Munich / Vienna, 06.02.2011
The in a network of 28 cooperating organizations and the media active delegation from ten German and Austrian journalists and members of various human rights organizations remained of 6 to 20 December 2010 in Honduras.
aim of the project was to collect information on current human rights situation at first hand to grasp the demands of the democracy movement and then the knowledge gained in Europe to make known. To this end, the visit Honduran delegation to various human rights organizations and representatives of the democracy movement.
Furthermore, the delegation met with participants in national and international institutions so that their respective positions on the political situation to bring in experience and to confront them with the results of the delegation.
OPERATORS * INTERIOR:
Germany : Ecumenical Office for Peace and Justice Association
Supporters Oscar-Romero-Haus eV
Austria : IGLA Information Group Latin America Austria
PARTNERS * INTERIOR:
Germany: FIAN International Secretariat, Rosa Luxembourg Foundation, Member of Parliament Heike Hänsel (The Left), CIR - Christian Initiative Romero eV, queer alliance Walter Tróchez, ila - Latin America Observatory Association, portal amerika21.de, ZAPAPRES eV Mexico news import, Guatemala Berlin Committee, Refugees Central America, FDCL - Research and Documentation Centre Chile Latin America, Latin America news, CAREA eV, Elote eV, EED - Church Development Service
Austria : ÖBV - Vía Campesina Austria, FIAN Austria, GBW - Green Education Workshop Vienna, Austria ATTAC, International Fellowship of Reconciliation Austria, Austria Women's Solidarity, club SÜDWIND development policy, Guatemala Solidarity Austria, Basic International Development Group, SoL - People for Solidarity, Ecology and Lifestyle
A) PROGRAMME OF DELEGATION
| Monday | 6th December 2010 | Tegucigalpa | chaac (Honduran action civic action); Comisión de Verdad (Alternative Truth Commission); Los Necios (political youth group) |
| Tuesday | 7th December 2010 | Tegucigalpa | FNRP (Resistance Front) artists in resistance |
| Wednesday | 8th December 2010 | | trip to Bajo Aguan |
| Thursday | 9th December 2010 | Bajo Aguan, Colón | Visiting cleared settlement Panama (MUCA) and the community Guadalupe Carney (MCA) (farmers organizations) |
| Friday | 10th December 2010 | Bajo Aguan | visits to settlements of MUCA and MARCA (farmers organizations) |
| Saturday | 11th December 2010 | Trinidad, Santa Barbara | participation in the political Arts Festival "Chimeneas" |
| Sunday | 12th December 2010 | Macuelizo, Santa Barbara | Patronato Regional del Occidente PRO (rurale based organization) |
| Monday | 13th December 2010 | Tegucigalpa | visit to the sham court proceedings in court "La Granja"; CPPEPH (Committee of Political Prisoners, persecuted politically and exiles); LGBT movement (Lesbian / Gay / Bi / Trans); Vía Campesina |
| Tuesday | 14. December 2010 | Zacate Grande | community Coyolito, Urban Radio "La Voz de Zacate Grande |
| Wednesday | 15th December 2010 | La Esperanza | COPINH (Indigenous Organisation) |
| Thursday | 16th December 2010 | Tegucigalpa | German Embassy; European delegation; COFADEH (human rights organization); youth in the resistance; liberals in resistance |
| Friday | 17th December 2010 Official | Tegucigalpa | Truth Commission; artists in resistance; LGBT |
| Saturday | 18th December 2010 | Tegucigalpa | Evaluation |
| Sunday | 19th December 2010 | Tegucigalpa | evaluation; alternative truth commission |
| Monday | 20th December 2010 | Tegucigalpa | press conference; German Embassy; International Commission of FNRP |
B) SUMMARY OF RESULTS
The delegation was able to determine through discussions, meetings and interviews in Tegucigalpa and other parts of the country a general climate of the violation of human rights, both first and second and third generation . In several cases, the delegation participants witnessed violations of civil and political rights as the right to life, the right to liberty and physical integrity and the right to freedom of expression. The delegation is in view of the over 100 political killings without legal process to investigate a general climate of impunity fixed.
same time, and inseparably, the group saw them with numerous violations of economic, social and cultural rights face. The most serious violations of human rights, the second generation affected the right to food, which are visible in the Honduran land disputes and in the great social inequality in the country.
regards the third generation human rights, which includes the collective rights can be said that a majority of the population are denied access to a clean environment and the possibility of free self-development, while the rights of a small and privileged part of society can be perceived.
The delegation noted that the human rights situation has worsened since the coup in June 2009. Even the current regime Pepe Lobo's, has far from his promises of a return to democracy and reconciliation after the crisis, not so far contributed to the improvement of the situation. Instead, witness the climate of impunity, political killings and the increased privatization trends, especially in the field of social services and public goods, with an intensification of the situation.
