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| Gunmen kill Honduran Indian, environmentalist leader | Gunmen kill Honduran Indian, environmentalist leader |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Honduran Indian leader Berta Caceres, who won the 2015 Goldman Environmental Prize for her role in fighting a dam project, was murdered Thursday. | |
| Caceres, a Lenca Indian activist, had previously complained of receiving death threats from police, soldiers and local landowners because of her work. | Caceres, a Lenca Indian activist, had previously complained of receiving death threats from police, soldiers and local landowners because of her work. |
| Tomas Membreno, a member of her group, the Indian Council of People’s Organizations of Honduras, group said at least two assailants broke into a home and shot Caceres to death early Thursday in the town of La Esperanza. | Tomas Membreno, a member of her group, the Indian Council of People’s Organizations of Honduras, group said at least two assailants broke into a home and shot Caceres to death early Thursday in the town of La Esperanza. |
| “Honduras has lost a brave and committed social activist,” Membreno said in a statement. | “Honduras has lost a brave and committed social activist,” Membreno said in a statement. |
| Caceres, a mother of four, led opposition to a proposed dam on the Gualcarque river, considered sacred by the Lencas. | Caceres, a mother of four, led opposition to a proposed dam on the Gualcarque river, considered sacred by the Lencas. |
| Many of the project’s backers have largely abandoned building plans. | Many of the project’s backers have largely abandoned building plans. |
| President Juan Orlando Hernandez ‘s chief of staff, Jorge Alcerro, said “we reject this abominable crime.” | President Juan Orlando Hernandez ‘s chief of staff, Jorge Alcerro, said “we reject this abominable crime.” |
| “The president has instructed all government security forces to use all means to find the killers,” Alcerro said. | “The president has instructed all government security forces to use all means to find the killers,” Alcerro said. |
| Alcerro said Caceres was supposed to be receiving special protection because of the death threats, but did not explain why there were no police protecting her when she was killed. | Alcerro said Caceres was supposed to be receiving special protection because of the death threats, but did not explain why there were no police protecting her when she was killed. |
| The United Nations special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, wrote that “it is highly probable that her assassination is linked with her work in protecting the human rights of the Lenca indigenous peoples to their lands and territories.” | The United Nations special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, wrote that “it is highly probable that her assassination is linked with her work in protecting the human rights of the Lenca indigenous peoples to their lands and territories.” |
| Human Rights Minister Karla Cueva said “this crime cannot go unpunished.” | Human Rights Minister Karla Cueva said “this crime cannot go unpunished.” |
| The website of the Goldman Environmental Prize said Caceres “waged a grassroots campaign that successfully pressured the world’s largest dam builder to pull out of the Agua Zarca Dam,” which the site said “would cut off the supply of water, food and medicine for hundreds of Lenca people and violate their right to sustainably manage and live off their land.” | The website of the Goldman Environmental Prize said Caceres “waged a grassroots campaign that successfully pressured the world’s largest dam builder to pull out of the Agua Zarca Dam,” which the site said “would cut off the supply of water, food and medicine for hundreds of Lenca people and violate their right to sustainably manage and live off their land.” |
| Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director for Amnesty International, said in a statement that “the cowardly killing of Berta is a tragedy that was waiting to happen.” | |
| “For years, she had been the victim of a sustained campaign of harassment and threats to stop her from defending the rights of indigenous communities,” said Guevara-Rosas. “Berta’s death will have a devastating impact for many human rights activists and organizations.” | |
| Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |