honduras summary overview

8/6/2019 Honduras Summary Overview

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The Honduras Working Group of the Latin

approach to solidarity work in Honduras by d

of popular movements demanding political, s

democratic, non-profit and independent or

with the progressive and democratic tran

mobilizes local communities in Canada to s

Canadian government, corporations or other

For more infor

hon

A BROA

This overview seeks to provide a brief poli

Honduran people and encourage Canadians

believe that Canadians have a responsibility t

founded on an economic mod

*NOTE: The s(we have adapted

HONDURAS: CANAHUMAN RIGHTS, CHARTE

SUMMARY

America and Caribbean Solidarity Network (LACSN) has t

enouncing the military coup in 2009 and policies that underm

ocial and economic transformation of the country. LACSN, b

anization, which brings together organizations that carry o

formation processes taking place in Latin America and th

pport those transformations. We denounce any interferenc

entities that violate the autonomy and sovereignty of the peop

ation or to support our work please contact us at:

[email protected]

CALL TO CANADIAN CIVIL SOCIETY

ical summary of the situation in Honduras. Also to share the st

to demand fair and explicit human-rights based trade relations

demand from their government accountability, and to ensure

el based on exploitation of local communities and natural reso

ummary was developed by using different sourcesnd translated these for format and summary purposes)

DA HONDURAS FREE TRADE AGREE

CITIES & THE TRUTH COMMISSIONOVERVIEW & CALL TO ACTI

aken a root-cause

ine the development

ased in Toronto, is a

ut work in solidarity

e Caribbean; LACSN

e on the part of the

le of the region.

ruggles facing the

with Honduras. We

that policies are not

rces.

ENT(FTA),N


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Create a Secretariat of Justice and Human Rights to secure human rights in Honduras and

invite the UN Human Rights Commission to establish an office in Honduras.

Constitute a monitoring (verification) commission, consisting initially of the Colombian and

Venezuelan presidencies, to help assure the successful implementation of the agreement.

While many celebrate the signing of the Accord, others feel it legitimizes the coupe dtat and

the current repressive regime. They condemn the use of Human Rights as a political instrument

of reconciliation and fear that the grave Human Rights violations will be swept under the rug.

Can ad a H on d u ra s

F ree T rad e Ag reemen t ( FTA )WHY OPPOSE FREE TRADE?FTAs are little more than legal frameworks that usurp the power and role of states. They hand

over unvetted access and control to multinational corporations that seek to exploit the wealth

and natural resources of countries of the global south. These trade policies and regulations are

often opposed by local campesino, Indigenous and Afro communities who are most impacted

and displacement by them. These trade agreements undermine their democratic processes

and set the stage for investment capital to operate without regulation, leaving a trail of

environmental destruction, displacement militarization, corrupted institutions and overall

underdevelopment.

CANADAS PROFIT VS HUMAN & LABOUR RIGHTSWhile Canadas international image is that of a country that fosters Human Rights and respect

for the rule of law, its multinational corporations, aided by Canadian trade policy, continue to

expand their influence at the expense of local populations in developing countries.

Taking advantage of a repressive & illegitimate government that emerged in Honduras after

the coup dtat in July 2009, the Canadian government diplomatically supported the coup and

the regimes fraudulent elections in November 2009. It failed to denounce the Human Rights

violations and has positioned Canadian companies to financially profit from the climate of

violence and repression in Honduras by promoting corporate mining and textile investments.

When Peter Kent was Minister of State of Foreign Affairs to the Americas and was

questioned on the ethics of Canadas economic motives in Honduras, Kent stated that

Canadians should be proud of industries such as Gildan Activewear and Goldcorp (inHonduras) ...they are providing employment and fair wages.

Yet, in 2004 Gildan Activewear was charged with violating labour standards in

Honduras, including targeted dismissals of workers involved in union activities. Gildans

response was to close its factory in Honduras and move operations to Haiti, forcing

1,800 workers into unemployment.

Canada is one of the largest foreign investors despite human rights violations: is the largest in

mining, has one of the largest maquila manufacturers and one of the largest in tourism.

Canada has been aggressively promoting increased investment and trade since the Lobo

government came to power in January 2010.

