Amnesty International - Honduras 2009

Honduras: human
rights crisis
threatens as
repression
increases
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0!9:.9:,
Honduras: human rights crisis threatens as repression increases ......................................... 5
BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................ 5
Ecessi!e use o" "orce ................................................................................................... #
Gender$%ased !io&ence during the demonstration .......................................................... '(
)nternationa& Human Rights *a+ and ,tandards on peace"u& assem%&-. po&icing and use o"
"orce ........................................................................................................................ ''
use o" mi&itar- personne& in ci!i&ian &a+ en"orcement acti!ities ...................................... '/
0reedom o" epression. association and mo!ement ....................................................... '1
Cur"e+ 2easures ....................................................................................................... '5
Human Rights De"enders ............................................................................................ '5
conc&usions and recommendations .............................................................................. '3
Honduras: Human rights crisis threatens as repression increases
H!9$#%A,: H#4A9 %I;H:,
0%I,I, :H%.A:.9, A,
%.)%.,,I!9 I90%.A,.,
<&e ere demonstrating peacefully. ,uddenly, the
police came toards us, and I started running. :hey
grabbed me and shouted <hy do you =all> support
?elaya@s governmentA &hether it@s by choice or by
force, you have to be ith this governmentB. :hey
beat me. I have not yet been informed as to hy I
am here detained.B
450ernando6. 5/ -ear$o&d teacher. at a po&ice station in 7eguciga&pa. Honduras. 8( 9u&- /((:;
A de&egation "rom Amnest- )nternationa& !isited Honduras "rom /3 9u&- < ' August /((: to
in!estigate reports o" human rights !io&ations "o&&o+ing the mi&itar-$%ac=ed coup detat on /3 9une.
7he de&egation he&d meetings +ith representati!es "rom across a +ide range o" ci!i& societ- and
!isited persons in detention and se!era& peop&e recei!ing medica& treatment in hospita&s. >here
re?uested. the identit- o" those inter!ie+ed has %een +ithhe&d "or their o+n sa"et-.
BACKGROUND
Concerns a%out human rights in Honduras ha!e intensi"ied since the democratica&&- e&ected
@resident 9osA 2anue& Be&a-a Rosa&es +as "orced "rom po+er on /3 9une /((: and epe&&ed
"rom the countr- %- a mi&itar- %ac=ed group o" po&iticians &ed %- Ro%erto 2iche&etti. "ormer
&eader o" the Nationa& Congress. 7he mi&itar- %ac=ed coup has &e"t Hondurans etreme&-
po&ariCed and a sense o" insecurit- per!ades dai&- &i"e as cur"e+s are repeated&- and
ar%itrari&- imposed and peace"u& demonstrations repressed.
7he de facto authorities ha!e re"used to a&&o+ @resident Be&a-a to return to Honduras and an
attempt to enter the countr- on 5 9u&- +as "rustrated +hen his p&ane +as %&oc=ed "rom
&anding at 7eguciga&pa airport.
7he regiona& assem%&- o" nations. the Organisation o" American ,tates. has suspended Honduras as
a conse?uence o" the coup and the re"usa& o" those in po+er to engage in dip&omatic initiati!es to
see= a negotiated so&ution to the crisis +hich +ou&d inc&ude the reinstatement o" 2anue& Be&a-a to
the presidenc-. On ' 9u&- /((: the United Nations Genera& Assem%&- issued a reso&ution
)nde: A2R 8#D((1D/((: Amnest- )nternationa& August /((:
5
condemning the coup and demanding the 5immediate and unconditiona&6 reinstatement o" the
constitutiona& go!ernment and e&ected president. 2anue& Be&a-a.
7he "orced remo!a& o" @resident Be&a-a and his epu&sion "rom the countr- has a&so &ed to
+idespread condemnation. and has seen the +ithdra+a& o" dip&omatic representati!es o" the
European Union and a&most a&& *atin American countries "rom Honduras.
Amnest- )nternationa& is pu%&ishing this summar- o" "indings to high&ight serious human
rights concerns +hich shou&d %e addressed as a matter o" urgenc-. 7hese concerns inc&ude
the increasing&- disproportionate and ecessi!e use o" "orce %eing used %- the po&ice and
mi&itar- to repress &egitimate and peace"u& protests across the countr-. 0ema&e protestors are
particu&ar&- !u&nera%&e and some +omen and gir&s ta=ing part in the demonstrations are
reported&- su""ering gender %ased !io&ence and a%use at the hands o" po&ice o""icers. At &east
t+o protestors ha!e died as a resu&t o" gunshot +ounds: nineteen$-ear$o&d. )sis O%ed 2uri&&o
died on 5 9u&- at 7oncontEn airport in 7eguciga&pa. +here protestors a+aited the return o"
@resident Be&a-a. On ' August. 83$ -ear$ o&d teacher Roger A%raham Fa&&eGo died in hospita&
as a resu&t o" inGuries sustained "rom a %u&&et +ound to the head. reported&- "ired %- po&ice
during the %rea= up o" the protest +hich too= p&ace in 7eguciga&pa on 8( 9u&- /((:.
