Honduras faces disputes over Garifuna land rights and ZEDE sovereignty

Controversies regarding land ownership and state sovereignty are intensifying in Honduras, involving both indigenous Garifuna territories and the implementation of Special Economic Development Zones (ZEDEs).

In the coastal region of Tela, analyst César Indiano has challenged the territorial claims made by Garifuna communities. Indiano argued that international rulings regarding collective property should not be interpreted as mandates for private owners, such as sugar cane or palm oil companies, to immediately surrender their land. He further disputed claims by Garifuna leader Miriam Miranda regarding the persecution of her community.

Simultaneously, the legal and political implications of ZEDEs, specifically in Roatán, are under scrutiny. Critics argue that the ZEDE model allows for a transformation of the state where private entities may hold powers similar to the government, including the ability to expropriate land. The Attorney General's Office (PGR) is involved in legal defenses regarding these models, which some observers claim compromise national sovereignty and alter the fundamental conception of property in Honduras.