The following are the most serious Incidents and human rights violations summarized
1) COPINH and the privatization of rivers
In La Esperanza, Intibucá opposed to the indigenous organization COPINH (Consejo Cívico de Organizaciones Populares e Indigenas de Honduras) the award of a series of concessions to use the rivers, which constitute a violation of the ILO Convention 169th
In that article 6, paragraph 1, states: "In implementing the provisions of this Convention, governments have a) the relevant to consult with people through appropriate procedures and in particular through their representative institutions, whenever legislative or administrative measures that it may affect them directly, be considered; [...]".
Water Use Act (Ley General de Aguas) in September 2009 affected the living conditions in rural communities strong by facilitating the licensing of 300 rivers across the country path. For 47 of these waters already existing concession contracts.
Berta Cáceres reportage showing COPINH that have taken place in the west 20 open town meetings of the indigenous communities in which the licensing of the rivers in the area was clearly rejected, but the government Porfirio Lobo gave no attention, and approved the licensing.
2) land conflict in Bajo Aguan
The human rights of the second generation, including the right to health, education and food are in the zone "Bajo Aguan" in the northern province Colón violated continuously. Failure to respect these rights results from the violent conflict over land ownership, which will put the violation of the right to physical integrity with it.
The few advances that have been achieved with the agrarian reform of 1972 went to the law on the modernization of the agricultural sector in 1992 lost, and below the current de facto government, which has a concentration of land ownership in the hands of advancing the few experienced this situation additional tightening.
The human rights organization FIAN, CDM, and COFADEH CIPRODEH with which the delegation of 8 to 11 December 2010 took part in a trip to Aguan, denounced complicity between the military, police and private security forces of the landlords. residents of the settlement in the town of Paso Aguan Panama, on the delegation at the ninth eviction present in December 2010 was reported on the presence of private security guards of the landowner Miguel Facusse during the eviction action. The delegation notes the militarization of the region, the repression of the peasant population and the lack of respect for almost all of their rights with great concern.
example for the direct involvement of state institutions to serious human rights violations, the kidnapping of the peasant leader and journalist Juan Chinchilla is on 8 January 2011. Chinchilla was two days of military, police and paramilitary forces detained and tortured before he could by chance and not least to escape thanks to international protests. His statement is documented under
3) land conflict in Zacate Grande
In Coyolito, a town on the peninsula Zacate Grande, was the delegation witnessed a land conflict between the local population and the bank HSBC. In this context include the following articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in imminent danger: Article 17 (Property), Article 23 (work) and Article 25 (food and housing).
When the delegation on Tuesday the 14th December Coyolito arrived, was José Luis Hernández, employers of 37 residents of the community without presenting a warrant arrested by the police and the evacuation of his property and his house has been announced.
members of the community expressed their solidarity with him and his family, and defended the entrance to the village in a peaceful way to prevent the arrival of military and police.
According to information of this blockade COFADEH was cleared the following morning and arrested 14 persons, including three employees of the local youth radio station "La Voz de Zacate Grande. The villagers Pedro Canales said: "The village Coyolito existed for 100 years and the residents have tried to land titles for their land. They have been denied us. Suddenly diving representatives of HSBC bank with titles. "
Behind these incidents, the reporters of" La Voz de Zacate Grande "build to follow, interests to sell the land to weekend residences, as already happens in other communities can be observed on the peninsula. In the course of the fisherfolk of the region in the use of beaches for hindered their work - a fact that breaks with the human right to work.
4) climate of repression and impunity
The delegation noted a general climate of repression and impunity. With more than 100 political killings without any prosecutions or convictions since the coup, the violation of the right to life, liberty and security of person under Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is clear.
The delegation learned first-hand in several cases of intimidation and threats against human rights activists and members of social Movements:
- An example is the Comisión de Verdad . Employees of the alternative truth commission report by cars without license plates and with tinted windows, parked several times before the office of virus attacks on computer as well as direct threats. It was also reported that four people had arrange access to the apartment of a colleague, were stolen mainly using the computer and the mobile phone.
- Another example is found in Macuelizo, Santa Bárbara , where the leading member of O. Mendoza organization PRO (Patronato del Occidente regional) and local FNRP serious threats and a climate of constant fear describes.
The person referred to see their movement as a victim of a "Colombian" strategy, are murdered in the first known criminals to later admit, under the pretext that it was continuing to vigilante justice in the fight against crime, people out of the way actively in the resistance movement. Here was spoken of eight people murdered in Macuelizo and environment within the past month.
- The resistance movement "Frente Nacional de Resistencia Popular (FRNP), are gathered in more than 60 organizations and social movements and working hard to improve the human rights and democratization in Honduras uses, is faced with strong repression. Several activists were murdered and there is a climate of intimidation and the massive threat.
