Honduras HR Issues: July 2014.pdf

In July 2014, the issue of child migrants dominated headlines, with concerns about those deported from the US. The UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women described the environment these children flee as having a "climate of fear" and a lack of accountability for human rights violations. Incidents involving beneficiaries of precautionary measures included the abduction of Garífuna land rights defenders and two Catholic priests supporting communities opposing mining, as well as their PROAH accompaniers.

There were disturbing revelations about the US DEA's attempts to intimidate a survivor of the Ahuas tragedy into changing her testimony. Another journalist was murdered, and more suffered intimidation, including by the president. A lawyer was murdered, likely due to his support for land rights, and a LIBRE activist was the victim of a failed murder attempt and long-term police persecution.

In the Bajo Aguán, there was a violent eviction of the Paso Aguán farm, with persecution of the campesinos' supporters. On a positive note, Chabelo, a campesino wrongfully imprisoned since 2008, was granted an appeal, and an army colonel was convicted of closing down a TV station during the coup.

The Honduran Congress approved the Bill for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, Journalists, Social Communicators, and Justice Operators on its second reading. The Bill consists of 71 articles and is now subject to consultation with affected groups before its definitive passage.

Amnesty International issued an urgent action following the temporary abduction of a group from the Garífuna organization OFRANEH, including its general coordinator, Miriam Miranda. They were visiting a remote area in the Garífuna territory when they were captured by four heavily-armed men. The army was sent to the area to ensure the protection of those abducted, but there is concern about the security of Miriam Miranda and other Garífuna members and their families when they return to their homes.

Miriam Miranda was granted precautionary measures by the IACHR in 2011, and Amnesty International is calling on the state to fully implement them and provide effective protection to all members of the Garífuna community. The Garífuna community has struggled to take possession of their land since INA granted them title deeds to 980 hectares in Vallecito in 1997.

Amnesty International also issued an urgent action on behalf of Ángel Amílcar Colón Quevedo, ex-president of OFRANEH, announcing that it had adopted him as a Prisoner of Conscience. He was detained by police in Mexico in March 2009 and tortured to falsely implicate himself in criminal activity. His wife only heard that he was alive in September 2009, six months after his arrest.

The allegations of torture had been confirmed by experts from the Honduran organization CPTRT, and Roberto Herrera, the CONADEH, has joined the calls for the withdrawal of the charges against Ángel Amílcar Colón, his immediate release, and an investigation into the reports of torture.