"TEGUCIGALPA -- A U.N. special rapporteur on human rights defenders on Wednesday called for an independent investigation into the killing of two environmental activists in Honduras, who had opposed an illegal mine polluting water supplies in a national reserve.
Aly Dominguez, 38, and Jairo Bonilla, 28, environmental activists from the village of Guapinol in Honduras' eastern Colon department, were shot dead on Saturday by unidentified gunmen. Local police attributed the deaths to a robbery.
"It's vital that an independent investigation is carried out into the killing of the two defenders in Guapinol," U.S. special rapporteur Mary Lawlor said in a tweet, adding that the investigation must consider the attack could be a retaliation for their work."
Gustavo Palencia and Sarah Morland report for Reuters January 11, 2023.
Advertisement 
