|
|
|
From June 28, 2009 (Chronological order, starting in the last one to be granted)
PM 196-09, Amplification - Rebeca Ethel Becerra Lanza and Daughters, Honduras
On April 13, 2010, the IACHR expanded Precautionary Measure PM 196-09 for Rebeca Ethel Becerra Lanza and daughters, in Honduras. The request for precautionary measures alleges that Ms. Becerra had been subject to surveillance in front of her house, times in which she was followed, an attempted break-in at her house, and intimidating phone calls. The request indicates that the acts were reported to the Public Ministry, but that the authorities had not acted. The Inter-American Commission requested that the necessary measures be adopted to guarantee the life and personal integrity of Rebeca Ethel Becerra Lanza and her daughters, that the measures to be adopted be agreed on by the beneficiaries and their representatives, and that the Commission be informed about the steps taken to investigate the facts that led to the adoption of these measures.
PM 95-10 - X and Family, Honduras
On March 24, 2010, the IACHR granted precautionary measures for X, whose identity the IACHR is withholding because he is a minor, as well as for his family, in Honduras. The request for precautionary measures alleges that X, an active member of various student groups and of the National Front for Popular Resistance, has been subject to a kidnapping and to death threats. The Inter-American Commission asked the State of Honduras to adopt the necessary measures to guarantee the life and physical integrity of X and his family; to reach agreement with the beneficiaries and their representatives on the measures to be adopted; and to inform the Commission about the steps taken to investigate the facts that led to the adoption of precautionary measures.
PM 91-10 - Pedro Brizuela, Mateo Enrique García Castillo, and their immediate families, Honduras
On March 19, 2010, the IACHR granted precautionary measures for Pedro Brizuela, Mateo Enrique García Castillo, and their respective immediate families, in Honduras. The request for precautionary measures alleges that Pedro Brizuela and Mateo Enrique García Castillo, who belong to the National Front for Popular Resistance, have been targets of acts of violence and harassment. On February 24, 2010, Claudia Brizuela, daughter of Pedro Brizuela, was shot to death by unknown persons when she opened the door to her house. The request for precautionary measures indicates that both before and after his daughter's murder, Mr. Brizuela received threats on his cell phone. It also indicates that on February 26, 2010, Mr. Mateo Enrique García Castillo was the object of a kidnapping attempt by four men who the day before had infiltrated a march convened by the National Front for Popular Resistance. The Inter-American Commission asked the State to adopt the necessary measures to guarantee the life and personal integrity of Pedro Brizuela, Mateo Enrique García Castillo, and their immediate families; to reach agreement with the beneficiaries and their representatives on the measures to be adopted; and to inform the Commission about the steps taken to investigate the facts that led to the adoption of the precautionary measures, in order to remove the factors placing the beneficiaries at risk.
PM 38-10 - Manuel de Jesús Varela Murillo et al., Honduras
On February 25, 2010, the IACHR granted precautionary measures for Manuel de Jesús Varela Murillo, Ricardo Antonio Rodríguez, and their families, in Honduras. The request for precautionary measures alleges that the beneficiaries, who belong to the Resistance Movement against the coup d'état, had been subject to kidnapping, acts of torture, and death threats. It indicates that on February 2, 2010, they were attacked by 20 individuals in civilian clothing, who were heavily armed and wore ski masks over their faces. It alleges that the beneficiaries were taken to a house where they were blindfolded, hit about the head, and threatened with machetes while being asked where the arsenal was and where the dollars were and being told to abandon the resistance. The beneficiaries indicated that the attackers robbed them of money, a computer, personal documents, and one cell phone. They state that after more than three hours of interrogation and threats to kill their families, they were abandoned in the Víctor Ardon neighborhood. The Inter-American Commission asked the state to adopt the necessary measures to guarantee the life and personal integrity of Manuel de Jesús Varela Murillo, Ricardo Antonio Rodríguez, and their families; to reach agreement with the beneficiaries and their representatives on the measures to be adopted; and to inform the Commission about the steps taken to investigate the facts that led to the adoption of the precautionary measures, in order to remove the factors placing the beneficiaries at risk.
PM 196/09, Amplification - Anselmo Romero Ulloa and María Brígida Ulloa Hernández, Honduras
On February 12, 2010, the IACHR expanded Precautionary Measure PM 196-09 for Anselmo Romero Ulloa and María Brígida Ulloa Hernández, in Honduras. The request for precautionary measures alleges that Mr. Anselmo Romero Ulloa, a member of the National Coordinating Committee for the Resistance, was attacked on November 3, 2009, by a man armed with an Uzi. It alleges that the attacker fired a volley of gunshots near Mr. Romero's face, which left him deaf in one ear, and that another volley passed very close to María Brígida Ulloa Hernández, who lives with Mr. Romero Ulloa. It adds that a complaint was filed with the National Office of Criminal Investigation in Comayagua, but that the Public Prosecutor's Office has yet to proceed with the case. It also indicates that on January 29, 2010, the same person who attacked Mr. Romero Ulloa in 2009 was prowling around the outside of his house, and that the house has been under surveillance at various times by unidentified individuals. The Inter-American Commission asked the State to adopt the necessary measures to guarantee the life and personal integrity of Anselmo Romero Ulloa and María Brígida Ulloa Hernández; to reach agreement with the beneficiaries and their representatives on the measures to be adopted; and to inform the Commission about the steps taken to investigate the facts that led to the adoption of the these measures. The IACHR asked the State to provide information within a 20-day period and to provide updates on a regular basis.
PM 18-10 − Indyra Mendoza Aguilar et
al., Republic of Honduras
PM 196/09, Amplification - Gilberto Vides and his immediate family, Honduras
On January 22, 2010, the IACHR expanded Precautionary Measure PM 196-09 for Gilberto Vides and his immediate family. The request for precautionary measures alleges that on January 7, 2010, Professor Gilberto Vides, of the National School of Fine Arts, was approached by two armed men when he was returning from a resistance march. It indicates that they shot at the windshield and back window of his car and then fled. It also alleges that his home was under surveillance on January 8 and 9, 2010. The Inter-American Commission asked the State to adopt the necessary measures to guarantee the life and personal integrity of Gilberto Vides and his wife and daughter; to reach agreement with the beneficiaries and their representatives on the measures to be adopted; and to inform the Commission about the steps taken to investigate the facts that led to the adoption of the these measures.
