HONDURAS: Inter-American Comm. on Human Rights – Preliminary Observations

[Downwinder]

http://hondurasoye.wordpress.com/2009/08/24/honduras-inter-american-comm-on-human-rights-preliminary-observations/

[rabs]

1. Conclusion says it all; devastating for the gorilettis

and something to ponder for Hillary and friends.

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Conclusion


The Commission confirmed during this visit that the coup d’état of June 28 has created a situation of democratic illegitimacy that has a negative impact on the fulfillment of the human rights of all the people of Honduras.


The Commission confirmed the existence of a pattern of disproportionate use of public force on the part of police and military forces, arbitrary detentions, and the control of information aimed at limiting political participation by a sector of the citizenry. This resulted in the deaths of at least four persons, dozens of injuries, thousands of arbitrary detentions, the temporary shutdown of television channels, and threats and assaults against journalists.


The Commission verified the existence of a sharp polarization that has influenced the communications media and that affects the free flow of information and the possibility of a vigorous, unrestrained debate of issues related to the interruption of the institutional order. The Commission was also able to confirm the existence of serious restrictions to the exercise of freedom of expression coming from the de facto government, which have generated an atmosphere of intimidation that inhibits the free exercise of freedom of expression. Finally, the Commission was able to prove the existence of death threats and violent attacks from various sectors against journalists and media outlets due to their editorial position.


Based on the American Convention on Human Rights, ratified by the State in 1977, the State has the international obligation to prevent violations of human rights when they occur, and to investigate, try, and punish those responsible. To this effect, the Commission urges the State to respect the right to life, to humane treatment, to individual liberty, and to freedom of expression.


The Commission would especially like to call attention to the valuable work of human rights defenders. They have played a key role in obtaining information and in working to protect people’s rights, under conditions of personal risk.


The Commission will continue to observe the human rights situation in Honduras in the context of the coup d’état and will make its final report on this visit public in the near future.


The bodies of the inter-American human rights system have maintained on repeated occasions that the democratic system is the principal guarantee for the observance of human rights. In this regard, the Commission considers that only the return to the democratic institutional system in Honduras will make it possible for the conditions to be in place for the effective fulfillment of the human rights of all the people of Honduras.”

http://hondurasemb.org/2009/08/24/preliminary-observations-on-the-iachr-visit-to-honduras/

[Judi Lynn]

2. This is a hard-hitting, critically important report. It's powerful.

They leave no doubt this coup government is deeply off base, operating in a wildly illegal manner, has assumed far more power than it is allowed by law which it has used to strip away inalienable rights of Honduran people. They are operating criminally.

Thanks for posting it, I'm saving it because it's an important piece of information.