Own all US news!

Amnesty International on Thursday issued a series of recommendations to newly elected Honduran President Porfirio Lobo to repair the damage done to human rights since the June 2009 coup d’état, which left hundreds seeking justice.

The 13 recommendations include issues relating to investigations into the human rights abuses committed by security forces, rejecting amnesty laws for those responsible for the crimes, training judges on international human rights legislation and setting up an effective witness protection programme.

"Honduras’ devastating coup d’état has left the country in urgent need of a programme of human rights reconstruction with clear objectives and a timeline for completion," said Kerrie Howard, Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Americas programme.

"If President Lobo wants to restore the rule of law and confidence in his government, he must ensure the abuses of the past seven months are dealt with quickly and effectively."

Amnesty International’s report also summarizes 20 cases which include police killings, arbitrary detentions, beatings and ill-treatment in detention, sexual abuse of women and girls, harassment of journalists, judges and activists.

No-one has been held to account for these abuses and few investigations have been opened.

On 1 August, 38-year-old teacher Roger Abraham Vallejo died in hospital as a result of injuries sustained from a bullet wound to the head, caused by a rubber bullet reportedly fired by police during the break up of a protest in Tegucigalpa in July. An investigation into the killing is open but no advances have been reported.

On 23 September, 16-year-old Gerson Ariel Cruz was seriously wounded by police following the break up of a protest in Tegucigalpa. According to an eyewitness, the police chased protesters into a residential neighbourhood where they opened fire with live ammunition. Gerson, who had taken no part in the protest, was shot in the stomach.

When family members tried to take him to hospital they were turned back from a police roadblock, substantially delaying their journey to seek emergency treatment. Gerson survived but sustained serious injuries from which he has still not fully recovered. The shooting was reported to the Special Prosecutor for Human Rights and an investigation is on-going.

"There are dozens of cases of killings, beatings, sexual harassment and other abuses by the security forces against members of the opposition movement and those seen as critical of the coup d’état which need to be urgently investigated," said Kerrie Howard. "Hondurans will expect President Lobo to provide answers and a resolution to the hundreds of human rights abuses committed by the security forces since 28 June 2009."

Honduran President Porfirio Lobo took office on 27 January. He was elected in November last year amidst a political crisis that saw President Manuel Zelaya ousted by military-backed right wing politicians in June.

Honduras: Recommendations to the new Honduran government following the coup of June 2009 (Document, 28 January 2010)

Amnesty International on Tuesday urged the new Honduran President to order a full investigation into abuses committed by the security forces following June’s coup d’état, bring those responsible to justice and provide reparations to the victims.

Honduran President Porfirio Lobo, who is set to take office on Wednesday, was elected in November last year amidst a political crisis that saw President Manuel Zelaya ousted by military-backed right wing politicians in June.

Hundreds of people opposed to the coup d’état were beaten and detained by the security forces as protests erupted during the following months. More than 10 were killed during the unrest, according to reports.

"President Lobo must ensure a fresh start on human rights in Honduras by ensuring abuses committed since the coup d’état are not forgotten and do not go unpunished," said Kerrie Howard, Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Americas programme.

The organization also called on Honduran security forces to co-operate with any investigations into alleged abuses.

Since the presidential elections, the Honduran Congress has discussed the possible introduction of an amnesty law that would reduce or deny punishment for those responsible for human rights violations.

"Proposals to introduce amnesty measures for human rights violations are simply unacceptable," said Kerrie Howard. "Failure to sanction abuses that took place during the coup d’état could give a green light to further violations in Honduras."

According to dozens of testimonies collected by Amnesty International’s researchers in Honduras during two visits to the country, human rights abuses spiralled following the June coup d’état.

Following the coup d’état people who took to the streets to demonstrate their opposition were targets of widespread excessive use of force by the security forces, including unlawful killings,  torture and ill-treatment, as well as hundreds of arbitrary arrests. The police and military also widely misused tear gas and other crowd control equipment.

Human rights activists, opposition leaders and judges suffered threats and intimidation, media outlets closed and journalists were censored. There were also reports of security force personnel committing acts of sexual violence against women and girls.

Noone has been held to account for these abuses and few investigations have been opened as yet.

On 27 November 2009, 32-year-old Angel Salgado was driving home in the capital Tegucigalpa with three friends when, according to eye witnesses military, officials fired shots at their car as it drove by an unmarked check point.