PM 196-09 - Amplification of
Precautionary Measure, Nuclear Family of Rasel Antonio Tome, Honduras
PM 196/09, Amplification - Marbin Emilio Hernández Duarte and his immediate family, Honduras
On January 8, 2010, the IACHR expanded Precautionary Measure PM 196-09 for Marbin Emilio Hernández Duarte and his immediate family. Mr. Duarte belongs to a group that does outreach activities related to the Resistance Front and to situations of repression following the June 2009 coup d'état. The request for precautionary measures alleges that on October 18, 2009, the group organized the presentation of a video in the Divanna de Comayagüela neighborhood, where unknown individuals took photos of the group and of the coordinators of the Resistance Front. The request notes that the following day Marco Antonio Martínez Lezama, the coordinator of the resistance movement in that neighborhood, was found dead. The request adds that on October 28, 2009, the same video was shown in the neighborhood of La Fraternidad de Tegucigalpa, and that once again unknown individuals took photos of them. It was reported that on December 22, 2009, Edwin Renán Fajardo Argueta, a member of the group, was found dead at his home and that on that date unknown individuals had followed Mr. Duarte. The request adds that on December 29 journalist César Silva, another member of the group, was kidnapped. It adds that on December 31, 2009, two men with military-style haircuts approached Mr. Duarte's residence, where his two children were playing outside, asked the 9-year-old boy for water, and asked the 5-year-old boy what his father's name was. The Inter-American Commission asked the State to adopt the necessary measures to guarantee the life and personal integrity of Marbin Emilio Hernández Duarte and his family; to reach agreement with the beneficiaries and their representatives on the measures to be adopted; and to inform the Commission about the steps taken to investigate the facts that led to the adoption of the these measures. The IACHR asked the State to provide information within a 20-day period and to provide updates on a regular basis.
PM 196-09, Amplification - César Omar Silva Rosales, Honduras
On December 31, 2009, the IACHR expanded Precautionary Measure PM 196-09 for César Omar Silva Rosales, in Honduras. The request for precautionary measures alleges that journalist Silva Rosales was kidnapped on December 28, 2009, by three armed individuals and that they interrogated him every 10 minutes over a period of approximately 24 hours, during which time he was mistreated, beaten, and threatened with death. The request indicates that he was freed in the vicinity of the Cerro Grande neighborhood, in eastern Tegucigalpa, a place used in the 1980s as a dumping ground for bodies. The Inter-American Commission asked the State to adopt the necessary measures to guarantee the life and personal integrity and the right to freedom of expression of César Omar Silva Rosales, and to investigate the facts that led to this request.
PM 196/09 – Amplification of Precautionary Measures, Honduras
On August 21, 2009, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) decided a new amplification of precautionary measures PM 196-09, in order to safeguard the life and personal integrity of Ms. Hedme Castro, director of the School Alba Nora Gúnera. According to the information received, Ms. Castro has been tailed and has been target of verbal aggression and harassment due to her opposition to the coup d’etat. The information adds that vehicles without plates and with tinted windows are seen around her residence and her workplace, that the school’s gates’ locks have been broken, and that a patrol of 10 soldiers entered the school on August 18, 2009. The IACHR set a 7 day deadline to receive information about the implementation of the required measures. This list of protected persons complements lists transmitted via communications dated June 28 and 29; July 2, 3, 10, 15, 24 and 30; and August 7 and 17, 2009.
PM 196/09 – Amplification of Precautionary Measures, Honduras
On August 17, 2009, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) decided a new amplification of precautionary measures PM 196-09, in order to safeguard the life and personal integrity of Ms. Nelly Guadalupe Doblado Guevara, Mr. Justo Pastor Henríquez and Mr. Eddy René Doblado Guevara. According to the information received, Ms. Nelly Guadalupe Doblado Guevara and her brother Eddy René Doblado Guevara were detained by the security forces in the context of a protest that took place in Comayagua on July 30, 2009, and that they were severely beaten. Additionally, the residence of Ms. Nelly Guadalupe Doblado Guevara and Mr. Justo Pastor Henríquez was the alleged target of an attack with Molotov bombs on the early hours of August 17, 2009. The IACHR set a 5 day deadline to receive information about the implementation of the required measures. This list of protected persons complements lists transmitted via communications dated June 28 and 29; July 2, 3, 10, 15, 24 and 30; and August 7, 2009.
PM 196/09 – Amplification of Precautionary Measures, Honduras
On August 7, 2009, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) decided a new amplification of precautionary measures PM 196-09, in order to safeguard the life and personal integrity of persons in Honduras, who, according to information received, are at risk. The following persons are now included in the framework of precautionary measures 196-09:
· Norma Estela Mejía, vice president of the Sitrajerzeesh union, which is affiliated with the Central General de Trabajadores (CGT), has received death threats because of her opposition to the coup d’état.
· Daniel Durón, national leader of the Central General de Trabajadores (CGT), has received death threats. These threats have included text messages sent to his mobile phone.
· Evangelina Argueta leader of the Central General de Trabajadores (CGT), has received threats via telephone because of her opposition to the coup d’état.
The IACHR set a 48 hour deadline to receive information about the implementation of the required measures. This list of protected persons complements lists transmitted via communications dated June 28 and 29 as well as communications dated July 2, 3, 10, 15, 24 and 30, 2009.
Request for information on the basis of Article 41 of the American Convention
Additionally, the IACHR requested information about the following situations and/or threats and acts of violence against persons. This information is requested within the framework of the competencies offered by Article 41 of the American Convention. The IACHR set a 48 hour deadline to receive information about the following:
Teacher Roger Vallejos Soriano
The IACHR requested information about the death of teacher Roger Vallejos Soriano, who died of a gunshot wound to the head on July 30, 2009.
Detentions
According to information received, various persons have been injured and detained during demonstrations and protests, according to the following details:
The July 30 Demonstration in Comayagüela, in which members of security forces in armored cars violently broke up the demonstrators using both bullets and teargas. According to information received, 61 people were detained, 16 of whom suffered serious injuries: 16 people have been detained and have suffered injuries, broken bones and beatings: Enmanuel Alberto Banegas Caballero, Luis Rodolfo Figueroa, Cristian David Herrera, Carlos Humberto Reyes Banegas, Carlos H. Reyes, Oscar Moncada, Marcial Cruz, Glenys Rodríguez, Alexis García, Nefris Pineda, Ody José Valeriano, Tania Guiselle Guzmán, Carlos Alberto Cuello Canales, Manuel Banegas, Rommel Espinal, Emilio Castro.
