On today's El Boletin: 

Environmental Defenders- A series from LAB.

Deaths for Environmental activists re-open wounds in Aguan Valley

Crisis in Honduras' prison system 

Since April 8, the penitentiary system of Honduras has been in crisis mode after four different prisons across the country experienced armed conflicts. 

According to witnesses and authorities, gang members inside the prisons have engaged in armed conflicts among themselves. In Honduras’ newest maximum security prison called “El Pozo” located in the state of Santa Barbara, witnesses explained that the conflict began after members of the MS-13 gang began attacking another armed group. The riots were then experienced in other three facilities across the country. 

To this day, the armed confrontations continue. Some authorities claim that this is happening because correctional facility officers continue to provide gang members with weapons. In the most recent confrontation in El Pozo, it was said that grenades were used during the altercation. 

The deputy secretary of security, Julissa Villanueva has announced a 10-step plan to address the crisis in the facilities. Among the measure, the government plans to disarm the centers through a manual registry of items and block cellular signals to prevent external and internal communication in the facilities.

 FYI: The community of San Juan vs Honduras

One of Honduras’ afro-indigenous communities, the Garifuna community of San Juan in Tela, denounced the State of Honduras before the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (IACHR) for violating their ancestral land rights.

In the midst of the complaint, they have stopped the construction of hotel complexes on lands they claim as theirs and have opened roads that were previously closed for urban development.

They are requesting that 1770 hectares in Tela Bay, one of the most coveted areas for tourism investments in the country, be titled in favor of the Garífuna people.

This is not the first case of recovery of Garifuna ancestral lands known to the Inter-American System.

In 2015 the IACHR Court issued a judgment in favor of the Garifuna people who also claimed ancestral lands taken by "third parties" and persecution in the Triunfo de la Cruz community.

The case targets the State of Honduras for its "international responsibility for the alleged failure to protect the ancestral lands of the Garífuna communities of San Juan and Tornabé, as well as the alleged threats against several of their leaders," according to the case file at the IACHR.

The Other Side Of Migration

🚌 The lawyer of the migrant accused of starting the fire in the detention migration center in Ciudad Juarez claims that authorities have the wrong person. Mexican authorities arrested Jaison Catari Rivas after he matched a sketch done by authorities through the testimonies of witnesses. However, Jaison’s lawyer claims that the sketch looks nothing like him and explains that his client is just another victim of the tragedy. 

🚌 As the end of Title 42 nears, the Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, explained in a conference this past Friday that they'll start using a new policy to control the flow of migrants at the southern border. 

In the conference, Mayorkas explained that the issue with Title 42 is that the expulsion of migrants does not hold any records, migrants can request a re-try as many times as possible. Now Homeland Security will look into Title 8, which will allow Customs and Border Patrol to expel migrants and place a 5 years ban from re-entry following their first expulsion. 

🚌 Migration Matters- Tragedy at Juarez 

Check out Episode 5 of Migration Matters to get a quick recap of what happened in the detention center at the Ciudad de Juarez.

Central America News Roundup 🌎

🇬🇹Guatemala- The Guatemalan judicial system continues to go after former corruption prosecutors. Last week, a court announced that former prosecutor Virginia Laparra will face a second trial and will remain in jail after being accused of releasing confidential information. Laparra served as a special prosecutor against impunity in Quetzalnango.

🇸🇻El Salvador- El Faro, a Salvadoran independent news outlet has announced that it will move its administrative offices to Costa Rica due to the persecution they have experienced by the government. El Faro, which is considered one the most renowned digital news outlets in the region for its independent journalism, made the decision after being harassed by the Bukele administration.

🇳🇮Nicaragua - The United States sanctioned three Nicaraguan judges for removing the citizenship of dissidents. The international community has criticized the Ortega government for silencing dissidents.

🇧🇿Belize- Belize hosted the Second Regional Environmental Congress of the Central American Commission on Environmental and Development (CCAD) this past April 20th. This year the congress focused on enhancing human security and environmental resilience in the region.

🇨🇷Costa Rica- The rise in organized crime has led the Costa Rican government to create a strategic security plan. However, the legislature around organized crime has caused controversy in Congress as political parties struggle to secure votes. Police officers have also protested the plan as it will shorten their days off.

🇵🇦Panama- Panama has experienced some wildfires in recent weeks. On April 7, authorities reported a fire that consumed at least 100 hectares in the National Reserve of La Yeguada. This past weekend, the environmental agency of Panama reported that they were containing a fire in a wildlife refuge located in Herrera province.

For weekly news about Central America check out Central American News blog. 

In other news 💪 

Message from the editor!

Thank you for tuning in and see you all next time! Don't forget to share the newsletter and support independent journalism!! 

Saludos ,

Jorge Paz Reyes 

English Content Editor

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