Angel Salgado was hit in the head by a bullet. He lost control of the vehicle, which then crashed and injured several bystanders.

According to eye witnesses, military personnel began cleaning the scene of evidence immediately after the incident took place. After passing five days in a coma, Angel Salgado died in hospital on 2 December.

On 14 August 2009, a police officer sprayed lawyer Nicolás Ramiro Aguilar Fajardo directly in the face with an unknown chemical spray, temporarily blinding him. At the time, Nicolás was trying to stop the police officer from beating a colleague.

Honduran President Manuel Zelaya Rosales was forced from power on 28 June 2009 and expelled from the country by a military backed group of right-wing politicians led by Roberto Micheletti, former president of the national Congress.

A de facto government headed by Roberto Micheletti remained in power until the end of the year. President Zelaya returned clandestinely to the country and took up residency in the Brazilian Embassy in September.

Despite the failure of political negotiations mediated by the Organization of American States to restore the elected government, in November the de facto authorities proceeded with elections, Porfirio Lobo of the National Party won 88 per cent of the vote and takes office on 27 January 2010.

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/AMR/honduras-trochez-100.jpg alt= title= /br/Honduran authorities must launch an urgent and independent investigation into the murder of human rights activist Walter Trochez who was killed late on Sunday night while walking home through the centre of Tegucigalpa, Amnesty International said on Monday. br /
br /
According to sources, Walter Trochez was shot in the chest by a drive-by gunman and taken to hospital where he later died. Amnesty International said it fears that he may have been targeted because of his human rights work. br /
br /
Walter Trochez told Amnesty International on Friday that he had escaped a kidnapping attempt on 4 December after suffering several hours of beatings and threats by masked men. They had interrogated Walter Trochez about individuals opposed to the de facto authorities who seized power following the 28 June coup d’eacute;tat. br /
br /
quot;The murder of Walter Trochez must be investigated immediately and those responsible brought to justice.quot; said Kerrie Howard, Americas Programme Deputy Director at Amnesty International. quot;It is essential that human rights defenders and opposition activists are able to exercise freedom of expression without fearing threats or attacks.quot; br /
br /
Since June, Walter Trochez had been documenting human rights violations during protests against the coup d’eacute;tat. He was already known for his human rights work with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in Honduras. br /
br /
During his kidnapping on 4 December, four armed men had forced Walter Trochez into their van before repeatedly beating him in the face with a pistol butt and threatening that quot;even if you give us the information we’re going to kill you, we have orders to kill youquot;. br /
br /
After finally managing to open the van door, Walter fell out on the street and ran into a deserted wasteland where he hid until his captors drove off. br /
br /
quot;Amnesty International’s fears that Walter’s killing may be a sign of worse abuses to come in the athmosphere of political instability and fear that has prevailed since the copu drsquo;eacute;tat in June,quot; said Kerrie Howard. quot;Walter’s killers must be brought to justice, and the de facto authorities must ensure all reports of reprisals against protestors and campaigners are fully investigated and subject to the full weight of the law.quot;