Canada is poised to ratify the FTA agreement when parliament resumes this fall of 2011,

despite the fact that the current government continues to persecute its detractors organized

under a growing social popular movement led by FNRP.

CALL TO ACTION FOR CANADIANS For Canadians to demand their government to expose the Canadian hidden agenda

of economic expansion in the Central American region.

For Canadians to denounce Canadian corporate trade relations that aim to exploit

the wealth and natural resources of Honduras and leads to widespread labour,

human and environmental rights violations.

For Canadians to demand their government to stop FTA agreement with Honduras

because of its poor Human Rights record

For Canadians to try to rescue and strengthen the spirit of the Bill C-300

For Canadians to continue building solidarity with Honduran social movements

QUOTE

Lets remember, the

Universal Human Rights

declaration states that

there must exist a free,

prior and informedconsent before taking a

decision on the

indigenous and afro-

descendent communities.

When we presented this

motion at the House of

Commons in Ottawa, we

were told that it was not

possible.

We were told thatcontent of FTA

negotiations could not be

made public. This is an

assault not only for

Honduran people, but

also for the Canadian

people.

Canadians should know

what their government

does with the power that

you provide.

Pedro LandaPedro LandaPedro LandaPedro Landa(During his public presentation

on March 2011 in Toronto on

CANADA-HONDURAS FTA)

Honduras

Working Grouphttp://lacsn.weebly.com/

honduras.html


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CHARTER C ITIES ( Mod e l C i t i e s ) REDS : SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT REGIONS

Honduras will be the experimental laboratory from extremist ideas of neoliberal economist

Paul Romer, a graduate of the School of Economics at the University of Chicago, who plans to

establish a 100 year economic, political, legal and social system within Honduran territory,

regardless of the laws and citizens rights. In general terms, the concept is about smallautonomous states within the state (some critics describe these as mini Dubais). These

charters cities would be fully open to investment by transnational capital.

In the case of Honduras, Paul Romer suggests that the State grants a concession of 100

hundred years in an area of approximately 1000 square kilometers so that it can be

administered by one or more developed countries or transnational groups, allowing them to

create an autonomous city with its own legislation and with its own trading laws. According to

Romer, Honduras Charter Cities would be a "territorial area covered by their own rules to

attract investment, create jobs and manage their specific health and education systems, and

promote cutting-edge technological development .

However, the banana republic is very familiar with the implications of this form of

exploitation of land, resources and people and the resistance movement has begun to

denounce this new mask of neo-liberal expansion.

CYNICAL EXPRESSION OF EXPLOITATION

According to Honduran Constitutional lawyer, Carlos Augusto Hernandez, he views Charter

Cities as a cynical expression of the oligarchy that continues to act behind the rule of law, often

citing the Constitution when is favourable to them, while facts show that they constantly

betray the principles of sovereignty. He further expands on this by describing that it is a form

of domination, the new mask enclave model, in which the multinationals in partnerships with

the national oligarchy plan to develop its penetration and domination of the national territory.

Furthermore, Berta Cceres (Indigenous leader of the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous

Organizations of Honduras (COPINH) rejects the recent Constitutional amendments to permit

REDs, which threatens the life, sovereignty and culture of indigenous peoples in Honduras.

"First of all, is a contradiction to have a Charter Cities in the midst of a

society in rags. It is a contradiction to talk about development when

referring to profits that only benefits the few.

For indigenous peoples, development means to share the wealth and put

in the center of all the people's welfare. Charter Cities is another

extermination project of regions that are sources for biodiversity. It Involve

the destruction of forests, lands, water resources and cultures of peoples,

particularly indigenous peoples. It is a model brought from countries that

have become big markets and big shops.

The transnational groups that led the coup now seek to profit from it. This presents an

additional challenge for the FNRP (National Front of Popular Resistance), to stop this new form

of exploitation in order to continue defending Honduran sovereignty.

*Source: Content from Ismael Morenos analysis on Charter Cities (adapted

and roughly translated by volunteers at LACSN). Una Ciudad Modelo en una

Sociedad en Harapos (2011)

QUOTE

In the real Honduras,

meanwhile, the repression

continues. Ive just received

an email announcing the

death of the 11th journalistsince the dubious election

that gave Lobo the

presidency. The number of

politically active people who

have died or disappeared

since the coup is now more

than 300.

