Land Rights Murders in Honduras

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”  —Proverbs 31:8-9

 

Land Rights Murders in San Pedro Sula

Three community leaders from the greater San Pedro Sula area (northern Honduras) who collaborated with the AJS-supported Land Rights Project have been murdered in a period of just two weeks.

 Ubense Aguilar (pictured, left) was shot to death on the morning of October 14 outside a small business he owns. Elías Murcia (pictured, right) was shot to death in front of his home on the afternoon of October 9. Fredis Osorto Reyes was shot to death near his home on October 2.

Evidence thus far indicates that all three killings were ordered by illegitimate “landowners” who saw their business going down the drain as the land they were illegally selling was being expropriated and titled by the government in response to the advocacy of these community leaders. 

Two other community leaders from Cofradía have been killed in recent years in murders apparently motivated by land disputes, and at least four more community leaders from the area with whom the Land Rights Project has worked closely in advocating for the correct implementation of the Property Law currently fear for their lives.

We believe that negligence and undue delays by the Property Institute have greatly contributed to the atmosphere of impunity that emboldens illegitimate landowners to carry out these violent acts. (The Property Institute is the Honduran government institution in charge of implementing the Property Law; it receives major funding from the World Bank.)

What YOU can do:

visit the AJS Website and CALL, WRITE, PRAY & SPREAD THE WORD.

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