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/AMR/honduras-dina-100.jpg alt= title= /br/p
As Honduras’ president elect Porfirio Lobo prepares to take power, new questions arise about events that have taken place since the coup drsquo;etat last June. br /
br /
An Amnesty International delegation in the country talked to human rights activists about the hidden crisis affecting the Central American nation.
/p
p
strongRead interviews with activists/strong:br /
a href=#DinaDina Meza/a – ldquo;We have gone back 30 yearsrdquo; br /
a href=#DonnyDonny Reyes/a – ldquo;Most crimes against LGBT people are lost in limbordquo;br /
a href=#AlexisAlexis Quiroz/a – ldquo;The population needs to be informed to make objective decisionsrdquo;br /
br /
/p
strongGilda Rivera/strongstrong: ldquo;Women are at higher risk because they are considered second class citizensrdquo;/strongbr /
br /
img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/AMR/honduras-hilda-300.jpg title=Hilda alt=Hilda height=300 width=250 class=asset-align-right/Gilda
Rivera works in an apparent oasis of calm on a hill in Tegucigalpa.
When you are there, among the plants and paintings which decorate the
building, itrsquo;s hard to imagine the stories she and her organization
hear. But some days, an unknown car appears and parks suspiciously in
the close vicinity of the offices for no apparent reason and waits,
then it leaves.br /
br /
Gilda is the director of the Centre for Womenrsquo;s Rights (Centro para
Derechos las Mujeres), a group that works to document and combat
violence against women in Honduras. nbsp;br /
br /
In a report published recently, the group painted a dark picture of
what it is like to be a woman in Honduras, where hundreds have been
victims of sexual abuse, domestic violence and murder. br /
br /
Gilda says the situation for Honduran women has always been worrying
but since the coup drsquo;etat of June 2009, things have deteriorated
rapidly. br /
br /
ldquo;When the whole population is facing human rights violations, women are
at even greater risk because we are considered second class citizens,rdquo;
said Gilda. br /
br /
The Centre for Womenrsquo;s Rights has documented a number of cases of
sexual violence against women reportedly committed by members of the
security forces since de coup drsquo;etat, particularly in the north of the
country. br /
br /
ldquo;A woman was detained by police officers after a demonstration, taken
to a piece of wasteland and raped by four police officers. She
recognized some of them from the names she could see on their uniforms.
br /
br /
quot;They left her there. She was forced to move away from her home because
of the fear she feels. This is the punishment women experience for
daring to speak out – to participate, to be citizens.rdquo;br /
nbsp;br /
Gilda is convinced that the historical lack of investigations and
justice for women who have suffered violence is contributing to more
cases of abuse. br /
br /
ldquo;The coup drsquo;etat ruined much of what we had gained and achievedhellip; all women have received is more violence.rdquo;br /
br /
hr /
br /
img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/AMR/honduras-dina-300.jpg title=Dina alt=Dina height=300 width=250 class=asset-align-right/strongDina Meza/stronga title=Dina name=Dina/astrong: ldquo;We have gone back 30 yearsrdquo; /strongbr /
Dina Meza lives and talks human rights at every opportunity she is given. As a journalist, an activist and a member of COFADEH (Committee of Relatives of the Disappeared in Honduras), one of Honduras’ oldest human rights organizations, she knows all too well what it means to work on an issue that is not always popular with the authorities.br /
br /
The past five months have been particularly challenging for Dina and her colleagues at COFADEH. Its members have spent countless days and nights collecting testimonies of threats, harassment, police beatings, arbitrary arrests, ill treatment and killings across the country. br /
They then file habeas corpus and other legal remedies on behalf of those affected by the repression.br /
br /
In one of the most serious incidents, on 23 September, police threw tear gas canisters inside their office in Tegucigalpa, while Dina and other colleagues were inside the building. The message was clear from those who had taken power: defending human rights was part of the problem, not the solution.br /
br /
Dina believes the underlying problem in Honduras is a lack of justice prevailing since the 1980s, when hundreds of people were killed or disappeared at the hands of the countryrsquo;s security forces. br /
br /
ldquo;The generations who were repressed in the 80s ndash; the men and women killed, disappeared, and whose relatives still havenrsquo;t received justice ndash; all this accumulated impunity and the human rights abusers who are calmly walking the streets of Honduras, this all has to do with whatrsquo;s happening now. It teaches us that when repression goes unpunished, it happens again,rdquo; Dina said.br /
br /
ldquo;We have legal repression, police repression, military repression – so what does this mean? We have to reform and reconstitute all these institutions and start again, with a new procedure.rdquo;br /
br /
hr /
br /
strongDonny Reyes/stronga title=Donny name=Donny/astrong: ldquo;Most crimes against LGBT people are lost in limbordquo;/strongbr /
img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/AMR/honduras-donny-300.jpg title=donny alt=donny height=300 width=250 class=asset-align-right/Before the political crisis blew up in Honduras, Donny Reyes was trying to put his country on the map internationally, working to raise awareness of the abuses and discrimination suffered by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and transgender people. br /
br /
But as the Central American nation slid into political turmoil, human rights were sidelined. br /
br /
ldquo;We had started talks with the Public Prosecutorrsquo;s Office, with members of the police and some members of the government for the investigation [of crimes against the LGBT community] and access to some public services. This stopped after the coup drsquo;etat,rdquo; Donny explained. br /
br /
According to information published by the organization Donny works for, the Rainbow Association, killings of transsexual people have also increased sharply since the coup drsquo;etat. br /
br /
Research conducted by Rainbow found that there were 12 killings of gay, lesbian, trans sexual and transgender people in Honduras in the whole of 2008. In the four months since the coup drsquo;etat, that figure reached 14. br /
br /
ldquo;These are the violent deaths and crimes that we have documented. It doesn’t include the many others we donrsquo;t know of – the ones that are left in impunity, lost in limbo,rdquo; said Donny.br /
br /
The activist ndash; who was himself a victim of abuse at the hands of the security forces in 2007 ndash; said the most worrying point of the crisis was during the state of emergency in the first week after the coup drsquo;etat, when curfews were implemented in different areas of the country.br /
br /
During that time, at least three members of the LGBT community were killed. Fabio Zamora was shot in the head while he was working in a market. Marion Cardenas was shot in the forehead on 29 June. Vicky Hernandez died the same way in San Pedro Sula, during the curfew on 28 June. br /
br /
ldquo;During the state of emergency you could feel a climate of fear, collective panic. Nothing could move here if it hadnrsquo;t been authorized by the armed forces, particularly the army. When the state of emergency was declared that day, everybody just ran home to hide and find refuge. What the authorities would do that night was nobodyrsquo;s responsibility.rdquo; br /
br /
hr /
br /
strongAlexis Quiroz/stronga title=Alexis name=Alexis/astrong: ldquo;The population needs to be informed to make objective decisionsrdquo;/strongbr /
In Alexisrsquo;s office, an old house in Tegucigalpa, the TV is stuck on one channel, Canal 36, one of the main news stations in the country. But there are no images on the screen. Instead, a multi-coloured test card reads: ldquo;They interfere with Canal 36rsquo;s signal to prevent us from informing you.rdquo;br /
br /
This very sentence is reflective of the situation faced by journalists across Honduras and the changes in the way the media operates in the context of Hondurasrsquo; political crisis.br /
br /
ldquo;Before the coup drsquo;etat we had some differences of opinion with the government but we didnrsquo;t have censorship; we didnrsquo;t have violence against journalists or other people who spoke out against the government,rdquo; said Alexis br /
br /
ldquo;Now we even have decrees which say that nobody can say anything against a public official, you canrsquo;t express any kind of unfavourable opinion against a public official.rdquo;br /
br /
C-Libre, the organization where Alexis works, has recorded 130 incidents of threats, dismissals and attacks against journalists since the coup drsquo;etat on 28 June. br /
br /
ldquo;Military occupation of media outlets is high, the level of physical attacks against journalists is very high, and there are threats ndash; these are the three most pressing issues. We have at least 130 cases, including closures of media outlets.rdquo;nbsp;

