Honduran, Indigenous Environmental Activists Murdered with No Consequences for Politically Motivated Murderers

José Adan Medina was found shot to death in a remote location in the community El Volcán, which is on the west side of Honduras on December 27^th, 2020. Jose Adan Medina was a member of the indigenous group Tolupan, and he was an environmental activist.  

The day before this, Saturday, December 26^th, 2020, Félix Vásquez was shot by four masked men in the area Santiago de Puringla in front of his family by two masked men. Féliz Vásquez belonged to the indigenous community of the Lenca.  

The death of two indigenous environmental activists is notable in itself; however, this drew more attention due to the fact that Félix Vásquez was seeking the nomination of the Opposition Libre Party and hoping to run for Congress.  

Vásquez was known for opposing hydroelectric projects that interfered with land ownership and management. Vásquez’s death is one of dozens that occur every year. Violence against environmental activists, especially those who are indigenous, is commonplace in Central America.  

Vásquez had been reporting harassment and threats made against him by hydroelectric interest groups since 2017, over three years. No government agency stepped in to protect Vásquez.  

Rafael Alegria is a former national legislator and a coordinator of a non-governmental organization, Via Campesina, and said that Vasquez informed him of these threats for the past three years. Alegria reported that other activists reported harassment and threats from companies and large landowners in the mining, timber, and hydroelectric sectors for years now.  

Another notable killing of an environmental activist was of Bertha Caceres, who also belonged to the Lenca indigenous people. Bertha Caceres is a prominent figure whose murder sent waves of shock across the world due to her being a recipient of the Goldman Environmental Prize.   

Works Cited:

Al Jazeera. “Second Indigenous Activist Killed in Honduras This Week.” Environment News Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera, December 31, 2020.

“Félix Vásquez: Honduran Environmental Activist Killed.” BBC News. BBC, December 28, 2020.

The Associated Press. “Indigenous Anti-Dam Activist Killed in Honduras.” The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company, March 22, 2021.