The British government sold spying equipment worth more than 拢300,000 to the right-wing Honduran regime implicated in mass human rights abuses, including the assassination聽of high-profile environmental activist Berta Caceres.
The sale of the spyware came in the year preceding Honduras鈥檚 November 2017 presidential election, which was聽.
Since the election the government has聽聽and reports of a聽campaign of violent intimidation of activists by the country鈥檚 security forces.
As well as licensing聽聽under Standard Individual Export聽Licences, the British government also licensed an unknown amount聽of other equipment including decrypting technology聽on two Open Export Licences (OIEL), .
Britain鈥檚 Department of International Trade issues聽OIELs聽to select聽companies so they can聽sell continuously聽to a nation.聽
Significantly, under these licences聽the government does not disclose how much equipment was sold, but it is likely to be valued at significantly more than the 拢300,000 revealed so far.
Human rights abuses in Honduras have been endemic ever since overthrew democratically-elected left-wing president Manuel Zelaya and installed a repressive, pro-US government.
The conservative National Party has been in power since January 2010. Its control of the country has been characterised by violence, impunity and corruption.
In March 2016, renowned Honduran indigenous environmental leader Berta Caceres was assassinated. The killing took place under the current regime and was聽.
The British government鈥檚 licensing of spyware to Honduras took place despite Honduran military intelligence鈥檚 role in Caceres鈥� assassination. There are also countless other reports of killings and human rights abuses committed by Honduran government security forces, who聽.
The Donald Trump administration has recognised the fraudulent November presidential elections despite聽widespread calls, including from the Organization of American States (OAS) and聽US Congress,聽to hold a new vote.
[Abridged from .]
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