Juan López delegation

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.

Delegation sharing with father Carlos

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