45 people have been detained in the Belén police station: Héctor Armando Romero, Raúl Ernesto Meza, Lester Chávez, Eduardo Lagos, Fran Alexander Hermindo, Fredy Ariel Morazan, Marlon Dagoberto Villalobos, Dia Dec Shofol Rodriguez, Eric Alexander Romero, Dagoberto Aristde Moncada, Edas Dalmiro Moncada, José Ramiro Elvir Matamoros, Quintín García Hernández, Alex Osman Sierra Rodríguez, Rafael Pavón, Modesto Aguilar Herrera, Vivian Ramos Mejía, Oscar A. Flores, Luis Moncada, Julio Salas Posas, Marcos Mendoza, Luis Baquedano, Obed Fernando Banegas, Milton Nahun Borjas, Juan José Vargas, David Varrales, Amado Sandoval Peña, Milton Medardo Torres, José Celestino Barahona, Fernando Izaguirrez, Jorge Luis Ortega, Rudy Izaguirre, Daniel Rivera Amador, Juan Barahona, Cesar Adolfo García, Carlos Ramos, Olvin Mejía, Héctor Manuel Herrera, Johan Ordoñez, Abraham Lincol, Gabriel Galeano, Melvin Roberto Vaca, Gerardo Abrachar Soleno López, Héctor Rolando Hernández, Joel Antonio Munguia.
Outpost of Danlí, on the border of Nicaragua, July 29, 2009: Seven Garifunas have been detained by a Honduran police squad in the outpost of Danlí, located on the Nicaraguan border. It is alleged that both their documents and musical instruments were seized and that they were also the subject of discriminatory acts because of their race.
Outpost of Danlí, on the border of Nicaragua, July 25, 2009: The following persons have been detained and are currently in the District 7 Police Post in Danlí, in connection with the acts of violence that occurred in the Department of El Paraíso on July 25, 2009: Adrián Carranza, Alfredo Redondo Comayagua, Ángel de Jesús Rivera Cruz, Arnaldo Hernández, Brayab Ernesto Ávila (15 years old), Carlos Alejandro Hernández, César Samuel Escalante Vásquez, Dave Ezequiel Torres (16 years old), David Orlando de Canton, Eduardo Javier Mendoza (15 years old), Eduardo José Redondo Rudy (17 years old), Eliasa Mejía, Eráclito Isaac Sierra, Eser Peralta Lavaire (Cruz Roja), Feliz Antonio Doblado López, Florentino Urbina Acuña, Fran Anderson Corrales (16 years old), Gustavo Adolfo Suazo, Henry Antonio Molina, (11 years old), Jeremías Gómez Comayagua, Jhonatan Noe Osorio Cañada (17 years old), Joaquín Rueda Muñoz, Jhony Salgado, Jorge Franciso Valle, José Francisco Sanhesdias, Katerine Romero (14 years old), Kenia Sarai Funes (15 years old), Leo Gabriel Astriaco, Lidia Margarita Portillo, Linda Rosio Romero (17 years old), Luis Beltrán Alvardopadilla, Mario Javier García Mayrena, Marlon Iván Méndez, Marta Socorro, Marvin Javier Sánchez, Maycol Jamel Corrales Ventura (13 years old), Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Amador, Milton Ariel Ortiz Sierra (15 years old), Norma Supaya Ruiz Padilla, Nubia Xiomara Valladares, Orlyn Joel Flores, Roberto Bautista, Rony Misael Mejia Mairena, Sabas de Jesús García Ocampo, Santos Ilarios Sánchez, Sergio Raúl Geresano Correa (17 years old), Teresa de Jesús Rivera, Vicenta Bautista, Víctor Isaí Soto Hernández, Vilma Yolanda Flores.
San Pedro Sula, August 3, 2009: On August 3, 2009, dozens of people were detained and many others suffered bruises and broken bones as a result of violence that took place during a demonstration against the coup d’état in San Pedro Sula. According to information received, the acts of violence have been perpetuated by officers of the Special Operations Forces (COBRA) and members of the 105th Brigade, headquartered in San Pedro Sula. Tanks of water, teargas and batons were reportedly used on the protesters, and many were injured. Some of the people who have been reportedly detained as part of these acts of violence are: Eva Aguilar, Marcela Rosales, Porfirio Castro, José Matías Vásquez, Roberto Mejía, Cristobal, Gustavo, José Edgardo Castro (beaten), Profesor Gustavo Mejía (UTR director), Prof. Miguel Ramos (INTAE assistant director), Antonio Carballo (director del reyes), Wilson Mejía, Prof. Alexis Orellana, Prof. Osman (Patria de la lima), Porfirio Casco (Father of the family, Valle de Sula. He was beaten, his car windows were broken and his car was taken from him), Valdemar García, Carlos Muñoz, José Natividad Vásquez, Gustavo Mejía Escobar, Cristóbal Rolando Villafranca, José Luis Argueta, Oscar López, Walter Geovanny Córdova Bermúdez, Edwin Antonio Enamorado, José Antonio Ramos, José Alexis Orellana, Edgardo Castro (his car windows were broken), Manuel de Jesús Ríos, Manuel Dionisio Montes, José Leonel González, Tony Ulloa, Eugeni Castro Mendoza (suffered a broken right arm, and injuries to his left arm), Gustavo Henríquez (suffered a head injury after being struck with the butt of a rifle), Juan Ramón Urbina (suffered blows to his back), José Germán Martínez (suffered blows to his back from the barrel of a gun), and Nelly Marcela Rosales (pregnant, suffered blows to her knee).
Regarding these detentions, the IACHR requested the following information:
Situations
The IACHR likewise requested information regarding the following situations:
· According to information received, Radio Globo indicated that on August 4, 2009, it received a notification from the National Telecommunications Commission of Honduras, which assigns radio and television frequencies. The notification included the solicitation of a lawyer who is presumably part of the legal auditor of the Armed Forces, and requested to suspend the media organization from being used to commit acts of sedition.