2edia +or=ers and human rights de"enders +ho are &egitimate&- carr-ing out their !ita& +or=
co!ering e!ents in Honduras ha!e a&so %een targeted. )ncreased restrictions on the a%i&it- o"
human rights de"enders and media +or=ers to mo!e "ree&- around the countr- and the erratic
imposition o" cur"e+s are "rustrating the capacit- o" ci!i& societ- to monitor human rights
!io&ations across the countr-. and &imiting their essentia& and &egitimate +or=.
As protests increase and spread throughout the countr-. !io&ent methods o" repressing dissent
intensi"- and Honduran citiCens are increasing&- eposed to !io&ations o" their "undamenta& rights.
Amnest- )nternationa& August /((: )nde: A2R 8#D((1D/((:
HH
EICE,,)FE U,E O0 0ORCE
Amnest- )nternationa& is serious&- concerned at po&icies adopted %- the de facto authorities
to suppress the mounting opposition and. in particu&ar. %- the methods emp&o-ed %- the
po&ice in response to the +idespread demonstrations +hich ha!e occurred since /3 9une
/((:. Ecessi!e "orce %- po&ice and mi&itar- has %een routine and hundreds o" peace"u&
demonstrators ha!e %een su%Gect to ar%itrar- detention. 0or eamp&e. on 8( 9u&- /((:. the
po&ice. supported %- the mi&itar-. %ro=e up a peace"u& march in E& DuraCno. in the capita&
7eguciga&pa. According to e-e +itnesses. the po&ice charged at the thousands o"
demonstrators +ithout +arning. causing panic and chaotic scenes as peop&e tried to "&ee.
2i&itar- personne& +ere dep&o-ed %ehind the ro+s o" po&ice charging at the protestors and
a&&eged&- shouted support "or the po&ice %eating the demonstrators. )t is a&&eged that man- o"
the po&ice in!o&!ed in the !io&ent action against demonstrators +ere "rom the specia&
command 5Co%ra6 %ranch. an e&ite section o" the Honduran po&ice "orce.
E-e +itnesses a&&ege that the po&ice pursued the protestors. %eating man- o" them as the-
"&ed. Near&- a&& those inter!ie+ed %- Amnest- )nternationa& said the- had %een struc= across
the %ac=. %uttoc=s and the %ac= o" the &egs %- the po&ice %atonsJ their ages ranged "rom ':
-ears o&d to 5/ -ears o&d.
Hundreds o" protestors +ere rounded up %- the po&ice and detained in se!era& di""erent po&ice
stations across the capita&. 2ost +ere he&d in t+o po&ice stations: 9e"atura 2etropo&itana K8
Lcommon&- =no+n as the ,tation num%er 1M and Coma-agua po&ice stations. Amnest-
)nternationa& de&egates gained access to the 5,tation num%er 16 and +ere a%&e to inter!ie+
man- o" those detained. At &east #5 peop&e remained in detention at the 5,tation num%er 16
at the time. inc&uding at &east '( students +ho had participated in the peace"u& protest.
A&& '( students inter!ie+ed had %een %eaten on the %ac=. arms and %ac=s o" the &egs %-
mem%ers o" the po&ice +ith %atons. >hen Amnest- )nternationa& inter!ie+ed them some t+o
hours a"ter their arrest no reason had %een gi!en "or their detention and no charges had %een
%rought. ,e!era& o" the students had !isi%&e inGuries "rom +here the- had %een %eaten.
a&&eged&- as the- +ere running or a&read- in po&ice custod-.
One o" the students detained at the po&ice station to&d Amnest- )nternationa& that there had
%een o!er /(( students on the march. a&& on this occasion %eha!ed peace"u&&-. 57he po&ice
+ere thro+ing stones. the- rounded us up. the- thre+ us "ace do+n on the ground and the-
%eat us < there are peop&e +ith "ractures. +ith head +ounds. the- %eat us on the %uttoc=s.
7he- sto&e our cameras. the- %eat us i" +e raised our heads. the- %eat us +hen the- +ere
getting us into the po&ice cars. 7he- said 5Cr- and +eN&& stop6.
