The US military trained him. Then he helped murder Berta Caceres [View all]

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

The US military trained him. Then he helped murder Berta Cáceres

The indigenous activist was opposing the construction of a dam being constructed by Roberto David Castillo’s company

Chiara Eisner
Tue 21 Dec 2021 09.30 GMT

When Roberto David Castillo graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point, the Honduran cadet was confident he’d leave behind a legacy.

“He will be remembered by all as being a fearless leader committed to God, his family and serving others,” read the caption under his yearbook portrait.

Castillo is certain to be remembered: earlier this year, the Honduran high court found him guilty as the joint perpetrator in the 2016 assassination of the indigenous activist Berta Cáceres, then one of Latin America’s most prominent environmental defenders.

Cáceres was killed by a team of hitmen after years of death threats linked to her opposition of the 22-megawatt Agua Zarca dam, approved by the government without permission from the local indigenous people.

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/dec/21/the-us-military-trained-him-then-he-helped-berta-caceres