· According to information received, an explosive device was thrown at Channel 6’s buildings in San Pedro Sula during the end of July. The channel is known for reporting on both sides of the coup d’état.
· On August 5, 2009, in the city of Tegucigalpa, military forces, the Special Operations Forces (COBRA) and members of the Riot Police repressed a demonstration concentrated in the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH). Concurrent with information received, security forces repressed students using teargas, water tanks with pepper spray and by firing off their guns, presumably using rubber bullets. Additionally, they confiscated the video cameras of students who were trying to document the situation. The total number of demonstrators who were injured is still undetermined. · Specifically, information received indicates that UNAH Rector Julieta Castellanos, Professor Ramón Romero (also said to be the vice-rector of UNAH), University Commissioner Olvin Rodríguez (also said to be the Secretary of the Institution) and Professor Daniel Matamoros Watson were physically harassed by members of the security forces, as they attempted to intercede and end the repression against the demonstrators. Finally, information received indicates that one of the injured students, Allan Noe Hernández, had been transferred to the School Hospital. Another student had received medical attention in a private institution, and the rest of the injured persons received medical attention in the UNAH buildings themselves.
PM 196/09 – Amplification of Precautionary Measures, Honduras
On July 30, 2009, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) decided a new amplification of precautionary measures PM 196-09, in order to safeguard the life and personal integrity of persons in Honduras, who, according to information received, are at risk. This list of protected persons complements lists transmitted via communications dated June 28 and 29 as well as communications dated July 2, 3, 10, 15 and 24, 2009.
The IACHR requested that the necessary measures be adopted to ensure the life and personal integrity of all of the beneficiaries. Through the Commission’s July 30 decision, the following persons are now included in the framework of precautionary measures 196-09:
The IACHR set a 48 hour deadline to receive information about the implementation of the required measures.
Request for information within the framework of PM 196/09:
The IACHR also requested information about the situation of other persons within the framework of PM 196/09. The Commission requested this information in order to evaluate several requests for precautionary measures received in regards to the situations described bellow:
1. Eric Mauricio Navarrete, representative of the Partido Liberal; 2. Elías Arnaldo Guevara, representative of the Partido Liberal; 3. Edna Carolina Echavarría, representative of the Partido Liberal; 4. Eleazar Juárez, representative of the Partido Liberal; 5. Rodrigo Trochez, representative of the Partido Liberal; 6. Manuel de Jesús Velásquez, representative of the Partido Liberal; 7. Javier Hall Polio, representative of the Partido Liberal; 8. Norma Calderón, representative of the Partido Liberal; 9. Gladys del Cid, representative of the Partido Liberal; 10. José Simón Azcona, representative of the Partido Liberal; 11. Edmundo Orellana, representative of the Partido Liberal; 12. Julio Santos, acting representative of the Partido Liberal; 13. Olman Maldonado, acting representative of the Partido Liberal; 14. Dayana Burke, representative of the Partido Liberal; 15. Víctor Cubas, acting representative of the Partido Liberal; 16. Francis Hernández, acting representative of the Partido Liberal; 17. Elvira Argentina Valle, representative of the Partido Liberal; 18. José de la Paz Herrera, representative of the Partido Liberal; 19. Silvia Ayala, representative of the Partido Unificación Democrática (UD); 20. Oscar Mejía, representative of the Partido Unificación Democrática (UD); 21. Marlene Paz, representative of the Partido Unificación Democrática (UD); 22. Tomas Andino, acting representative of the Partido Unificación Democrática (UD).
Request for information on the basis of Article 41 of the American Convention
Additionally, the IACHR requested information about the following situations and/or threats and acts of violence against persons. This information is requested within the framework of the competencies offered by Article 41 of the American Convention. The IACHR set a 48 hour deadline to receive information about the following:
Persons or groups of persons
- Persons whose freedom of movement has been limited along the highway include: the Honduran First Lady, Mrs. Xiomara Castro de Zelaya and her daughter, Xiomara Zelaya Castro, who reportedly attempted to reunite with Constitutional President, Manuel Zelaya Rosales. According to information received, two youths, Armando Licone and Lenin Ernesto Canales, also accompanied the family; - On July 27, 2009, a communication was received stating that the youths, Armando Licona and Lenin Ernestos Canales, had been detained by the de facto government’s security forces and taken to a post in the department of El Paraíso. The youths formed part of the delegation of First Lady Xiomara Castro de Zelaya and intended to travel to Las Manos to reunite with President Manuel Zelaya Rosales; - Moisés Hernández Ventura also suffered a gunshot wound from a 9 millimeter bullet, which presumably shot by a member of the Armed Forces of Honduras; - According to information received by the IACHR, the following persons have been detained in police cells in the department of El Paraíso and other military outposts along the highway to the Nicaraguan border, in Las Manos, in the department of El Paraíso: Mario López, Josefa Escoto, Hayde o Aidé Saravia, Nicole Yánez, Wilfredo Serrano, José Serrano, Eduardo Flores, Donaldo Domínguez, Oqueli Mejia, Marcia García, Martina García, Pedro Aguilar, Ivan Eduardo Sanchez Perez, Cesar Arnoldo Bobadilla, Carlos Geobany Salinas, Elsy Leticia Castellanos, Gilma Siliezar, Lesbia Daniela Velásquez, Julia Bobadilla, Dinora Pineda, Edith Umanzor, Sandra Sandoval, Ramón Roger Díaz, Maritza Azucena Osejo, Concepción Zepeda, Milciades Zuniga, Nidia Osejo, Fatima Melisa Zuniga, Angela Carcomo, Yobany Gonzales, Halvin Alexander Sandoval, Mari Cruz Portillo Varela, Francisco Javier Armas, Blanca Azucena Rodríguez, Balbitrudis sosa Ortiz, Lesbia soriano, Olman Eduardo Soriano, Santos Zacarías Ríos o Santos Sacarías Ríos, Justo Pastor Mondragón, Rufino Aguilar, Karen Martínez, Jonathan de Jesús Canales, Manuel Ordóñez, Clemente Sambrano, Juan Antonio Torres, Domingo Solórzano, Luís Alfredo Funez, Carlos Rodrigues, Oscar Alberto Gonzáles, Rony Martínez (beneficiario de medidas cautelares de la CIDH), Claudia Ruiz, Alexis andino, Juan Carlos García, Oscar Rene Serón, Alfonso Ávila, José Antonio Zelaya, Aída Días Rosales, Flavio Fernando Sevilla Álvarez, Asolia Mineth Gradiz Reyes, Geraldina Pineda, Carmen Sánchez, Vicente Beatriz, Jacobo Pineda, Gustavo Orellana Martínez, Elena Melgar Dubon, Antonio Bustamante, Delhi Patricia Barahona, Merlin Salgado, Nubia Moncada, Oneyda Barahona, Leticia Barahona, Sonia Castillo, Iris Yolanda Ramos Ávila, María Angela Gomes, Elda Barahona, Pablo Balerio, Maria Eugenia Salgado, José Humberto Meza, Javier Escoto Berrios, Santos Cruz.
