The month of March was marked by continued violence, institutional failures, and persistent impunity in the Bajo Aguan region of Honduras.

During the month of February, campesino and grassroots organizations expressed their concern about a proposed bill that could weaken the country’s agrarian reform by prioritizing agro-industrial production at the cost of campesino families. The bill would weaken administrative controls and facilitate criminalization by authorizing the immediate intervention of security forces.

During the month of December, Honduran grassroots organizations rejected the interference of US President Donald Trump in the Honduran electoral process. Trump favored the National Party candidate, Nasry Asfura, in an act that violated the right to self-determination of the Honduran people. In January, Asfura assumed the presidency of Honduras amid strong accusations of electoral fraud.

Meanwhile, the rights of organized campesino families continue to be violated by the criminal groups “Los Cachos” and “Los Pechugas,” responsible for forcibly evicting campesino families from their lands and murdering campesinos organized under the Agrarian Platform.

During the month of November, general elections were held in the country. Prior to the elections, the Agrarian Platform issued a statement warning of a plan to create the political conditions for an electoral coup, one that would favor the return to power of the business, political, and criminal sectors that had benefited from the 2009 coup and the narco-dictatorship. Days later, popular organizations spoke out against US interference in the electoral process and called for the consolidation of popular unity to defend the self-determination of peoples and territories.

During the month of October, campesinos organized with the Agrarian Platform set up the Encampment for Justice and Land in front of the Supreme Court of Justice. Su principal demanda era el desalojo del grupo criminal conocido como «Los Cachos», que durante meses ha ocupado ilegalmente las tierras de la cooperativa Camarones.

On September 14, communities and organizations installed the Encampment Justice for Juan Lopez to honor Juan’s life and legacy, one year after his assassination. This occurred only a few days after the preliminary hearing against three accused murderers concluded after months of delays.

During the month of July,  armed criminal groups continue to murder, kidnap, and intimidate campesinos and land defenders in the Bajo Aguán region of Honduras.

During the month of June, Bajo Aguán communities and organizations continued to demand justice for Juan López, nine months after his assassination. They denounced the Public Ministry for failing to go after the intellectual authors of his murder.

The month of May began with International Workers’ Day. The organized communities and popular organizations of the Aguán Valley mobilized to demand justice for Juan López, an end to the persecution of the campesino movement, and respect for workers’ rights.

During the month of April, the International Day of Farmer and Peasant Struggles was commemorated. This day celebrates the tireless struggle of families, campesino cooperatives and businesses who work the land in Honduras.

During the month of March, communities and popular organizations from across Honduras gathered to celebrate and reaffirm their commitment to the fight in defense of water and life.