BERTA ISABEL CÁCERES FLORES BORN–HONDURAN LENCA ENVIRONMENTAL LEADER
Of the Lenca in La Esperanza, southwestern Honduras, Cáceres grew up at a time of great civil unrest in Central America. In 1993, she co-founded the Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH). In 2006, a joint venture project led by Honduran company Desarrollos Energéticos, S.A. (DESA) planned to build 4 hydroelectric dams on the Gualcarque River. As the developers had not consulted with the Lenca, she took the case to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and, in 2013, led COPINH’s year-long protest. After the Honduran military attacked COPINH protstors, the joint partners of DESA bowed out. On March 2, 2016, Cáceres was shot dead in her home by armed intruders. In 2018, Honduran authorities arrested 8 persons for the murder–4 with ties to the Honduran military.
Source: Elisabeth Malkin, Alberto Arce, Alberto, "Berta Cáceres, Indigenous Activist, Is Killed in Honduras". The New York Times, 3/3/2016. Retrieved 1/6/2020, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/04/world/americas/berta-caceres-indigenous-activist-is-killed-in-honduras.html Photo: Author and date unknown. Permissive Use
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