Situations · The situation of the Guadalupe Carney community, where more than 600 families connected to 45 associated peasant companies live. According to information received, the situation of this community is especially serious, presumably because of written threats delivered by the Cámara de Comercio e Industria de Trujillo. The Cámara de Comercio e Industria de Trujillo have been expressly requesting an armed intervention by Honduran military forces against the aforementioned community, calling it a bastion of resistance against the coup d’état. The group has been threatening to carry out their own armed intervention if the military refuses to intervene.
· Acts of violence committed against the teachers who have been protesting in Tegucigalpa and Comayagüela, presumably by police and military agents. Concurrent with what has been reported, at least eight people have been seriously injured. One of them is identified as teacher Roger Vallejos Sorian, who suffered a gunshot wound to the head. Likewise, leader Carlos H. Reyes, a beneficiary of precautionary measures, suffered a broken arm. Additionally, approximately 200 people have been detained, including Juan Barahona, who is also a beneficiary of precautionary measures. The Commission requested information about these acts and the measures adopted to safeguard the life and personal integrity of the protesters; the identification of persons who have been injured and the state of their health, as well as how they were injured; the identification of all detained persons within the framework of the facts described and the locations where they were arrested, as well as the reason for their detention and if they have communicated with some form of legal representation; and information about the measures adopted to judicially establish the aforementioned facts.
PM 196/09 – Request for Information, Honduras
On July 25, 2009, in the exercise of attributions set forth in Article 41 of the American Convention on Human Rights, the Commission requested information about the situation of the wife, mother, mother-in-law and children of President Manuel Zelaya Rosales. According to information received by the Commission, they were delayed while trying to relocate to the frontier zone to reunite with the President. The IACHR set a deadline of 48 hours to receive information about the situation of these persons. On June 28, 2009, the Commission had solicited information about family members of President Zelaya within the framework of MC 196-09 in order to decide on requests for precautionary measures.
PM 196-09 Amplification of Precautionary Measures, Honduras
On July 24, 2009, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) decided a new amplification of precautionary measures PM 196-09, in order to safeguard the life and personal integrity of persons in Honduras, who, according to information received, are at risk. This list of protected persons complements the lists that were transmitted through press releases issued on June 28, June 29, July 2, July 3, July 10 and July 15, 2009.
The IACHR requested that the necessary measures be adopted to ensure the life and personal integrity of all of the beneficiaries. Through today’s decision by the IACHR, the following individuals are now included in the framework of precautionary measures 196-09:
The IACHR requested that it receive information about the implementation of the required measures before July 29, 2009.
Likewise, in the exercise of attributions offered in article 41 of the American Convention on Human Rights, the Commission requested information about the following persons and situations:
1. The death of Vicky Hernández Castillo (Jhonny Emilson Hernández), member of the transvestite community. Ms. Castillo Hernandez’s body had signs of strangulation and a bullet wound to the head, presumably sustained during raids conducted by the National Police on June 29, 2009, as part of the curfew declared by the de facto regime. 2. The situation of Mr. Ariel Fabricio Varela Moncada, National Technology Coordinator of Care International in Honduras. On June 15, 2009, he allegedly received a telephone call with death threats against his mother, his children and himself. 3. The situation of Mr. Julio César Dubón, about whom the Commission has been informed that on July 15, 2009, armed individuals broke into his house, handcuffed Mr. Dubón and his wife, struck his son and threatened them with death. When the individuals left the house, they allegedly took with them personal goods such as Mr. Dubón’s car, computers and money. 4. The police investigation by employees of the General Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DGINC) into the Reverend Fausto Milla Training Center. The Training Center’s Executive Director, the Rev. Fausto Milla, is the leader of social movements in the western part of the country that have maintained permanent resistance against the de facto regime. Mr. Milla allegedly housed persons who had traveled from another municipality to participate in protests in favor of President Zelaya. 5. The threats and harassment of teachers in the Trujillo and Tocoa municipalities, in the department of Colon, El Paraíso Copan, Jocon Yoro and Olanchito Yoro. The teachers have been striking in protest against the coup d’état since June 28, 2009. According to information received, particularly in El Paraíso Copan, agents of the police forces have sought out teachers, taken them from their homes and obligated them, through beatings, to go to return to the schools. The teachers have been shut inside the schools without water for two days. 6. The barring of entry to the Government House of a Radio Globo journalist, Liliet Díaz, although she is accredited to enter the Government House for one more year. 7. The situation of Channel 8, property of the Government of Honduras. Channel 8 signal was cut on June 28, 2009. When it returned to the air days later, all of the people that had previously worked at Channel 8 had been replaced by new employees. According to information received, everything from programming to publicity has been changed to reflect the editorial opinion of the de facto regime.
The IACHR requested to receive this information no later than July 29, 2009.
PM 196-09 – Request for Information, Honduras
On July 15, 2009, the IACHR decided to request detailed information regarding the situation of the following individuals about whom the Commission has received information indicating they are at risk:
1. Juan Carlos Griffin, Public Prosecutor of Human Rights in Tegucigalpa;
2. Rodolfo Augusto Padilla Sunseri, Mayor of the Municipal Corporation of San Pedro Sula (leader of the liberal party).
Likewise, in the exercise of its authority under Article 41 of the American Convention on Human Rights, the IACHR requests information on the situation of the following individuals and events:
1. the murder, on July 11, 2009, of popular leader Roger Bados, in San Pedro Sula;
2. the murder, on July 12, 2009, of popular leader Ramón García, in Santa Bárbara;
3. the detention, on July 11, 2009, of journalists from the media organizations TeleSUR and Venezolana de Televisión, and the implementation of immigration operations on July 12, 2009, at the hotel in which the journalists were staying. The Commission requested detailed information about this event, as it is particularly aware that six of these journalists are protected by the precautionary measures handed down in this matter.