- One of the groups that are most affected by the violence after the coup, the LGBT (Lesbian / gay / bi / trans) community . Since 28 June 2009 more than 43 members of this movement were killed, representing a fivefold increase in the previous murder rate. Donny Reyes, coordinator of the organization Arcoiris (Rainbow), commented on this issue: "What are we to defend human rights if you kill us? At the moment it is purely and solely on the right to life. We will fight for life, everything else comes after that. But as long as the right to life is not guaranteed, it is difficult to fight for the rights beyond that. "This means that in parallel with the negation of the fundamental right to life, the right to Privacy and cultural rights are violated on identity and recognition of diversity. As for these violations, the community lives in an environment of indifference and impunity.
5) Planned "charter city"
began in January 2011, the government Lobo, with massive support from the national and international entrepreneurs lobby, the project of a "Charter City" or "Ciudad Modelo" to attack. At the suggestion of the U.S. economist Paul Romer such, according to world market forces functioning coastal territories of "developing countries" attract foreign direct investment and contribute with guidance from developed countries to the overall development of the countries.
The delegation is concerned that this project rather than social development and reducing poverty, social inequality could increase further. It would also planned for the far
area in the northern provinces Olancho, Colon and Gracias a Dios protected areas, and populated regions are used. This could lead to further land conflicts and environmental destruction. Already, complaints heard of Garifuna communities on the coast facing the sale of their natural habitats.
6) position of the European governments and development cooperation
The delegation met with representatives of the European Union and the German Embassy for their views on the current situation and the Government Porfírio Lobos to find out.
Europe is a discourse of support for democratic processes and strengthening human rights. This discourse is, however, in stark contrast to the full recognition of the Lobo's regime since he took office in January 2010.
This government is based on illegitimate elections conducted under repressive circumstances. Since the throne, there was no visible progress on human rights, on the contrary, denounced the delegation in this report, a complicity of the de facto government in the human rights violations.
The resistance movement made up for the democratization of the country through a Constituent Assembly recognizes (as well as many South American governments) the current Honduran government not to and rejects the recognition by the European From Union.
- The European Union has included the development of cooperation in early January 2010. The most critical project in this context, the "Programa de Apoyo al Sector de Seguridad" (PASS) , a program for reforming the security apparatus. Priority is to be supported with € 44 million over a period of 8 years, the Justice Ministry, the Ministry of Security and the Supreme Court. The program started in February 2010. Vanessa Valladares (EU Commissioner for Development Cooperation and civil dialogue in Tegucigalpa) show that there is dissatisfaction, however, about the effectiveness of these institutions in the implementation. However, the program runs, the "technical equipment to improve police investigative work, such as cameras and laboratories", contains further.
The German-Austrian Delegation rejects the PASS program because it supports the security sector, the largest part of the current repression and the continued impunity is responsible.
- After taking office Porfírio Lobos also the Assoziierungssabkommen was between the European Union and Central America signed.
The delegation condemned the free trade agreement, which will involve the recognition of a government that is rejected by the majority of the population as illegitimate.
- The European Union and the German government to grant official Truth Commission financial support - an institution, the 28th at the Lobo government to educate the "political events of the June 2009 "was launched. The delegation met with representatives of this Commission. Given the fact that: 1) make up the intelligence of the human rights violations only a small part of their work, 2) the investigation work is directed only to the period up to the office Lobos and 3) a majority of the population, the institution does not recognize, because it consists of protagonists of the coup, doubts the credibility of the official delegation of the Truth Commission.
The delegation also met with the "Comisión de Verdad", founded by the Honduran human rights truth commission alternative platform. For this, the documentation of human rights violation taking into account the political context of first priority, it also includes the reign of Lobos in the investigation.
This institution that is accepted by large parts of Honduran civil society learns to date, no financial support from Germany or Europe. The delegation criticized this unilateral funding and calls for institutions to follow the example of the Dutch development cooperation, in the alternative, the Truth Commission is encouraged.
- The FDP Foundation Friedrich Naumann public support for the coup in Honduras and exercises continue through the regional office, headed by Chris Lueth, a strong influence on politics in Honduras.
The delegation criticized the attitude of the German Foundation.
- Germany secured in January 2011, the government Lobo aid money in the amount of € 47 million. Jürgen Beerfeltz, State Secretary of Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) said in its Trip to Honduras in January that Germany supports the Lobo administration and to value his visit as an "international signal" to other countries was. Beerfeltz was for many years in the World Board of the Liberal International (LI) is active, who voted in October 2009 coup, the Honduran President Roberto Micheletti Vice President.
The delegation condemned the uncritical support of the current financial regime.
C) OTHER PROJECTS STARTED AND THE DELEGATION
Following of the delegation are some projects:
- media dissemination of the delegation results: radio reports, video projects, Articles in various media
- development of a comprehensive brochure about the current political situation in Honduras, in German and English
- implementation of a traveling photo exhibition in different cities of Germany, Austria and Switzerland
- lobbying in the German, Austrian and European Parliament on cooperation with the government Lobo to primarily to act to suspend the PASS program
- lobbying in Germany , Austria and Europe for the protection of human rights
- Individual support and project monitoring and observation of human rights in Honduras
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