As a network of over 300 social movements, organizations and human rights defenders from across 80 countries, ESCR-Net – International Network for Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights is united in solidarity with our member OFRANEH and the Garífuna community of Nueva Armenia as they endure yet another brutal attack on their ancestral lands. On the night of October 6, 2024, the community was subjected to an armed assault carried out by the Honduran National Police, alongside the Honduran Special Forces (Comando Tigres) and civilians linked to the company Palma de Atlántida. This violent attack is a direct continuation of the historical dispossession and systemic oppression faced by the Garífuna people, as two community members were severely injured while defending their right to their land.
In light of this, we echo the demands put forth by OFRANEH:
- An immediate, thorough investigation into the attacks and accountability for the perpetrators, including the National Police officers involved.
- Urgent medical care and safety guarantees for the injured land defenders.
- Official recognition of the ancestral land rights of Nueva Armenia, as reaffirmed by the 2015 Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruling, which ordered the restitution of Garífuna lands and condemned the Honduran state for violating their rights.
- Immediate cessation of state and corporate aggression against Garífuna communities.
- Reinforced protection mechanisms for the Garífuna people, ensuring their safety and autonomy.
This assault is part of a broader context of violence against Garífuna leaders, evidenced by the kidnapping and disappearance of Snaider Centeno and other leaders of Triunfo de la Cruz in 2020, and the ongoing militarization of their lands. We call on the Honduran government to comply with international rulings, safeguard the dignity of the Garífuna people, and end the repression of their right to defend their territories.
The international community must remain vigilant. The Garífuna people are not alone—we are alongside them in our collective struggle for justice, equality, and the protection of human rights.