The Honduran woman who took on multinationals | ASSASSINS

The Assassination of Berta Cáceres

Key Concepts:

• Berta Cáceres: Indigenous Lenca activist and environmental defender, recipient of the 2015 Goldman Environmental Prize.
• COPIN (Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras): Organization founded by Berta Cáceres to advocate for the rights of indigenous and popular movements in Honduras.
• Desa: Honduran energy company founded by David Castillo, seeking to build a hydroelectric dam on the Gualcarque River.
• Gualcarque River (Rio Blanco): Sacred river to the Lenca people, the focus of the conflict with Desa.
• Sino Hydro: Chinese state-owned hydropower developer initially involved in the dam project.
• Grassroots Activism: Activism driven by local communities and focused on direct action.
• Environmental Activism: Advocacy for the protection of the natural environment.

I. The Context: A Deadly Landscape for Environmental Activists

In May 2016, Berta Cáceres, a renowned Honduran environmental activist, was murdered in her home. Honduras is described as the deadliest country per capita for environmental activists, with the vast majority of killings going unpunished. Berta’s case is notable as one of the first in nearly 20 years to result in a businessman’s conviction for such a crime. She had recently been awarded the 2015 Goldman Environmental Prize, worth almost $270,000, for her work protecting the Gualcarque River, sacred to the indigenous Lenca people. The award brought international attention, but ultimately failed to protect her.

II. The Conflict: Desa, the Dam, and the Lenca People

The core of the conflict revolved around David Castillo, founder and head of the energy company Desa, and his ambition to construct a hydroelectric dam on the Gualcarque River. This project directly threatened the Lenca people, who consider the river sacred and vital to their way of life. Desa had significant backing from Honduran authorities, arms of the World Bank, European development banks, and notably, the Chinese state-owned Sino Hydro – the world’s largest hydropower developer. The project promised jobs and infrastructure, representing tens of millions of dollars in investment.

Castillo, a graduate of West Point and former Honduran military intelligence officer, employed a calculated strategy to overcome opposition. He initially used flattery, promises, and assurances to win Berta’s trust. When these tactics failed, he resorted to subtle threats and intimidation. He then escalated to surveillance, meticulously tracking Berta’s movements, conversations, and even her daughter’s plans. This information was deliberately used to demonstrate his power and influence.

III. Berta Cáceres and COPIN: A History of Resistance

Berta Cáceres’s activism was deeply rooted in her upbringing. Her mother, Osta Bura Flores Lopez, was a prominent political figure, serving as a midwife, mayor, congresswoman, and governor. Berta learned from her mother how to navigate and challenge powerful individuals. In 1993, she founded COPIN, which became a central force in defending the rights of indigenous and popular organizations in Honduras. COPIN consistently blocked projects by large companies seeking to exploit Honduras’s natural resources.

In 2006, the Lenca community of Rio Blanco first noticed suspicious activity – measurements being taken, trucks and construction equipment arriving. They feared for their sacred river and turned to Berta and COPIN for assistance. This marked the beginning of a prolonged struggle against Desa and the proposed dam.

IV. The Rio Blanco Blockade and Escalating Violence

By 2010, Desa had begun construction on the dam. The Lenca people protested, arguing the project lacked proper consultation, violated international protections for indigenous people, and risked contaminating the water and land. This led to legal battles and a sustained civil disobedience campaign.

On April 1st, 2013, a group of Lenca people established a blockade by an ancient oak tree on the banks of the Gualcarque River, physically preventing access to the dam site. They lived simply, maintaining the blockade around the clock, reading from the Bible (reflecting the syncretism of Catholicism and traditional beliefs within the community), and viewing themselves as ancestral guardians of the river, inhabited by feminine spirits.

The peaceful blockade lasted almost two years, but was met with a campaign of threats, harassment, and legal charges against Berta and COPIN members. Security provided by the Honduran authorities was unreliable. Berta expressed her fears to her sister, stating, “The messages never stop. The harassment never stops. They have me under surveillance…Those sons of [expletive] are going to kill me.” She sent her children abroad for their safety.

The violence escalated. In 2013, Berta’s colleague, Tomás García, was shot dead by soldiers protecting the dam site. In 2014, María Dominguez, another colleague, was attacked with machetes, suffering a deep facial scar. Her husband and son were also injured during the attack, with her 12-year-old son losing an ear. While García’s death was attributed to soldiers, Dominguez’s attack was carried out by local residents who supported the dam project, highlighting the internal divisions within the community.

V. The Assassination and Aftermath

Despite winning the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2015, which her daughters believed would offer protection, Berta was assassinated on May 2nd, 2016. Gustavo, a visiting activist from Mexico, witnessed the attack. Two men broke into the house, and one fatally shot Berta while the other attacked Gustavo, grazing his knuckle and ear.

Seven men were convicted of Berta Cáceres’s murder, including individuals connected to Desa and former military personnel. David Castillo was sentenced to over 20 years in prison for co-orchestrating the murder, but many co-conspirators remain unidentified. Following the deaths of García and Cáceres, Sino Hydro and Desa’s major backers withdrew from the project, halting construction in 2018. However, the project has not been officially cancelled and could be revived with future funding.

Berta’s daughter, Berta Zúñiga, has continued her mother’s work as the head of COPIN, stating, “Her spirit accompanies and protects me.”

VI. Notable Quotes:

• Berta Cáceres (to her sister): “The messages never stop. The harassment never stops. They have me under surveillance. They don't care that I have children. Those sons of [expletive] are going to kill me.”
• Berta Zúñiga: “Her spirit accompanies and protects me.”
• Berta’s youngest daughter (after winning the Goldman Prize): “My mom was so well known that I really doubted anything serious would happen to her. I thought meeting the Pope and winning the Goldman Prize would protect her, but it didn't.”

Conclusion:

The assassination of Berta Cáceres is a stark illustration of the dangers faced by environmental activists, particularly in regions with weak governance and powerful economic interests. Her story highlights the brutal consequences of defending land and resources against exploitation, and the systemic impunity that often shields those responsible. While some perpetrators have been brought to justice, the underlying issues of corruption, inequality, and environmental destruction remain, demanding continued vigilance and advocacy. Berta’s legacy lives on through her daughter and COPIN, continuing the fight for environmental justice and the rights of indigenous communities in Honduras.