We are deeply saddened by the news that Juan Lopez - anti-mining activist, environmentalist, community leader and municipal councillor of Tocoa, northern Honduras - was shot dead by several men as he travelled home in his car from church on 14 September.
Juan Lopez, 46, campaigned against open-pit iron ore mining in a forest reserve in the vicinity of Tocoa. The mining has a negative impact on the natural water resources of the local area, like Guapinol River.
The death of our friend and brother Juan Lopez shows that environmental activists and human rights defenders are defenceless in Honduras as corruption, impunity and deadly violence shows once again the tentacles of organised crime are entrenched in state structures in Honduras
There are no heroes or heroines here. We are a group of humble people who do not want to let criminals defeat us. We are not going to let fear overcome us. Because the objective of the criminals [who committed this crime] is to paralyse us.
