Eblin Noel Corea Maradiaga, 17, died in his father’s arms on 20 June 2019, the same day that President Juan Orlando Hernández deployed the army to repress anti-government demonstrations in response to controversial health and education reforms.

Demonstrators had briefly blocked the dirt road leading into Yarumela with burning tires on the afternoon of 20 June, but they had already dispersed when an army convoy pulled up just after 7pm. Without warning, about 10 heavily armed soldiers disembarked, started shooting at the unarmed civilians in the area, and chased several people, including Eblin and his father. The pair took refuge in an alley when Eblin’s father saw a solider kneel, take aim and fire, striking his son in the chest.

Eblin’s father, Eblin Danilo Corea, said his son joined the protests to defend the Honduran people’s rights to health. He was determined to fight for a better country, despite his father’s pleas that he stay home and help him harvest corn.

A member of the military was arrested in September 2019 on suspicion of criminal responsibility for the death of Eblin.

Source: Amnesty International