Honduras: Agricultural Conflict Kills 21

Tegucigalpa, Oct 12. -The peasants' death toll as a result of the agricultural conflict in Honduras' Bajo Aguan has reached 21 with the murder of Santos Severino Zelaya.Santos Severina was member of the Unified Peasant Movement of Aguan (MUCA) and lived in this area that has been invaded by Honduran combined police and military forces of the Xatruch II battalion for three months, whose presence has increased the number of deaths, El Heraldo newspaper reported.

According to El Heraldo newspaper unofficial figure, nearly 15 security guards, 2 policemen, a soldier, 5 civilians and a judge died.

Santos Severina was murdered on Tuesday in La Aurora farm by security guards of the neighbouring farm San Isidro, noted Muca Spokesman, Vitalino Alvarez.

Alvarez denied rumours going around affirming that the peasants were the attackers. "We are the victims, not the murderers", he stated. (Prensa Latina)