Forty campesinos have died

in the Aguan valley, where

Miguel Facuss, one of

Hondurass most powerful

businessmen, has been

turning their land intoAfrican palm plantations to

serve the growing US biofuel

market.

Instead of condemning the

repression, the US

government has extended its

military collaboration with

the government. And US

officials recently attended a

conference in San Pedro Sula

entitled Honduras Is Open

for Business.

John PerryJohn PerryJohn PerryJohn PerryHonduras, Open for Bussiness,

London Review of Books Blog

(May 18, 2011)

Honduras


honduras.html


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STRUGGLE FOR TRUTH TWO TRUTH COMMISSIONS: GOVERNMENT VS CIVIL SOCIETY

THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION VS.

THE CIVIL SOCIETY TRUTH COMMISSION

In the aftermath of the June 28, 2009 coup dtat in Honduras, the Organization of AmericanStates (OAS) designated then-Costa Rican President Oscar Arias as mediator between the coup

regime and the ousted government to reach a diplomatic resolution to the political crisis. The

establishment of a truth commission became part of a 12-point plan in what is known as the

San Jose Accord and a pre-requisite for Honduras to gain readmittance to the OAS and

recognition by many governments, including the United States. The San Jose Accord was

signed by both ousted President Manuel Zelaya and de facto President Roberto Micheletti.

However, failure to fulfill two important provisions of the accord -- the restoration to power of

President Manuel Zelaya for the remainder of his presidential term and the inclusion of

Zelayas ousted government in the formation of a unity government-- led Zelaya to declare the

accord null and void. Nonetheless, the de facto presidents who have illegitimately held power

since the ouster of Zelaya, first Michiletti and now Porfirio Pepe Lobo, have gone forward

implementing other provisions of the accord such as the formation of a Truth Commission

know as The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (CVR for its acronym in Spanish).

LACK OF COMPLIANCE PROMPTED THE CREATION OF

THE CIVIL-SOCIETY TRUTH COMMISSION

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was formed on April 13, 2010. Honduran and

international human rights organizations immediately criticized the CVR for its lack of

compliance with international standards for truth commissions. These concerns prompted the

Human Rights Platform of Honduras and other civil society groups to create an alternative

truth commission that they agreed to call the True Commission Comisin de Verdad (CDV

for its acronym in Spanish).

Below is a summary of some of the CVD objectives (for full detailed objectives, please visit the

Commissions website at www.comisiondeverdadhonduras.org :

Investigate and determine the human rights violations that occurred during the coup dtat

and those which continue to be perpetrated through the finalization of the Commissions

mandate & shall identify the responsible parties whenever possible.

Investigate and determine the patterns of aggression and persecution faced by human

rights defenders and social leaders, and to identify the responsible parties when possible.

Identify: the precedents leading to the coup dtat

Establish proposals to reclaim victims rights to truth, justice and reparations.

Identify each state institutions role in civil-military coup & human rights violations

Draft a report including all the preceding elements that shall be presented to the Honduran

people and widely distributed within the international community

Once preceding points have been identified, it shall establish the continued presence of an

international authority to monitor, observe, act & provide necessary assistance to ensure

full compliance with the recommendations of the CVD.

*Source: Content (adapted from the Civil Societys Truth Commission

website). www.comisiondeverdadhonduras.org. (2011)

*The Government Commission Report (CVR) to be released in June 2011

*The Civil-Societys Truth Commission (CDV) Report to be released at the end of this year

RESOURCE: For speaking notes on March 9, 2011 Hearing presentation onHonduras, Convened by the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of

Commons in Ottawa, Canada please read: A PERSPECTIVE FROM HONDURAS CIVIL

SOCIETY TRUTH COMMISSION; by Prof Craig Scott (Hes one of the Commissioners

at the Civil-Society Truth Commission). http://ssrn.com/abstract=1788572

QUOTE

John PerryHonduras, Open for

Bussiness, London Review of

Books Blog (May 18, 2011)

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No Justice

without Truth

With the support of

human rights defenders

worldwide, we hope andpray that this commission

will see the day and begin

to help our country heal

and move towards a

more just and democratic

future.

