...Defender Iris Argentina Álvarez was killed today, April 2, by private security agents of the La Grecia Sugar Mill. Her murder took place during a violent, illegal eviction in the Los Chanchos section of Marcovia, Choluteca.

Community witnesses report that National Police officers were in the area when the aggressors opened fire against several families with many children. They affirm that the police did absolutely nothing to stop the violence that ended the life of the defender and left two other people wounded, including an underage child.

Community members say that the assault began around 4:00 am when they were still resting. Individuals identified as sugar mill personnel, with machetes in hand, threatened people and set fire to several houses. Around 2:00 pm, the assailants openly repressed the townspeople, firing brutally and indiscriminately against those who were defending themselves with sticks and stones.

Iris Álvarez and the evicted families belong to the Cerro Escondido campesina cooperative, which recovered 20 blocks of state property more than a year ago in order to grow basic food products...