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/AMR/honduras-demo-100.jpg alt= title= /br/At the end of a 10-day visit to Honduras during the country’s presidential elections, Amnesty International has called for an independent investigation to ensure all those responsible for human rights abuses are brought to justice and the victims given reparations. nbsp;br /
nbsp; br /
quot;The crisis in Honduras does not end with the election results, the authorities cannot return to business as usual without ensuring human rights safeguards,quot; said Javier Zuacute;ntilde;iga, head of the Amnesty International delegation in Honduras. br /
nbsp;br /
quot;There are dozens of people in Honduras still suffering the effects of the abuses carried out in the past five months. Failure to punish those responsible and to fix the malfunctioning system would open the door for more abuses in the future.quot; br /
nbsp;br /
During its visit to Honduras, Amnesty International’s delegation documented numerous cases of human rights abuses carried out since last June, when President Manuel Zelaya was forced into exile. br /
br /
These included killings following excessive use of force, arbitrary arrests of demonstrators by police and military, indiscriminate and unnecessary use of tear gas, ill treatment of detainees in custody, violence against women, harassment of activists, journalists, lawyers and judges.nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;br /
nbsp;br /
The organization found that members of the military assigned to law enforcement duties were involved in committing serious human rights violations such as killings following excessive use of force, arbitrary arrests and illegal raids. br /
nbsp; br /
Amnesty International also found that the civilian de facto authorities failed to do anything to prevent the indiscriminate use of tear gas against protesters. In some cases gas canisters were thrown inside offices. nbsp;br /
nbsp;br /
Most people interviewed said that after being injured or made ill by the gas, they were too scared to seek medical assistance as police and military entered hospitals in order to intimidate them. br /
nbsp; br /
On 23 September, Marta (not her real name) was attacked by police while she was taking part in a demonstration. She was hit with a tear gas can, which burned her leg and caused her to have breathing problems. While she was hiding from the gases in a church, police caught up with her and hit her so badly they broke her arm. She didnrsquo;t go to the hospital until several days later because she was scared the police would harass her there. Her arm still hasnrsquo;t recovered and the burn to her leg is still visible. br /
nbsp; br /
quot;We spoke to people who still had eye irritation and burns to the skin several weeks after having been affected by tear gas,quot; said Javier Zuacute;ntilde;iga. quot;Not only did police use gas against peaceful protesters and in enclosed buildings, doctors were not given information about the chemical substances used in the cans to enable them to treat victims properly.quot;nbsp; nbsp;br /
nbsp;br /
quot;The security forces’ use of tear gas raises questions about the level of training received that could have minimized the risks of serious injury or death,quot; said Javier Zuacute;ntilde;iga.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;br /
nbsp;br /
Representatives of human rights organizations, journalists, lawyers and judges told Amnesty International about the threats and harassment they received for being seen as opposed to the de facto authorities. br /
nbsp; br /
Members of a national judges association were called to a hearing to account for their participation in peaceful demonstrations. br /
nbsp; br /
quot;During the crisis, institutions in Honduras have blatantly failed to protect basic human rights,quot; said Javier Zuacute;ntilde;iga. quot;It is particularly worrying that in Honduras the conditions which enable human rights abusers to go unpunished exist.quot; br /
nbsp; br /
Amnesty International urged the future Honduran government to:br /
ul
liRepeal all legislation, decrees and executive orders issued by the de facto authorities;/li
liEnsure the military return to their barracks and that their law enforcement function is withdrawn;/li
liEnsure that all members of the security forces are held accountable for human rights abuses committed between 28th June and end of November;/li
liDevelop a National Plan for the protection of human rights./li
/ul
p
quot;It is essential that the international community does not forget people in Honduras by giving a blank cheque to the new authorities over-looking the abuses of the past five months,quot; said Javier Zuacute;ntilde;iga.
br /
br /
/p
ul
linbsp;Call on Honduras to hold security forces accountable for human rights a href=http://www.amnesty.org/en/appeals-for-action/call-honduras-hold-security-forces-accountable-human-rights-abusesimg src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/AI/action-button-en.gif alt= title= class=asset-align-right//aabusesnbsp;/li
/ul