#
7+o o" the ten students +ho too= part in the peace"u& march on 8( 9u&- /((:. 7he
imprint o" the po&ice %atons is c&ear&- !isi%&e on %oth students.
0our students A L8(M. D L':M. B L/'M and C L/5M to&d Amnest- )nternationa& that the-
+ere peace"u&&- demonstrating against the de "acto go!ernment on %eha&" o" uni!ersit-
student groups LU@N02 and UNAHM and had %een +a&=ing up the road +ith a&& the
other protestors +hen sudden&- the po&ice charged and a&& the protestors started running
a+a-. 7he po&ice %eat them as the- ran and caught ho&d o" them. continuing to %eat
them a"ter the- had stopped running and +ere &-ing on the ground. 7he- +ere ta=en to a
po&ice !an. One. 5A6. had a &arge cut and %ruise %ehind her right ear +hich she said +as
caused %- a stone thro+n %- po&ice as the- chased them do+n the street. Other
indi!idua&s arrested a&so had inGuries consistent +ith %eing hit or ha!ing something
thro+n at them "rom %ehind.
As se!era& mem%ers o" the po&ice "orce %eat ': -ear o&d 5D6 and 5A6 one o" them
shouted 5*ea!e a&& this crap. -ouN!e got to =no+ the conse?uences o" demonstrating6.
>hen 5A6 p&eaded +ith the po&icemen to stop and reached out to touch the hand o" her
-ounger "riend to see i" she +as a&right. the po&iceman shouted 6,hut up. shut up.
%itchO6
33
5A6: the photo sho+s s+e&&ing and a cut to the %ac= o" one ear and one o" a num%er o"
%ruises and s+e&&ings on her arm and %ac= "rom reaching out to conso&e her "riend as
the po&ice %eat them.
,e!era& o" those inter!ie+ed to&d Amnest- )nternationa& that the po&ice o""icers +ore no !isi%&e )D.
7he- said that some po&ice o""icers had said 5donNt &oo= at us. sons o" %itches6 and that some po&ice
o""icers +ore %andanas to hide their "aces. De&egates +ere a&so to&d %- detainees that the- noticed
the po&ice o""icers on&- used nic=names among themse&!es. ma=ing identi"ication e!en more
di""icu&t.
<*ernandoB 52. a teacher. a&so detained on 8( 9u&-. said 5+e +ere demonstrating
peace"u&&-. ,udden&-. the po&ice came to+ards us. and ) started running. 7he- gra%%ed
me and shouted 5+h- do -ou La&&M support Be&a-aNs go!ernmentP >hether itNs %- choice
or %- "orce. -ou ha!e to %e +ith this go!ernment6. 7he- %eat me. ) ha!e not %een
in"ormed as to +h- ) am here detained.6
@hoto: 50ernando6 +ith %ruising c&ear&- sho+ing +here the po&ice %atons struc=.
:
On ' August /((:. t+o da-s a"ter the demonstration in E& DuraCno. 83$ -ear$ o&d teacher
Roger A%raham Fa&&eGo died in hospita& as a resu&t o" inGuries sustained "rom a %u&&et +ound
to the head. reported&- "ired %- po&ice during the %rea= up o" the protest. )t is uncon"irmed i"
the %u&&et +as a ru%%er %u&&et or &i!e ammunition. An e-e$+itness to&d Amnest- )nternationa&:
5) sa+ him 4Ro%erto A%raham Fa&&eGo; on the ground. +ith a +ound to his &e"t temp&e. 7here
+ere "our %u&&et cases. ) donNt =no+ much a%out +eapons %ut the- &oo=ed &i=e the- +ere "rom
a hand gun. ) too= him to the c&inic. he sti&& had a heart%eat %ut his e-es +ere +ide open and
he +as tota&&- unconscious. in a coma.6 He ga!e the "o&&o+ing account o" the incident: 5A
patro& car +as ad!ancing to+ards the cro+d. and as it turned round at speed. a po&ice o""icer
+ho +as sitting on the %onnet. "e&& o"". ) thin= the po&ice +ho +ere at the side o" the road.
+atching "rom %ehind the trees. thought the demonstrators had done something to the po&ice
o""icer to ma=e him "a&&. and the- started to shoot "rom the &e"t hand side.6
A&& those detained at the 5,tation num%er 16 +ere su%se?uent&- re&eased +ithout charge a
"e+ hours a"ter their detention.