PM 196-09 Amplification of Precautionary Measures, Honduras
On July 10, 2009, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) decided a new amplification of precautionary measures PM 196-09, in order to safeguard the life and personal integrity of persons in Honduras, who, according to information received, are at risk. This list of protected persons complement the lists that were transmitted through press releases issued on June 28, June 29 and July 2, 2009.
The IACHR requests that the necessary measures be adopted to ensure the life and personal integrity of all of the beneficiaries. In respect to those who have been arbitrarily detained and/or whose whereabouts remain unknown, the Commission requested to be informed of their whereabouts immediately. In the case of those arbitrarily detained, the Commission requested that these individuals be freed immediately. The IACHR requests that it receive information about the implementation of these required measures no later than July 15, 2009.
Through the amplification decided on July 10, 2009 by the IACHR, the following persons are now included in precautionary measures 196-09:
The IACHR also requests information regarding the situation of the following persons. The Commission received information indicating that they are at risk because of their roles as union leaders:
Likewise, in the exercise of the attributions offered by Article 41 of the Inter-American Convention on Human Rights, the Commission requests information about the situation of the following people and events:
People:
Events
Freedom of expression
Letter sent by the de facto authorities in Honduras to the IACHR in response to PM 196-09
On July 3, 2009, the IACHR decided to further expand precautionary measures PM 196-09 in order to safeguard the life and personal integrity of the following individuals who have been indicated to be at risk. This list of protected persons complements the lists included in communiqués on June 28 and 29 and July 2, 2009.
The IACHR requested that necessary measures be adopted to ensure the life and personal integrity of all the beneficiaries. In particular, with respect to those who have been detained or whose whereabouts are unknown, the Commission requested that information be provided on their whereabouts, and in the case of arbitrary detentions, that these individuals be released immediately. The IACHR set a 48-hour deadline for information to be provided on the implementation of the required measures. Through today’s decision by the IACHR, the following individuals are now included in the precautionary measures:
1. Adán Funes, Mayor of Tocoa, Colón;
2. Adelmo Rivera, Mayor of Sonaguera, Colón;
3. Buenaventura Calderón, community leader of Puerto Lempira, Gracias a Dios;
4. Dagoberto Rodríguez, director of the Cadena Voces radio station. It has been indicated to the Commission that he had received telephone threats;
5. Esteban Félix, Associated Press journalist. According to the information received, he was detained on June 29, 2009, and taken to an immigration office where he was questioned about his visa status for working in the country;
6. Evelio Sánchez, community leader of Guapinol, Tocoa, Colón;
7. Fabio Ochoa, local president of the Democratic Unification party in Tocoa. According to the information received, he had been the victim of a shooting before the coup d’etat and was in critical condition when he was removed from the hospital where he was being treated;
8. Felipe Antonio Gutiérrez, community leader of Guapinol, Tocoa, Colón;
9. Filemón Flores, advisor to the Mayor of Tocoa, Colón;
10. Geraldina Cerrato, in charge of the Municipal Women’s Office in the city of Tocoa;
11. Humberto Maldonado, community leader of Guapinol, Tocoa, Colón;
12. Iris Munguía, Coordinator of the Banana Growers Union of Honduras. According to the information received, she was detained on July 2, 2009, at a demonstration in San Pedro Sula, and her whereabouts are unknown;
13. Juan Ramón Sosa, journalist for La Tribuna. According to the information received, he was beaten and insulted by police officers while he was covering a demonstration on June 29, 2009. His camera was also reportedly confiscated;
14. Manuel Membreño, community leader of Guapinol, Tocoa, Colón;
15. Nicolás García, Associated Press journalist. Information was received indicating that he was detained on June 29, 2009, and taken to an immigration office where he was questioned about his visa status for working in the country;
16. Waldemar Cabrera, community leader of Puerto Lempira, Gracias a Dios; and
17. Wilfredo Paz Maestro, member of the Honduras Federation of Teaching Organizations.
In addition, the Commission set a 24-hour deadline for detailed information to be provided regarding the following situations:
State of emergency
1. The repression of peaceful demonstrations, as a result of which individuals reportedly have disappeared or have been wounded or beaten, and in which teargas bombs reportedly were thrown. Information is requested in particular regarding a demonstration in San Pedro Sula on July 2, 2009; and
2. The attack on the newspaper La Prensa, in San Pedro Sula, on June 29, 2009, in which a group of demonstrators reportedly threw sticks and rocks at the entrance to the newspaper offices.
The Commission’s decisions are based on requests for precautionary measures and facts of public knowledge. This list of situations for which information is requested also complements the lists included in communiqués on June 28 and 29 and July 2, 2009.
In its letter, the Inter-American Commission also reiterated that, in accordance with the provisions of the American Convention on Human Rights, all necessary measures must be adopted to ensure the life and personal integrity of human rights defenders, journalists, relatives of President Zelaya, and international observers who are in Honduras.
