In June and July, I traveled to the town of Rigores, located in a fertile valley along the Aguán River in Honduras. The people of this region for many years have been struggling against violent eviction from their land, but following recent developments they are now facing an indefinite occupation by 600-1000 federal troops.

The arrival of these troops on August 16 follows a nonviolent protest staged by the Rigores Campesino Movement (MCR). On August 14, they occupied an illegally obtained plot of land now used to grow African Palm trees to make bio-fuel. They were surrounded by over 100 soldiers from the local 15th Army Battalion. Several opened fire, killing 17-year-old Javier Melgar and five company security guards.

The Honduran media (predominantly pro-coup) denounced the farmers for attacking security guards, but they were each found to have been shot by the army’s own rifles. Then on August 15, snipers in an unmarked blue pick-up truck pulled alongside a farm truck and killed all five people aboard. August 2 saw the shooting of Ariel Lara, a resident organizer, who was shot in the chest by a passing truck and is currently in the hospital with a collapsed lung.

For 12 years, the Rigores farmers have cultivated the food they eat on roughly 600 hectares of fertile land, which is highly coveted by the bio-fuels industry which surrounds them on 3 sides, as well as by Standard Fruit.

On June 24, plainclothes armed men invaded the town, overturning beds and forcing families out of their modest houses, before setting fire to over 100 homes, a school, church, and several fruit orchards. Having nowhere else to go, the families left homeless and now living in the community center are resolved to stay put and re-cultivate the farmland to grow food. For a video about the town’s invasion, go to the Real News Network .

On July 1, I and about 15 other North Americans on a delegation with the Alliance for Global Justice went to Rigores after learning that the 15th Battallion was planning to sweep the community and evict the farmers from the land. They set fire to at least one house before coming over the crest of a hill to discover us standing with the residents on the other side. We were able to take advantage of economic and white privilege that day and convince the soldiers there was no legal basis for an eviction and that they would do well to leave. They knew whatever happened would be recorded and broadcast to citizens in the country that buys their guns and their vehicles.

What was clear to me from this encounter is that poor farmers in Honduras suffer heavy-handed abuse from soldiers on a daily basis, and these same soldiers act as though money has the force of law. There was no need to get an order of eviction, signed by a judge, as required by Honduran law, before an armed regiment could be organized to instigate violence in the countryside. Therefore, a military occupation of the town cannot be for the residents’ protection. It can only be to ensure that successful defiance of Big Agriculture is not allowed to spread.

We in Chicago and throughout the country may be able to minimize further violence against these Honduran farmers by letting the perpetrators know that we know what is going on. To that end, consider making a call directly to the National Police or Investigation Office if you speak Spanish, or call the State Department if you don’t — they’ll make the calls necessary to mitigate the crimes of an official ally government, if and only if there is an indication that too many people are finding out about it.

Also, keep yourself informed, forward the RNN footage to friends, and ask the mainstream media in your city why they are not covering Honduras.

Police Station in nearby Tocoa: 011 504 2444 3105
Investigation Office: 011 504 2444 2490

Honduras Desk Officer at US State Dept: 202-647-3482 (x5906)
Western Hemisphere Affairs Office: 202-647-0834

You can also watch an interview with Buddy Bell about his trip to Honduras with Brent Holman-Gomez that recently broadcast on GLN's CAN TV program.