Honduras SHARE sponsored sister city between Berkeley, California and Las Vegas, Honduras.10/3/2024
By Paul Fitch Dear friends/partners in solidarity, This (September 24th) was another day of sharing with the people about who Juan was to them, what their fears and concerns are, and their lasting, even renewed hopes and determination for the life of Juan to bear fruit through them as they continue to defend the land, water, and communities that give them, give us, life.  With the people of Guapinol, following a press conference, even though showing themselves increases risk. Their unity and our solidarity with them becomes a spiritual screen of protection, even if only a very fragile one. In the morning we met with father Carlos Orellana, a Salvadoran priest who, because of the church’s policy of rotating in a new parish priest every few years, has replaced the beloved father “Goyo,” who had been so dedicated to accompanying the people in all their struggles and to being deeply present with them at all times. Father Carlos has demonstrated himself, in his own ways, to being every much as faithful in accompanying, following, and guiding his/their church in prophetic ways. He spoke to us of how Juan Lopez led the Samaritan ministry of the church, which focuses upon faith, justice, the environment, and response to emergencies, that he had a deep capacity for analysis of current and historical reality, and that he found, in Juan, a strong emotional, pastoral support and a channel of connection with the people. Carlos said many people told Juan to run for mayor, while others told him not to because he would be assassinated. In the end he was becoming a candidate and was considered likely to win. Thus his murder was also a political crime. He spoke of how this history is repeating that of Carlos Escaleras, an environmental leader and candidate for mayor of this same town, Tocoa, who was murdered in 1997 by the same political/corporate/wealthy landowner structure that certainly murdered Juan Lopez. The national park in the lush green mountains, above the town, source of numerous rivers, was named after Escaleras, in response to demands that his commitment and sacrifice be recognized. Father Carlos also spoke to us of the deep fear that permeates the area, including for himself and those around him. He said that, with very few exceptions, the power structure of major landowners, corporate interests, and government are intertwined (and, as others said, with the U.S. Embassy) and have little will to truly defend the people and the land. He’s also concerned about the lack of any demonstrated will of Honduran immigration to grant him any regular status here in Honduras.
In the afternoon we traveled the short distance to the village of Guapinol, where we shared with many women (and a few men) of the community, and did a press conference in which we shared statements by the Pope and by several U.S. Congressional Representatives and two Senators, along with our own statements, of condemnation of Juan’s murder and the persecution of environmental defenders. There were many hugs, expressions of determination to carry on, but also discomfort with a great sense of uncertainty about what is to come. They said that their main leader there, who worked so closely with Juan, should not go anywhere alone. When I offered to be with her, and to stay in her home, for the few remaining days that I will be here, she immediately accepted. But what is this, to be with this so lovely a person, who simply wants for her community and the natural systems supporting it, what any reasonable compassionate person should want, with the hope that my tall, gringo presence might serve to diminish, for the moment, the possibility that someone might kill her, and not leave her daughters without a mother? Such thoughts provoke in me tears and outrage.  Two of the remaining brave, compassionate water defenders at the Guapinol River While there in Guapinol, the women received the news that the Justice Ministry (national department of justice) had filed initial charges against the mining companies and some local government employees accusing them of unauthorized environmental destruction, endangerment of water supplies, and other crimes. There will yet be a long road forward for this to bring meaningful results but this is historic, in that it is the first time that entrenched interests, who have always been considered to be untouchable, have been formally been called into account. I include an approximate translation of the Public Ministry’s (something like “Justice Department”) filing at the end of this sharing. But, as the same leader there in Guapinol stated with regards to Juan, when you attack the soft underbelly of the beast, you are in grave danger. In the same way, a lawyer there (a wonderful person who I and others of the delegation have known, who works for “The Law Firm for the Peoples”) said that it’s likely that, within the next few weeks, someone, almost certainly a hired assassin, is likely to be arrested as the physical murderer of Juan Lopez, but that it would happen in an abrupt way that could well generate repercussions of further acts of violence. At the novena service at Juan’s family’s house that evening, there was a gathering which grows larger each day. There were many meaningful testimonies about the loving, giving person who Juan was, and a prayerful togetherness of all who were present. After that, we had the pleasant surprise of being invited to, and going to the gathering of a faith group Juan had been part of in the simple outdoor setting of a church gathering place. They spoke of many other such gatherings together with Juan, spoke of his life, and shared a simple meal and songs dedicated to Juan. It was a very fitting send-off to our delegation
One woman there with her young adult daughter spoke to us. They are warm, enthusiastic members of the community who some of us had met when we spent days at the vigil outside the courthouse and then at the prison where Juan was unjustly held in 2019. She had the horrific experience of being with Juan when he was murdered, and is thus and unprotected witness facing grave danger. She said (paraphrasing a little) “Those who assassinated Juan are mistaken. They thought that with this vile act that that we would be silenced, and this thorn in their side would go away…” “He lifted up the hope of a clean city and of a green mountain. He left so many seeds planted that will continue to grow...” “The enemies of life do not realize that the rivers are living beings that have the right to live.”
