna territory by third parties, which has led to terrorism, attacks, murders and the disappearance of the leaders of our communities.”
Ofraneh added that Morales is a member of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights’s (CourtHR) commission to monitor and comply with sentencing, and is a collaborator of the Triunfo de la Cruz Land Defense Committee.
Conflict arising from non-compliance with the sentence
Triunfo de la Cruz and the Ofraneh ensemble They repeatedly denounced death threats “by their first and last names” Against the members of the land committee and the impeachment commission of the Inter-American Court.
This Failure to comply with the decision of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights According to the organization, it “not only demonstrates the state’s reluctance to recognize the historic rights of the Garifuna people, but also puts community members at risk and contributes to escalation of social conflict in the region.”
Ofraneh presented “5 areas of greatest risk and greatest threats” to defenders of the Garífuna (black) community in front of the Protection Mechanism and the country’s police leadership in February 2022, but so far Honduran officials have “done absolutely nothing.” “To date, we have not seen a reaction from the police or other authorities in the country. On the contrary, attacks on the leaders of our communities have intensified as an act of contempt and intimidation of the lives of our people.” expression is emphasized.
Faced with “pressure” by businessmen and the municipality to “seize” the lands of the Garífuna communities with the “acceptance” of the State, the Triunfo de la Cruz community and Ofraneh demand that the Government undertake its “legal duty and due diligence”. To initiate a thorough investigation into this new murder and other violence occurring in our communities.”
According to Ofraneh, these murders, handing over our lands to the mafia is a deterrent Even though they hide themselves under the guise of businessmen, the capital that dominates the country”.