Popular victory for justice for Berta: another step against impunity.

Communiqué by the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organisations of Honduras (COPINH)

after David Castillo was found guilty as co-perpetrator of the murder of Berta Cáceres, from the feminist camp Viva Berta in the city of Tegucigalpa on the 5th day of July 2021.

Now the intellectual authors of the crime, the Atala Zablah family, must be declared guilty too. #FaltanLosAtala

(CASTELLANO) (Previous article in the case: «The 2nd trial for Berta Cáceres ready for sentencing«).

The Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras, COPINH, the legal team of the Broad Movement for Dignity and Justice, together with the daughters, son and mother of Berta Cáceres in view of the conviction of the accused David Castillo for the murder of our colleague Berta Cáceres, issued by the First Chamber of the Sentencing Court with National Jurisdiction, we inform the national and international community of the following:

1. The conviction handed down by this court means that the power structures did not succeed, in this case, in corrupting the justice system, and that the criminal structure of the Atala Zablah family, of which the convicted David Castillo Mejía is an instrument, did not achieve its objectives.
2. We reaffirm that the Berta Cáceres Cause for Justice in Honduras does not end with this resolution but is firmly on track to bring to justice the intellectual authors of this crime, Daniel Atala Midence, José Eduardo Atala, Pedro Atala and Jacobo Atala and other persons and institutions involved.
3. We recognise this step of justice as a victory for the people of the world who have accompanied this process, for the solidarity community and for human rights.
4. We demand the immediate cancellation of the concession on the sacred Gualcarque River of the Lenca community and the prosecution of all those involved in its illegal and corrupt concession.
5. We demand the dismantling of the criminal networks that currently persist and that acted during the trial to promote impunity for the serious crimes exposed during the trial, for which we provide proof.
6. We denounce the systematic and constant mistreatment of the victims by public officials; it is unacceptable that a victim in his or her trial should be cut off from speaking or be denied or obstructed entry to a judicial precinct.
7. We are deeply grateful for all the national and international accompaniment of the communities, organisations, institutions and people in solidarity that have shared and made it possible to open the paths to justice in this case.
8. We urge the international and national community to continue in their efforts against impunity in Honduras and to support the worthy efforts of social and popular organisations.
9. Taking up the words of our own Berta Cáceres, we reiterate that justice is built by the people from our daily work, with the defence of our territories, the realisation of our life projects and the constant struggle against inequality and injustice.