GENDER$BA,ED F)O*ENCE DUR)NG 7HE DE2ON,7RA7)ON
,ome o" the "ema&e detainees and +itnesses said that +omen had %een touched in a seua& +a-
as the- +ere prodded +ith truncheons %- po&ice +hi&e &-ing on the ground under arrest. A&&
those +ho +ere inter!ie+ed said the- had %een %eaten on the %uttoc=s and %ac=s o" the &egs.
One +oman to&d Amnest- )nternationa& that +hen she +as detained she had %een as=ed %- a
po&iceman 5+h- arenNt -ou at home ha!ing se +ith -our hus%andP6
A 81$ -ear$ o&d +oman. *.. +ho had %een %eaten %- po&ice at the same demonstration. %ut
not detained %- the po&ice. to&d Amnest- internationa& ho+ she had a&+a-s %e&ie!ed 57he
po&ice are here to protect us. not to harm us6 and that she +as shoc=ed and traumatiCed at
the !io&ence that she and her 5:$-ear$o&d mother had eperienced at the hands o" the po&ice
during the %rea= up o" the protest. *. and her mother +ere repeated&- %eaten %- po&ice using
%atons. across the %ac= o" the thighs and %uttoc=s. * a&so to&d Amnest- internationa& that the
po&ice sho!ed the %aton do+n her %&ouse. 7he po&iceman said to her 5i" this 4demonstrating;
is +hat -ouNre up to. +e&& this is +hat -ouNre going to deser!e.6 * to&d ho+ her mother had
attempted to co!er herse&" +ith a piece o" c&othing and the po&ice o""icer shouted 57his c&oth
isnNt going to sa!e -ou6.
)nter!ie+ed in Hospita& ,eguridad ,ocia&. 8( 9u&- /((:. 59uanita6 is a teacher at the
Uni!ersit-. and attended the peace"u& march as a mem%er o" the @edagogica& Uni!ersit-
group. 59uanita6 had a %ro=en an=&e +hich re?uired surger-. ,he sustained her inGur-
+hi&e running a+a- "rom the po&ice. +ho pushed her so hard she "e&& "our or "i!e metres
ahead. ,he to&d us that the po&ice had %een thro+ing stones at her. and -e&&ing 5go to he&&.
idiots. &et us +or=6. ,he said that there +ere po&ice %oth ahead and %ehind. and that
peop&e +ere panic=ing +ith no +a- out.
@assers %- "ound her &-ing inGured and too= her to a church to +ait "or the am%u&ance.
+hich too= hours to arri!e. )n the meantime. tear gas +as seeping into the %ui&ding.
adding to her discom"ort and distress.
'( '(
@hoto: 59uanitaNs6 &eg in p&aster. as she a+aited "urther treatment "or her inGuries.
)N7ERNA7)ONA* HU2AN R)GH7, *A> AND ,7ANDARD, ON
@EACE0U* A,,E2B*Q. @O*)C)NG AND U,E O0 0ORCE
On the %asis o" compe&&ing testimon- recei!ed during its !isit to Honduras. Amnest-
)nternationa& considers the securit- "orces ha!e carried out en"orcement operations against
peace"u& protestors in +hich the use o" disproportionate and ecessi!e "orce has %een routine
and +idespread. Using ecessi!e "orce and mass detentions as a po&ic- to manage
demonstrators and peace"u& protestors !io&ates internationa& human rights standards to +hich
Honduras is part-.
Artic&e /' o" the UN )nternationa& Co!enant on Ci!i& and @o&itica& Rights. )CC@R. to +hich
Honduras is part-. sets out the 5right to peace"u& assem%&-6 +hi&e Artic&e # enshrines the
right not to %e su%Gected to torture or crue&. inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
7he UN Code o" Conduct "or *a+ En"orcement O""icia&s states in Artic&e / that 5)n the
per"ormance o" their dut-. &a+ en"orcement o""icia&s sha&& respect and protect human dignit-
and maintain and upho&d the human rights o" a&& persons.6 0urther. Artic&e 8 that 5*a+
en"orcement o""icia&s ma- use "orce on&- +hen strict&- necessar- and to the etent re?uired
"or the per"ormance o" their dut-.6 7he Code emphasiCes that "orce shou&d on&- %e emp&o-ed
in the most etreme o" circumstances and +hen emp&o-ed. the "orce shou&d %e proportiona&
to the situation. "or eamp&e that +hich is strict&- necessar- to pre!ent a crime "rom %eing
committed or to detain the indi!idua&. No "orce shou&d %e emp&o-ed %e-ond this etreme&-
&imited set o" circumstances. 7he use o" "irearms must %e used on&- in the most etreme o"
circumstances
Artic&e : L'M o" the )CC@R states that 5e!er-one has the right to &i%ert- and securit- o"
person. No one sha&& %e su%Gected to ar%itrar- arrest or detention. No one sha&& %e depri!ed o"
his &i%ert- ecept on such grounds and in accordance +ith such procedures as are
esta%&ished in &a+.6 0urther. in Artic&e : L/M the Co!enant esta%&ishes that 5An-one +ho is
''
arrested sha&& %e in"ormed. at the time o" their arrest. o" the reasons "or his arrest and sha&&
%e prompt&- in"ormed o" an- charges against him.6
)n the se!en +ee=s since the mi&itar- %ac=ed coup in Honduras. se!era& hundred peop&e
protesting against the de facto go!ernment ha!e %een su%Gected to ar%itrar- arrest and
detention.