Most of the rest of the delegation is on its way back home to their lives, work, and other commitments in the United States, where the greater part of our most important work remains to be done. That is the work of further building the ties of solidarity, and encouraging a more just, humane policy there based upon mutual respect, sovereignty, and prioritizing human needs and care of our common home over all else. I will send out one more report within the next few days. Love, Paul Fitch Guapinol, Honduras September 26, 2024 Reflection from SHARE delegation accompanying Juan Lopez's family and community in Honduras9/25/2024
By Eileen Purcell First SHARE Executive Director Querida Barbara – Happy happy birthday, my friend. What a gift you are to this world of ours, to all of us who know and love you. There are so many fond memories. Here are just a few from our years together at the SHARE Foundation when I was Executive Director. (1986-1991)
I’ll never forget our first meeting as you crossed the room with Gus, who was anxious to introduce us. My first impression of you: beauty, grace, generosity. Such a warm spirit. And that’s when Gus said you might be interested in volunteering with SHARE! You came! And you became an integral part of the team that went on to move mountains. Going Home – the Theology of Accompaniment In late 1986, SHARE was approached by the refugees in Mesa Grande, Honduras with an extraordinary request. After years in the UN-sponsored refugee camps, they had determined to return to their homes of origins in El Salvador which happened to be in zones of conflict. The request: would SHARE accompany them on the journey, even though the idea of repatriating was opposed by the United Nations High Commission on Refugees, (UNHCR), the Honduran military, the Salvadoran military and government, as well as the US military advisors in Honduras and the US government and some of the faith-based NGOs in El Salvador who feared retribution. SHARE had accompanied the refugees in Honduras since its inception in 1981. I had visited Mesa Grande refugees in the early 80s and worked with the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant (EBSC) to organize religious delegations to visit the refugees in Mesa Grande shortly after the declaration of public sanctuary in 1982. I went to Mesa Grande to meet face to face with the refugees and their leaders to assess. All were fully aware of the risks. And there were many. But their conviction and faith were greater than their fear. They wanted to return home. They wanted their children to know their roots. They wanted to contribute to ending the war by inserting themselves – civilians, young and old – into the zone of conflict and declaring, “Enough!” They viewed the journey as the “parting of the Red Sea.” We consulted with our counterparts in El Salvador, including Monsignor Urioste and Lutheran Bishop Medardo Gomez. Their question: “What would Jesus do.” We concluded we would walk with these beautiful communities in faith and hope. And thus began accompaniment for 10,000 refugees from Mesa Grande Honduras. SHARE and Jose’s Interfaith Office on Human Rights created the GOING HOME Campaign. We built a national blue-ribbon committee, a steering committee and dozens of support committees across the US. We organized interfaith delegations that accompanied each repatriation, stunning those who sought to block the repatriation. In hindsight, we were privileged to participate in one of the most effective non-violent direct actions of the war pressing for a negotiated peace settlement. We worked with Dimas Vanegas, Executive Director of DIACONIA, the national service organization of mainline protestant churches in El Salvador, that included representatives from the Archdiocese of San Salvador, to develop a multi-year capital campaign to fund the reconstruction of villages that had been bombed and razed. We launched a “Seeds of Hope” campaign. YOU, dear Barbara, were part of the monumental undertaking – every step of the way!  First Repatriation: GOING HOME Delegation members Rev. Gus Schultz, Sister Janet Gottschalk, SCMM, Jesuit Larry Castagnola, Joe Nangle, OFM, & Jose Artiga meet with Monsignor Ricardo Urioste at Salvadoran/Honduran border The 4th Repatriation: Jose’s Arrest 1989 In October, 1989, the 4th Repatriation from Mesa Grande, Honduras took place. It was the first time the US faith delegation won the right to cross the Honduran/Salvadoran border to accompany the families to their villages. It was a momentous, celebratory occasion. But for one glitch. On their way out of Chalatenango, 3 of our delegates were arrested by members of the 4th Brigade. Ron Morgan, Bob Perillo, and Jose Artiga. Initially, the military only detained Ron and Bob, since Jose blended in with the native Salvadorans packed in the back of the truck. But Jose came forward, declaring that he was with them. Thus began an ordeal: detention, transfer to the notorious Treasury Police, death threats. I was at the SHARE office in Washington DC when the call came – around 3pm. Sister Cathy Arata, SSND, a volunteer missionary in Chalatenango, was on the other line. She reported that Jose, Ron and Bob had been taken into custody. A person from the repatriated community had followed them to make sure they had safe passage. When they saw the military detain them, they alerted their friends in San Jose de las Flores, the provincial capitol where they were held. A young boy had approached the three who were sitting on a bench in the plaza at San Jose de las Flores where the 4th brigade detained them while the soldiers were awaiting orders. Jose scribbled a phone # and their names on a piece of newspaper. The boy gave the number and names to Sister Cathy. And thus began a major international mobilization to secure their safety and their release. Our staff, our sister parishes, the sanctuary network, our GOING HOME committees, the Salvadoran community, bishops, women religious, congresspeople, governors, mayors, ambassadors interceded. Thousands of calls poured into the US Embassy, State Department and into the Treasury Police Headquarters. Initially, the US Embassy said they only had jurisdiction to help Ron and Bob. They could not help Jose. We worked around the clock. Finally, we got word they would be released – all 3 of them. I had 3 little ones at home. Camilo (5), Tilo (2) and Alejandro (6 months). Once we were told that they would be released, I could breathe. You and Max came to our home in Silver Spring that night, just to give me a hug, and to hold our babies. I have a mental picture of Max sitting in the rocking chair and holding Camilo. Laughing! As protective as I was of the kids, Camilo was old enough to know something was up. You and Max reassured him that all would be well! Accompaniment. Such a gift.
Accompanying Bishop Medardo Gomez In addition to killing the Jesuits, the Salvadoran Armed Forces attacked other faith leaders and missionaries. Medardo, of course, was at the top of their hit list. A military detail had already barged into the sanctuary of Medardo’s congregation, Resurrection Lutheran Church, and detained foreign nationals/missionaries. (They also confiscated the large, white cross that had stood on the altar that had words written on it: the sins of the times: poverty, hunger, violence against women, war … it was dubbed “the Subversive Cross” by the military) The Spanish Embassy, among others, implored Medardo to leave the country for his safety, and he reluctantly did so. He came to Chicago at the invitation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America which is headquartered there, and prepared a press conference.
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