BBBBerthaerthaerthaertha OlivaOlivaOlivaOlivaA Real Truth Commission for

Honduras, HUFFPOST World

(2010)

The True Commission(CVD) aims to do just that

- uncover the depth of

this human rights crisis to

lay the foundations for

justice and peace. Day by

day more stories come to

the surface and soon

more and more eyes will

be watching.

Brooke DenmarkBrooke DenmarkBrooke DenmarkBrooke DenmarkThe Truth Commission vs. the

True Commission: a report from

Witness for Peace in Honduras

(March 2011)

Honduras


honduras.html


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A C T I O N : SAMPLE LETTER TO SEND TO CANADIAN GOVERNMENT

Dear Sir/Madam,

Over the last few days we have received disturbing information about increased human rights violations against teachers, students and

peasant organizers in Honduras. It has been brought to our attention that the Committee of Relatives of the Detained and Disappeared in

Honduras (COFADEH) has made an urgent call to the international community to demand that the regime of current President, Porfirio

Lobo, cease its repression and continued criminalization of peaceful protests taking place in Honduras. Listed below are examples ofsome recent human rights violations that require your immediate attention.

On March 28, 2011:Explosives were thrown at office of the non-governmental Commission of Truth in San Pedro Sula at2:10pm. In the offices there were two Canadians that have been participating as international observers to the on-going efforts

of the commission. Also present was the Regional Coordinator, Attorney Brenda Mejia, who had recently participated in the

Criminalization of Social Protest hearing of the CIDH in San Pedro Sula (Friday, 25 March), held by lawyers in opposition to the

current regime.

On March 28, 2011:Miriam Miranda, an important Resistance leader and coordinator of OFRANEH (Organizacin FraternaNegra de Honduras) was injured and then detained during a highway blockade. She was in custody in Tela facing charges of

sedition and blocking a public roadway.

On March 26, 2011: Jaime Donaire, coordinator of the National Front of Popular Resistance (FNRP) in the municipality of Minasde Oro in the province of Comayagua, was assassinated by armed men.

On March 22, 2011: Police launched tear gas bombs into the building, which houses the offices of the secondary schoolteachers union, COPEMH, and the non-governmental Truth Commission.

On March 21, 2011: When protests were resumed, police directly aimed tear gas canisters at staff of TV Globo and Channel 36who were trying to record and report on police actions.

On March 18, 2011: Ilse Velasquez, a teachers union activist and a member of COFADEH since her brother Manuel Velazquezwas disappeared, was killed during ferocious police repression against a protest by educators in Tegucigalpa. The 59 year old

teacher lost consciousness after a tear gas canister fired by the riot police struck her forehead.

On March 18, 2011: Military and police forces occupied the offices of the Association of Secondary Teachers of Honduras(COPEMH Spanish acronym) holding more than 30 teachers hostage.

On March 17th: In the cities of Tegucigalpa, Comayagua, and Danl, police, as well as men in civilian clothing driving carswithout license plates, repressed peaceful demonstrations of teachers and members of the National Front of Popular

Resistance (FNRP). According to a preliminary report, as many as 50 people were detained, wounded, and beaten in those

demonstrations.

COFADEH has reported that from January 2010 to January 31, 2011 a total of 1,658 Human Rights violations

The specific context in which these human rights violations and intimidatory acts are taking place, along with the general climate of

insecurity for human rights defenders in Honduras, alert us to the existence of a state policy of repression directed towards popular

opposition movements in Honduras. We are further concerned that human rights violators in Honduras, using a historically

documented tactic, are choosing this current period when international attention is focused on crises taking place elsewhere, particularly

in Libya, to dramatically increase levels of repression and rights violations.

Considering the above-mentioned cases, numerous previous denouncements, and that Canada is currently negotiating a Free Trade

Agreement with Honduras, we as Members of Civil Society Organizations from Canada, call on the Canadian Government to;

Demand that the Honduran government take immediate action to protect the rights of civil society in Honduras, particularlyand urgently for those examples listed above.

Ensure the all the points outlined in the accord set out by the popular movement in Honduras in order to reinstate Hondurasback to the OAS are fully met as per the Cartagena de Indias Accord (with special emphasis on the respect for Human Rights in

Honduras)

Sincerely,

[Enter here your name and contact info]

For an electronic version of this letter please visithttp://lacsn.weebly.com/honduras.html

Or email us: [email protected]

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