7here a&so are +idespread a&&egations that the po&ice are not maintaining proper records o"
those detained. 7his is a serious concern as peop&e in custod- are !u&nera%&e to other serious
human rights !io&ations such as torture. i&&$treatment and en"orced disappearance.
@o&ice commanding o""icers must immediate&- imp&ement processes to pre!ent "urther
human rights !io&ations. 7he Attorne- Genera&Ns o""ice has an o%&igation to acti!e&- in!estigate
a&& reports o" a%use. i&&$treatment and torture and ensure that those responsi%&e are %rought to
Gustice. According to the ,pecia& @rosecutor "or Human Rights. ,andra @once. the comp&aints
+hich ha!e %een "i&ed against the po&ice and mi&itar- "or human rights !io&ations are %eing
in!estigated. Ho+e!er. Amnest- )nternationa& is una+are o" an- comp&aint ha!ing %een
uphe&d. Amnest- )nternationa& urges the O""ice o" the ,pecia& @rosecutor "or Human Rights to
rigorous&- and impartia&&- pursue such comp&aints and ca&&s on the po&ice and mi&itar-
authorities to cooperate "u&&- +ith the in!estigations.
U,E O0 2)*)7ARQ @ER,ONNE* )N C)F)*)AN *A>
EN0ORCE2EN7 AC7)F)7)E,
,e!era& o" the detainees reported that mem%ers o" the mi&itar-. +ho +ere dep&o-ed %ehind
the po&ice +ho charged the cro+d. shouted 5gi!e it to them. gi!e it to themO6 encouraging the
po&ice as the- %eat the protestors. 7here +ere a&so reports o" mi&itar- personne& thro+ing
stones at the "&eeing protestors.
Chec=points. manned %- mi&itar- and po&ice personne&. ha!e %een maintained on the main
high+a-s in Honduras since the coup detat. Human rights acti!ists and media +or=ers
attempting to carr- out monitoring acti!ities are %eing o%structed and o"ten are una%&e to
pass the road%&oc=s. AuthoriCation to pass the road%&oc=s is &arge&- at mi&itar-. and
occasiona&&- po&ice. discretion and is app&ied ar%itrari&-.
,e!era& non$go!ernmenta& organiCations had tra!e&&ed to E& @araEso in the south o" the countr-
at the end o" 9u&-. as demonstrators had con!erged near the Honduran %order +ith Nicaragua
+here @resident Be&a-a +as attempting to return to Honduras. 7he- to&d Amnest-
)nternationa& the- had ta=en testimon- "rom indi!idua&s +ho had %een detained and he&d in
custod- %- mi&itar- personne&. Detentions +ere usua&&- o" short duration and most +ere
re&eased +ithout charge.
7he use o" mi&itar- personne& a&ongside po&ice to contro& demonstrations and underta=e
ci!i&ian po&icing "unctions is o" concern. 7he United Nations Code o" Conduct "or *a+
En"orcement O""icia&s re?uires that po&ice o""icia&s are accounta%&e. responsi!e and
representati!e o" the communities that the- ser!e. )n order to achie!e this. there must %e a
c&ear separation o" po+ers %et+een the mi&itar- and the po&ice. 7he mi&itar- shou&d not
genera&&- %e used to carr- out ci!i&ian po&icing acti!ities. )n order to ha!e an accounta%&e
po&ice "orce there must %e a c&ear chain o" command and a tracea%&e 5audit trai&6 "or an-
'/ '/
decisions ta=en during the management o" a po&icing operation. >ithout such accounta%i&it-
the ris= o" serious human rights !io&ations such as torture. i&&$treatment and en"orced
disappearances is heightened.
