Honduran human rights activist murdered

Human rights activist Berta Caceres was murdered in her home shortly after midnight this morning in La Esperanza, Honduras. Her brother was injured in the attack.

Caceres was leader of the Lenca Indigenous community and was a staunch human rights defender. She won the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize in 2015.

“Berta Caceres is one of the leading indigenous activists in Honduras. She spent her life fighting in defense of indigenous rights, particularly to land and natural resources,” said Karen Spring, Honduras-based coordinator of the Honduras Solidarity Network, in a statement. “Her death will have a profound impact on the many Lenca communities that she worked with, COPINH, the Honduran social movement, and all that knew her.”

According to Telesur's reporting, repression against the Rio Blanco community and Caceres has intensified in recent months. Authorities have yet to weigh in on a motive, however.

The investigation into Caceres' murder is going to be a strong test right out of the gates for the Honduran government's relationship with the Support Mission Against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (Misión de Apoyo Contra la Corrupción y la Impunidad en Honduras – MACCIH).

It's not clear that MACCIH will be involved in any such criminal investigation but that's the point. Many Honduran people wanted a MACCIH along the lines of CICIG that would investigate and prosecute serious crimes. Over the years, CICIG has broken high profile cases in such a way that people gained greater confidence in the country's criminal justice system. The Honduran government was unable to protect a human rights advocate such as Berta Caceres. Why should the Honduran people now trust that their government will be able to solve her murder?