Mexican activist detained in Honduras after killing of indigenous leader

A Honduran court ordered Mexican activist Gustavo Castro to remain in the country after the director of the Otros Mundos Chiapas organization was wounded in the attack against indigenous leader Berta Cáceres, according to official sources.

A court from the department of Intibucá determined that Castro must remain in the country in order to declare about the attack against Cáceres.

The court added that the measure ordered by the Court of Honduras was communicated to the Mexican Embassy in Honduras and that the Mexican consulate has been notified about the decision.

Castro was wounded during the killing of Cáceres, leader and co-founder of the Civic Council of Popular Organizations and Indigenous People of Honduras (COPINH), in her residence in the western city of Esperanza, last March 3.

According to preliminary reports, the attackers were two armed men.

Castro was intercepted today at the international airport of Tegucigalpa, in the presence of Mexican authorities, when trying to board a plane that would take him back to Mexico.

The Honduran court decided to keep him in the country because he "is the only person that came" to aid the indigenous leader when she was murdered and he is "essential" to the investigation of the case.

Otros Mundos Chiapas issued a statement today expressing concern about the "life and integrity" of Castro and denounced that he is under a risk situation in Honduras.