'8
0REEDO2 O0 EI@RE,,)ON. A,,OC)A7)ON AND 2OFE2EN7
E!er-one has the right to "reedom o" opinion. epression. assem%&- and association. 7hese
rights are enshrined in se!era& human rights treaties to +hich Honduras is part- and o%&igated
to upho&d. 7ension and po&ariCation is ri"e in Honduras since the "orced remo!a& o" @resident
Be&a-a. and "reedom o" epression is %eing routine&- curtai&ed and attac=ed as Gourna&ists tr-
to co!er e!ents and pro!ide in"ormation to the Honduran pu%&ic. @o&ice and mi&itar- o""icia&s
are den-ing the right to "reedom o" epression and in"ormation. through the c&osure o" media
out&ets. the con"iscation o" e?uipment and ph-sica& a%use o" Gourna&ists and camerapersons
co!ering e!ents.
Ro%erto Barra. a Chi&iean independent photo$Gourna&ist to&d Amnest- )nternationa& that
he +as co!ering a peace"u& demonstration on 7hursda- 8( 9u&- +here he +as ta=ing
photos o" the peop&e +ho had %een %eaten %- po&ice. He heard someone shout 5Get the
cameras o"" them6 and approimate&- /( po&ice o""icers surrounded him. demanding he
hand o!er the camera. As he re"used to do so the po&ice o""icers %eat him and grapp&ed
+ith him "or %oth o" his cameras. As Ro%erto said 5Not on&- did the- ta=e m- cameras.
7he- %eat me and shouted 5Qou 4Gourna&ists; are responsi%&e "or this situation. "or the
%ad image a%road. son o" a %itch. -ouNre a communist Gust &i=e the rest o" them.6
As o" '8 August. the con"iscated cameras had not %een returned.
@hotos o" Ro%erto Barra. sho+ing %ruising on his nec= as a resu&t o" the "orced remo!a&
o" his cameras and second photo o" %ruising and cuts on Ro%ertoNs head as a resu&t o"
%eing %eaten %- the po&ice.
Amnest- )nternationa& de&egates heard repeated a&&egations that se!era& specia& interest radio
programmes such as 5*a Bu&&aranga6. a programme "or -outh and 57iempo de ha%&ar6. %oth
programmes run %- +omenNs rights non$go!ernmenta& organiCations. and 5Foces contra e&
o&!ido6. a programme run %- the Committee "or the Re&ati!es o" the Disappeared LCO0ADEHM
had transmission interrupted or +ere %&oc=ed comp&ete&- stopped "or periods o" time since
the coup. 2edia out&ets such as Radio G&o%o. Cana& 8H. 2a-a 7F and Radio @rogreso +ere
c&osed do+n %- the mi&itar- and the de facto authorities or ta=en o"" the air. particu&ar&- in
'1 '1
the da-s immediate&- a"ter the coup on /3 9une.
9orge Otts Anderson is the o+ner o" a sma&& independent 7F station 5*a Cum%re6 in the
interior o" the countr-. Co&Rn. He has su""ered harassment %- mi&itar- and po&ice personne&
since t+o da-s a"ter the coup.
57he- came to capture me %ut ) ran a+a-. A"ter+ards the- cut the e&ectricit- up unti& toda- 48'
9u&-;. E!er- da- po&ice come to the 7F station.6 ,ome peop&e +arned 9orge 5donNt come %ecause
the-Nre here. outside the 7F station. ,ince 8( 9une )N!e on&- had se!en da-s +or=. ) ha!e no
income. a&& the ad!ertising +as pu&&ed %ecause peop&e heard +hat had happened. )N!e got no
e&ectricit-. 7he same thing has happened to t+o other media out&ets. %ut the-N!e got e&ectricit-6.
Amnest- )nternationa& is serious&- concerned at the threats and ph-sica& attac=s carried out
%- po&ice and mi&itar- personne& against media +or=ers +ho are &egitimate&- carr-ing out their
important +or= co!ering e!ents in Honduras. 9ourna&ists. photographers and technica& cre+s
+ho are co!ering e!ents shou&d not %e su%Gected to !io&ent assau&t or intimidation and shou&d
%e a%&e to carr- out their &egitimate acti!ities +ithout "ear "or their sa"et- or "ear o" reprisa&s.
7he po&ice and armed "orces must immediate&- stop an- such acts and %e he&d to account "or
those a%uses +hich ha!e a&read- occurred.
CUR0E> 2EA,URE,
7he cur"e+s measures introduced %- the de facto authorities are %eing app&ied ar%itrari&- and
are ha!ing a negati!e impact on human rights. 7he &ega& status o" the cur"e+ measures is
?uestiona%&e. since noti"ication +as not immediate&- pu%&ished in the Gaceta as re?uired %-
the domestic &ega& "rame+or=. 7he cur"e+ &a+ +as a&so not sent to Congress "or appro!a&.
