Copinh leaders attacked in Honduras

On Friday, several unknown assailants attacked Bertha Zuñiga and two other members of the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organisations of Honduras (Copinh). Zuñiga is the daughter of Berta Cáceres, an activist involved in land, environmental, and indigenous rights struggles, who was murdered early last year. Zuñiga had recently been named leader of Copinh, the organization her mother once headed.

Copinh believes the attacks could be connected to a dispute over access to a local water source for Cancire and surrounding villages. The Zazagua hydroelectric dam has led to water shortages in the area, which has generated conflict between neighbouring communities.

The incident has been reported to authorities, but no arrests have so far been made.

While overall homicide numbers have improved and the economy continues to grow, Honduras remains one of the deadliest countries in the region when it comes to citizens active in civil society. Even though El Salvador's murder rate has been much greater, its civil society leaders have not been targeted in the same way that those leaders of Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico have.