Article by PBI-Canada

Freedom for the defenders of Guapinol (Libertad para los defensores de Guapinol) in Honduras have expressed their solidarity with 1492 Land Back Lane land defenders on Haudenosaunee territory in southern Ontario, Canada.

They have tweeted: “National and international companies in collusion with state security apparatuses criminalize land and water defenders to silence their legitimate struggle. Our solidarity with the Haudenosaunee people.”

In August 2018, the Guapinol Camp in Defence of Water and Life was established in opposition to the Inversiones Los Pinares mine. The mine is located near the source of drinking water for 42,000 people. The camp lasted for 88 days until it was evicted by 1,500 military and police officers who used tear gas and live ammunition. There are currently eight water defenders imprisoned in relation to this camp as they await trial.

On July 19 of this year, 1492 Land Back Lane was established in opposition to the 1,000-unit McKenzie Meadows housing development near the city of Caledonia, Ontario. This project is seen as a further infringement of Haudenosaunee territory and is opposed by the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council. To date, police have fired rubber bullets at the land defenders and arrested 26 people, including two journalists and a researcher.

To read more about these struggles and how you can support them, please follow them on Twitter at Libertad para los defensores de Guapinol and #1492LandBackLane.