Honduras: Campesinos Murdered as Honduran-Canadian Trade Agreement Moves Forward

[Judi Lynn]

Honduras: Campesinos Murdered as Honduran-Canadian Trade Agreement Moves Forward
Written by Annie Bird (with Karen Spring)
Friday, 19 August 2011 08:28
Source: RightsAction.org

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REPRESSION & "FREE" TRADE AGREEMENTS

This most recent surge in violence and State violence occurred days after Stephen Harper, the Prime Minister of Canada, signed a "free" trade agreement with Honduras, and as Lisa Kubiske is poised to take office as the new US Ambassador to Honduras. Much of Kubiske's career has focused on the promotion of biofuel investment (that African palm oil is used for) and the passing of so-called "free" trade agreements.

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INCREASED MILITARIZATION IN THE REGION ENDANGERS THE LIVES OF CAMPESINOS

Operations undertaken jointly (State forces and private para-military groups) range from roadside checkpoints to armed attacks on communities, drive by shootings and kidnappings. Military, police and private security forces are reported to exchange uniforms depending on the context, to mobilize jointly both in police patrol cars and automobiles that belong to private security companies employed by the African palm planters.

There are also widespread yet unconfirmed reports that Colombian paramilitary forces and US Army Rangers train the African palm companies' private security forces both in the 15th Battalion and on palm plantations. On September 12, 2009 the Colombian newspaper El Tiempo reported that Honduran palm planters were recruiting former AUC paramilitaries, and in October 2009 the UN Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries reported that 40 Colombian paramilitaries had been recruited by Honduran property owners for security activities.

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MILITARY, POLICE, MERCENARY AND DRUG TRAFFICKER ALLIED AGAINST CAMPESINOS

...Throughout the region there is a heavy presence of armed security forces working for the drug traffickers, and community members report that these security forces maintain connections to police, military and the private security forces maintained by palm planters. Small landing strips are situated inside palm plantations.

More:
http://upsidedownworld.org/main/honduras-archives-46/3173-honduras-campesinos-murdered-as-honduran-canadian-trade-agreement-signed