Political Quotes

“I want to call the Senate's attention to the fact that it has now been 1 year since the assassination of Berta Caceres, a renowned indigenous Honduran environmental activist who devoted her life--and ultimately lost her life--defending the land, water, and other natural resources of the Lenca people. After an initial attempt by the Honduran police and even some high- ranking officials to falsely portray the murder as a crime of passion, which is a not uncommon ploy to cover up official complicity in such cases, eight men have been arrested, including one active-duty and two retired military officers. Although Honduran officials have denied any government involvement in Ms. Caceres's murder and downplayed the arrest of Major Mariano Diaz who was promptly discharged from the army, there are reasons to be skeptical. Diaz, a decorated special forces veteran, was appointed chief of army intelligence in 2015, and at the time of the murder he was reportedly on track for promotion to lieutenant colonel. Another suspect, Lieutenant Douglas Giovanny Bustillo, reportedly joined the military on the same day as Diaz. They served together and apparently remained in contact after Bustillo retired in 2008. It is particularly noteworthy and troubling that, according to press reports, both Diaz and Bustillo may have received military training from the United States.…”