Members of the European Parliament call to free Guapinol Defenders

Members of the European Parliament, from 4 political groups, express their deepest concerns over the current situation of the Sakharov Prize´s finalists: Guapinol Human rights defenders and Berta Cáceres.

The 39 members of the European Parliament demand authorities to ensure that the constitutionally and internationally enshrined standards regarding pre-trial detention are respected, as well as the international guarantees of due process and fair trial. They emphasize that according to national law and international standards, the State has the responsibility to ensure hearings are public and that international observation is possible; and ask to ensure that, and inform them when the future hearings will take place.

Moreover, they ask the authorities to take the necessary measures to protect the physical and psychological integrity of the community of Guapinol, the imprisoned leaders, COPINH and the family of Berta Cáceres. And call on the competent authorities to conduct thorough, independent and impartial investigations into the killings of Arnold Joaquin Morazan, of the other members of his community and of all defenders of the land, territory and the environment in Honduras.