MC 196-09 - Amplification of Precautionary Measures, Honduras
On July 2, 2009, the IACHR decided a new amplification of precautionary measures PM 196-09 in order to safeguard the life and personal integrity of persons in Honduras who, according to the information received, are at risk. The IACHR requested that necessary measures be adopted to assure the life and personal integrity of all of the beneficiaries. In respect to those who have been arbitrarily detained and/or whose whereabouts remain unknown, the Commission requested to be informed of their whereabouts immediately. In the case of those arbitrarily detained, the Commission requested that these individuals be freed immediately. The IACHR set a deadline of 48 hours to receive information about the implementation of these required measures. Through this amplification, the following persons are now included in precautionary measures 196-09:
1. Adriana Sivori, TeleSUR journalist; According to information received by the Commission, military forces arbitrarily detained her, confiscated her equipment and documents and took her to an unknown location;
2. Alan McDonald, cartoonist; According to information received by the Commission, he and his 17-month-old daughter were detained after soldiers allegedly ransacked his house and destroyed his cartoons;
3. Alejandro Villatoro, Radio Globo journalist;
4. Andrés Pavón Uribe, member of the Honduran Human Rights Committee;
5. Ángel Alvarado; member of the National Resistance Committee;
6. Arcadia López, Staff Minister in the Presidential House;
7. Bertha Oliva de Nativí, member of the Committee for Family Members of the Detained and Disappeared in Honduras;
8. Carlos Eduardo Reina, member of the National Resistance Committee;
9. Carlos Humberto Reyes, member of the bloque popular;
10. Carlos Melano, assistant to President Zelaya;
11. Clyborn St. John, TeleSUR journalist;
12. Danny Reyes, director of the LGTB Rainbow Association of Honduras; According to information received by the Commission, he was taken to a political station on June 29, 2009;
13. David Ellner Romero, Canal 36/Radio Globo journalist; According to information received by the Commission, he was forcibly disappeared on June 28, 2009 by masked military forces;
14. Doris García, leader of the National Women’s Institute;
15. Eduardo Maldonado, Canal 36 journalist; According to information received by the Commission, he was forcibly disappeared on June 28, 2009 by masked military forces;
16. Edward Yeferí Lobo Sánchez, defender of the rights of children and youth;
17. Enrique Flores Lanza, Presidential Secretary;
18. Enrique Reina, assistant to President Zelaya;
19. Eulogio Chávez, member of the National Resistance Committee;
20. Franklin Meija, Radio Globo journalist.
21. Freddy Quintero, TeleSUR journalist; According to information received by the Commission, military forces arbitrarily detained him, confiscated his equipment and documents and took him to an unknown location;
22. Guillermo de Jesús Mayen Jiménez, defender of the rights of children and youth, and member of the political party Union Democratica; According to information received by the Commission, he was pursued and hounded by security forces because of his association with Union Democratica;
23. Hector Licona, employee of the LGTB Rainbow Association of Honduras; According to information received by the Commission, he was taken to a political station on June 29, 2009;
24. Israel Moreno, director of Radio Progreso;
25. Israel Salinas, member of the Majority Union;
26. Juan Barahona, member of the bloque popular;
27. Larry Sánchez, TeleSUR journalist; According to information received by the Commission, military forces arbitrarily detained him, confiscated his equipment and documents and took him to an unknown location;
28. Lidieth Díaz, Radio Globo journalist;
29. Luter Castillo Harris, Chief of International Cooperation in the Chancellery of the Republic;
30. Madeleine García, TeleSUR journalist;
31. Marco Tulio Burgos Córdova, commissioner for the National Permanent Committee of Contingencies;
32. María José Díaz, TeleSUR journalist; According to information received by the Commission, military forces arbitrarily detained her, confiscated her equipment and documents and took her to an unknown location;
33. Marvin Ponce, National Congressional Deputy for the party Unificacion Democratica;
34. Matilde Durón Ochoa, defender of the rights of children and youth;
35. Mayra Mejía, Labor Secretary
36. Milton Jiménez Puerto; President of the Banks and Securities Committee;
37. Miriam Mejh, Youth Institute;
38. Orlando Villatoro, Radio Globo journalist;
39. Patrick Pavón; employee of the LGTB Rainbow Association of Honduras; According to information received by the Commission he was attacked by members of the National Police and armed forces;
40. Rafael Alegría, national director of the Via Campesina;
41. Regina Osorio, TeleSUR journalist;
42. Roger Ulises Peña, unionist; According to information received by the Commission he was thrown to the ground at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, June 29, 2009 by a military command, and his health is now critical;
43. Rony Martínez; Radio Globo journalist;
44. Salvador Zúñiga; member of the Consejo Cívico de Organizaciones Populares e Indígenas de Honduras;
45. Sara Elisa Rosales, member of the Las Lolas and Feminist Movement;
46. Tomás Andino Mencía; defender of the rights of children and youth
Additionally, the Commission requested information with a deadline of 48 hours on the following situations:
State of emergency
1. whether exceptional measures to restrict or suspend individual rights have been taken, and, in that case, what measures have been adopted to ensure respect for irrevocable fundamental rights and judicial guarantees;
2. decree 011-2009, by which fundamental rights were restricted;
3. whether any deaths have taken place in connection with the coup d’état, and, in this case, specific information on those deaths;
4. the forced recruitment of children and adolescents to the Military;
5. the total number of the detentions that took place beginning on June 28, 2009, in connection with the coup d’état or in later operations to control the public order; complete identification of the detained persons and reasons for their detention; whether any persons are being detained in military or police establishments; whether there any of the detained persons are incommunicado and the time lapsed under this condition; and whether there are judicial resources available and functioning to review the causes and conditions of these detentions.
6. the takeover of HONDUTEL by military forces; and
7. the alleged deliberate shut down of electricity and telephone services.
Freedom of expression
1. the shutting down of Channel 36, Channel 8 and State media;
2. the alleged prohibition on reproducing or broadcasting declarations of officials of the Government of President Zelaya by newspaper el Tiempo and Channel 11;
3. the alleged takeover and closing of Radio Progreso by military forces;
4. the alleged order, under threat of force, that two TeleSUR teams dismantle their equipment and interrupt their transmissions;
5. the alleged prohibition on cable TV broadcast channels (TeleSUR, CNN, CubaVisión Internacional); and
6. the takeover of Radio Globo by military forces and the alleged attacks, threats and intimidation against its staff.
MC 196-09 - Amplification of Precautionary Measures, Honduras
On June 29, 2009, the IACHR amplified the precautionary measures in favor of Edran Amado López, Bertha Cáceres and César Ham. According to information received by the IACHR, military forces have been surrounding the house of Bertha Cáceres, member of the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (Consejo Cívico de Organizaciones Populares e Indígenas de Honduras). Military forces have allegedly also surrounded the house of César Ham, Representative in the National Congress by the Partido Unificación Democrática. The military also allegedly fired on Representative Ham’s house with machine-guns. Additionally, Edran Amado López, a journalist on the TV Channel 36 program Cholusatsur, was allegedly detained and his whereabouts remain unknown. The IACHR requested that the necessary measures be adopted to guarantee the life and personal integrity of the beneficiaries. In the case of Edran Amado López, the Commission also asked for information about his whereabouts and, should he be arbitrary detained, that he be released immediately. The IACHR asked that information regarding the implementation of these amplified measures be transmitted urgently, no later than July 1, 2009. The IACHR set the same July 1 deadline to receive information from Honduras regarding the situation of Roger Ulises Peña, Alan McDonald, Adriana Sivori, Larry Sánchez, María José Díaz and Freddy Quintero. According to the information received, Roger Ulises Peña, a union member, was allegedly attacked by a military command on June 29, 2009, and that his current health situation is very critical. Alan McDonald, a cartoonist, was allegedly arbitrarily detained along with his 17-month-old daughter when a group of soldiers allegedly raided his house and destroyed his cartoons. Military forces allegedly arbitrarily detained TeleSUR correspondents Adriana Sivori, Larry Sánchez, María José Díaz, and Freddy Quintero, and confiscated their notes and equipment.
