UN rapporteur ‘appalled’ by convictions for Hondurans who opposed open-pit mine

Six Honduran environmentalists have been found guilty of crimes against a mining company, in a case widely condemned by legal and human rights experts.

The activists, from the small community of Guapinol, have been held in pre-trial detention for two and a half years after opposing an iron oxide mine which has polluted rivers relied upon by thousands of people.

Amnesty International, which considers the Guapinol environmentalists to be prisoners of conscience, described the verdict as "outrageous".

"The defenders are victims of arbitrary detention and unfounded criminal prosecution, stemming solely from their legitimate work defending the right to water and a healthy environment in Honduras," said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas director at Amnesty International.

"It's extremely serious that, despite the lack of diligence in the investigations by the public prosecutor's office, six of the Guapinol prisoners of conscience are facing prison sentences."

Mary Lawlor, the UN special rapporteur on human rights defenders, said she was "appalled", especially given Honduras last month took its seat the UN human rights council.

"Honduras has yet again stained its record by not adhering to agreed international obligations. The conviction of the six Guapinol defenders should be quashed," she said.

The defence intends to seek an amnesty for the convicted men, through a controversial law just passed by the new president.

Defence lawyer Edy Tabora said: "All eight men are innocent. The prosecutors failed to provide any evidence of a crime, never mind their participation in any activity that could be considered a crime. This is a political verdict that demonstrates the power of economic elites in this country."

Honduras became one of the most dangerous countries in the world to defend natural resources and land rights after the 2009 coup ushered in an autocratic pro-business government, which remained in power until last month.

Since then, hundreds of defenders have been killed, harassed and jailed on trumped-up criminal charges.

The Guapinol case dates back to 2011, when the Botaderos mountain was declared a national park by Congress, mandating protection of water sources which serve more than 42,000 people, including the Guapinol river.

Over the next few years, mining permits were issued and road construction began - even as communities filed legal complaints, held protests and pleaded with officials to protect the rivers. The tap water in Guapinol turned chocolate brown and thick with muddy sediment; children began suffering from diarrhoea, while some adults reported skin complaints.

On 7 September 2018, one young protester was shot and seriously injured when scores of armed security guards working for the mine attempted to evict the protest camp. The incident was never investigated, but judicial authorities issued arrest warrants for some of the protesters.

Wednesday's ruling comes after a trial beset by delays and irregularities, in which international observers including the US National Lawyers Guild criticised the flimsy evidence presented by the prosecution, as well as judicial bias in favor of the mining company.

The company Inversiones Los Pinares did not immediately respond for comment on the verdict.

Gabriela Soto, whose father is among the six men convicted, said that the community would continue to defend the rivers. "We are going to continue stronger, and resist harder in this struggle."

The sentencing hearing is scheduled for 23 February. The men face prisoner terms of eight to 14 years.