)nstead. the cur"e+ times are announced on radio stations and te&e!ision at '1:((. '3:((
and /':(( hrs each da-. 7he cur"e+ times di""er across the countr- and "rom da- to da-. )n
some regions there has %een a /1 hour cur"e+ in p&ace. such as in E& @araEso and other areas
near the Nicaraguan %order in the south o" the countr-.
7he &ac= o" in"ormation a%out the times o" the cur"e+ and the &ast minute changes to the
same. ha!e &ead to indi!idua&s %eing detained "or !io&ating a cur"e+ the- did not =no+ +as in
p&ace. On one occasion the change to the cur"e+ hour +as announced at '3:'( in the
e!ening. Gust /( minutes %e"ore it +as to %e en"orced. 7his o%&iged peop&e to ta=e she&ter an-
+here the- cou&d i" the- did not ha!e su""icient time to get home. 7he persistent en"orcement
o" the cur"e+ measures has serious imp&ications "or other human rights. such as access to
medica& treatment. education and &oss o" income. particu&ar&- in those areas +here the
&ongest cur"e+ hours are in p&ace.
HU2AN R)GH7, DE0ENDER,
,ince the coup on /3 9une the a%i&it- o" human rights de"enders to carr- out their +or= has
%een se!ere&- impaired. 7here has %een an increase in sur!ei&&ance and se!era& mem%ers o"
di""erent human rights organiCations reported to Amnest- )nternationa& that the- had %een
"o&&o+ed or recei!ed threatening ca&&s and tet messages to their persona& mo%i&e phones.
7he Centre "or the Reha%i&itation and )n!estigation o" Fictims o" 7orture LC@7R7M to&d
Amnest- )nternationa& that a%out a month pre!ious&- L8( 9uneM one o" their representati!es
recei!ed an anon-mous phone ca&& made "rom a ce&& phone. 7he ca&&er said 5stop supporting
'5
crimina&s &i=e Be&a-a. and gi!e the message to Dr A&mendares6. Dr A&mendares is the
Eecuti!e Director o" the C@7R7.
7he director o" another organiCation +hich +or=s speci"ica&&- on +omenNs rights to&d Amnest-
)nternationa& that there has %een sur!ei&&ance since the "irst da- o" the coup. According to
the Director. sur!ei&&ance has %een carried out either %- indi!idua&s in !ehic&es Lsome +ithout
registration p&atesM outside the o""ice. or %- indi!idua&s on "oot. 7he indi!idua&s ha!e %een
%oth uni"ormed and in ci!i&ian c&othes on di""erent occasions. 7he sur!ei&&ance has occurred
a&most e!er- da- and has happened most o"ten %e"ore and a"ter demonstrations. at the usua&
time the organiCation ho&ds its meetings. or at the end o" the +or=ing da- +hen peop&e are
&ea!ing the o""ice.
!n 12 August, Ale3 4atamoros, a human rights defender or(ing ith the 0entre of
Investigation and )romotion of Human %ights =0entro de Investigacion y )romocion de
los $erechos Humanos 0I)%!$.H>, as detained for several hours by police.
5>e had %een "i&ing man- comp&aints a%out human rights !io&ations. On this occasion )
+as sent +ith a co&&eague to !isit t+o indi!idua&s +ho had a&&eged&- %een "ired at %- the
po&ice. >hi&e m- co&&eague +ent to the hospita& to see i" the- had %een ta=en there. )
sta-ed +here the distur%ances Lthe %urning o" a %us and a "ast "ood restaurantM had
occurred. ,ome o" the peop&e +ere "rustrating the access o" the "iremen. %ecause the-
+anted to "ire to continue %urning. 7he riot po&ice arri!ed and at that moment the
persecution started. so ) decided to sta- and o%ser!e the po&ice actions. in m- ro&e as
human rights de"ender. 5
A&e 2atamoros +ent on to sa- 5) noticed that the- particu&ar&- targeted three
-oungsters and the- chased them. 7he -oung peop&e ran into a second$hand car sa&es
compan- to see= sa"et-. %ut +ere trapped there %- the po&ice o""icers. 7he- tied the
hands o" the three -oung peop&e %ehind their %ac=s and %eat them. ) +as at a distance
at that moment o" a%out '5$/( metres "rom the incident. and ) said that there +as no
need to %eat them. that the- a&read- hands tied and that +hat the- 4the po&ice o""icers;
+ere doing +as disproportionate. On hearing this the- trapped me too. &hen I e3plained
to them that I am a human rights defender they ignored me. I presented my I$ card and
the police officer said <(eep this piece of shit, here there are no human rights.B 7he
po&ice o""icer ordered me to ta=e out m- shoe &ace and used that to tie m- hands
together %ehind m- %ac= in the same +a- as the three -oung peop&e. 7he on&- di""erence
+as that ) +as not thro+n on the "&oor as the- had %een.