The IACHR also set a July 1 deadline for receiving information from Honduras as to whether a state of emergency has been declared, and, in this case, what measures have been adopted to ensure respect for irrevocable fundamental rights and judicial guarantees. Furthermore, the Commission requests information as to whether any deaths have taken place in connection with the coup d’état, and, in this case, specific information on those deaths; and the total number of the detentions that took place beginning on June 28, 2009, in connection with the coup d’état or in later operations to control the public order; complete identification of the detained persons and reasons for their detention; whether any persons are being detained in military or police establishments; whether there any of the detained persons are incommunicado and the time lapsed under this condition; and whether there are judicial resources available and functioning to review the causes and conditions of these detentions.
Regarding the status of freedom of expression, the IACHR requests information from Honduras about the alleged shutting down of Channel 36, Channel 8 and State media; the alleged seizure of HONDUTEL by military forces; the alleged deliberate shut down of electricity and telephone services; the alleged order, under threat of force, that two TeleSUR teams dismantle their equipment and interrupt their transmissions; the alleged prohibition on cable TV broadcast channels (TeleSUR, CNN, CubaVisión Internacional); the alleged prohibition on reproducing or broadcasting declarations of officials of the Government of President Zelaya by newspaper el Tiempo and Channel 11; the seizure of Radio Globo by military forces and the alleged attacks and threats against its staff, including Alejandro Villatoro, Lidieth Díaz, Rony Martínez, Franklin Mejía, David Ellner Romero, and Orlando Villatoro; the alleged seizure of Radio Progreso by military forces; the measures adopted to guarantee the life and personal integrity of an El Heraldo newspaper journalist, who was allegedly attacked by private persons during a protest in front of the Presidential House; and the alleged detention of 22 buses containing indigenous peoples from Olancho and Jesus de Otoro.
PM 196/09 – Foreign Minister of Honduras, Patricia Rodas, and request of information on other persons
On June 28, 2009, the IACHR granted precautionary measures in favor of the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Honduras, Ms. Patricia Rodas. The decision adopted by the Commission is based on requests for precautionary measures presented by several organizations, as well as on publicly-known recent events, according to which Minister Rodas has been arbitrarily deprived of her liberty and her whereabouts remain unknown. The IACHR requested the State of Honduras to clarify her situation and her whereabouts; to adopt the necessary measures to guarantee her life and personal integrity; and to ensure her immediate freedom. The Commission informed the State that it should receive information about the implementation of the requested measures in an urgent manner, no later than June 30, 2009.
Moreover, the Commission requested that the State of Honduras provide information on the situation of other high State officials, relatives of President Manuel Zelaya and social leaders so that it can decide on whether to grant several requests for precautionary measures. The IACHR established the same deadline of June 30, 2009, to receive information about the situation of these persons and on any other measure that might be adopted to safeguard their security. The following is the list of persons about whom the IACHR requested information:
State Authorities:
César Ham,
Representative in the National Congress by the Partido Unificación
Democrática; Enrique Flores Lanza, Secretary of the Presidency; Mayra Mejía, Secretary of Labor; Doris García, Minister of the National Institute of Women; Miriam Mejh, Youth Institute; Milton Jiménez Puerto, President of the Commission of Banks and Insurance; Marco Tulio Burgos Córdova, National Commissioner of the Permanent Committee of Contingencies; Luter Castillo Harris, Manager of External Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Relations; Arcadia López, Staff Minister in the Presidential House; Carlos Melano, assistant to President Zelaya; Enrique Reina, assistant to President Zelaya; and All other Ministers, Vice Ministers and members of the Cabinet of President Zelaya Rosales.
Relatives of President Manuel Zelaya
Popular Leaders Rafael Alegría, national leader of Vía Campesina; Ángel Alvarado, of the Comité Nacional de Resistencia; Juan Barahona, of the Bloque Popular; Bertha Cáceres, of the Consejo Cívico de Organizaciones Populares e Indígenas de Honduras (COPIHN); Eulogio Chávez, of the Comité Nacional de Resistencia; Bertha Oliva de Nativí, of the Comité de Familiares Detenidos – Desaparecidos de Honduras (COFADEH); Andrés Pavón Uribe, of the Comité de Derechos Humanos de Honduras (CODEH); Marvin Ponce, of the Consejo Cívico de Organizaciones Populares e Indígenas de Honduras; Carlos Eduardo Reina, of the Comité Nacional de Resistencia; Carlos Humberto Reyes, of the Bloque Popular; Sara Elisa Rosales, of the organization Las Lolas y Movimiento Feminista; Israel Salinas, of the Sindicato Mayoritario; and Salvador Zúñiga, of the Consejo Cívico de Organizaciones Populares e Indígenas de Honduras.
The mechanism for precautionary measures is established in Article 25 of the Rules of Procedure of the IACHR. The Rules of Procedure establish that, in serious and urgent situations, the Commission may, on its own initiative or at the request of a party, request that a State adopt precautionary measures to prevent irreparable harm to persons or to the subject matter of the proceedings in connection with a pending petition or case, as well as to persons under the jurisdiction of the State concerned, independently of any pending petition or case. The measures may be of a collective nature to prevent irreparable harm to persons due to their association with an organization, a group, or a community with identified or identifiable members. As a result, the number of precautionary measures granted does not reflect the number of persons protected by their adoption; as can be seen below, many of the precautionary measures issued by the IACHR protect more than one person and, in certain cases, groups of persons such as communities or indigenous peoples. Moreover, the Rules of Procedure establish that the granting of such measures and their adoption by the State shall not constitute a prejudgment on the violation of the rights protected by the American Convention on Human Rights or other applicable instruments.
|