During this process the- shouted o%scenities at me. such as 5piece o" shit. ru%%ish. son
o" a %itch6 and 5&etNs see i" 2e& 4,ic: @resident 2anue& Be&a-a; +i&& sa!e -ou a&& no+.6
And 5i" -ou +ant to "ight us. come on. arm -ourse&!es no+O6
A&e 2atamoros +as ta=en to the po&ice station a&ong +ith the three -oung peop&e. 7he-
+ere then mo!ed to another station. A&e 2atamoros +as not in"ormed o" the reasons "or
his detention or +hat charges +ou&d %e pressed against him unti& he +as presented +ith
a pre$prepared statement +hich he re"used to sign. As A&e 2atamoros to&d Amnest-
)nternationa& 5>e cou&d see charges "or o""ences such as damage to pri!ate propert- and
'H 'H
pu%&ic disorder.6 E!entua&&- he signed a document in desperation at a%out (8:8( am to
secure his re&ease. 5) shou&d not ha!e signed it. %ut ) +anted to get out. 7he document )
signed said 5at &i%ert- "or no+6. it said ) +as %eing charged +ith 5supposed acts o"
destruction o" pri!ate propert-. pu%&ic disorder and terrorism.6 A&e 2atamoros noticed
that a&& the charge sheets "or a&& those detained +ere identica&. despite the di""erent
circumstances o" the detentions. 57he- re&eased us at (1:(( am. %ut due to the cur"e+
+e cou&d not &ea!e the station to go home unti& (5:8( am.6
Amnest- )nternationa& is deep&- concerned at the harassment to+ards human rights
de"enders and the threats and ph-sica& a%use the- ha!e eperienced +hen carr-ing out their
!ita& +or= monitoring and promoting human rights. Human rights de"enders must %e a%&e to
carr- out their &egitimate +or= "ree "rom harassment. "ear and intimidation. 7heir access to
rura& areas o" the countr- shou&d %e unrestricted. Actions %- mi&itar- and po&ice +hich
"rustrate the a%i&it- o" human rights de"enders to +or=. p&ace in Geopard- the human rights o"
Honduran citiCens a""ected %- the po&itica& crisis.
'#
CONC*U,)ON, AND RECO22ENDA7)ON,
As protests increase and spread throughout the countr-. Honduran citiCens are increasing&-
eposed to !io&ations o" their "undamenta& rights.
Amnest- )nternationa& is concerned that those +ishing to participate in peace"u& protests
against the de facto go!ernment ris= %eing ph-sica&&- attac=ed or %eing ar%itrari&- detained.
Amnest- )nternationa& is a&so concerned that "ema&e protestors are particu&ar&- !u&nera%&e and
that some +omen and gir&s ta=ing part in the demonstrations are reported&- su""ering gender
%ased !io&ence and a%use at the hands o" po&ice o""icers.
Amnest- )nternationa& is "urther concerned at the threats and ph-sica& attac=s carried out %-
po&ice and mi&itar- personne& against media +or=ers +ho are &egitimate&- carr-ing out their
important +or= co!ering e!ents in Honduras. )ntimidation o" human rights de"enders.
increased restrictions on the a%i&it- o" human rights de"enders to mo!e "ree&- around the
countr- and the erratic imposition o" cur"e+s are "rustrating the capacit- o" ci!i& societ- to
monitor human rights !io&ations across the countr- and &imiting the essentia& and &egitimate
+or= o" human rights de"enders.
@o&ice and mi&itar- commanding o""icers must immediate&- imp&ement processes to pre!ent
!io&ence. a%use and use o" ecessi!e "orce. 7he Attorne- Genera&Ns O""ice has an o%&igation to
acti!e&- in!estigate a&& reports o" a%use. i&&$treatment and torture and ensure that those
responsi%&e are %rought to Gustice. Amnest- )nternationa& urges the O""ice o" the ,pecia&
@rosecutor "or Human Rights to pursue such comp&aints and ca&&s on the po&ice and mi&itar-
authorities to cooperate "u&&- +ith the in!estigations.
Amnesty International strongly urges the international community to intensify
efforts to find a solution to the political crisis in order to prevent the spiral into
a human rights emergency in Honduras.
'3 '3

Amnesty International - Honduras 2009

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Amnesty International - Honduras 2009

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Honduras: human

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