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/AMR/honduras-troops-100.jpg alt= title= /br/Amnesty International said on Saturday that it was deeply worried about the safety of victims of and witnesses to a shooting at a military blockade that took place in Tegucigalpa on Friday night. The organization called on the Human Rights Prosecutor to urgently investigate the incident.br /
nbsp;br /
According to eye witnesses interviewed by Amnesty International on Friday night, four men were on their way back home when they saw a military blockade moved from its normal position, close to the Estado Mayor (military compound). They were not given any indication to stop or request to slow down so they drove past. br /
nbsp;br /
Immediately after, shots were fired by the military at the car. The men drove on and as they went into a new road, one bullet hit the driver, 32-year-old Angel Salgado, in the head. He lost control of the vehicle which then crashed into a taxi and injured several bystanders, including 45-year-old woman, who was also hit by a stray bullet. She is now in a serious condition in hospital. br /
nbsp;br /
At the time of writing, Angel Salgado was in hospital in a critical condition.br /
nbsp;br /
Eye witnesses said military personnel began cleaning the scene immediately after the crash occurred.br /
nbsp;br /
quot;We are extremely concerned about this case given Honduras’ track record of widespread impunity for human rights violations committed by police and military,quot; said Javier Zuntilde;iga, Head of Amnesty International’s delegation in Honduras.br /
nbsp;br /
Amnesty International delegates in Honduras visited the hospital where both injured were being treated and heard the relatives of Angel Salgado had found it difficult to gain entry to see him. br /
nbsp;br /
The organization’s delegates also saw two men in military outfits passing by and going directly into the theatre where Angel Salgado was recuperating. The men said they wanted to check on his condition. br /
nbsp;br /
quot;Until the authorities take serious action to investigate and bring to justice those responsible for human rights violations, this will be another shocking example of how the lives of Hondurans can be devastated in a moment by the police and military, who act knowing that noone will ever hold them to account,quot; said Javier Zuntilde;iga.

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/AMR/honduras-teargas-100.jpg alt= title= /br/Amnesty International has learned that the de facto authorities in Honduras have stock piled 10,000 tear gas cans and other crowd control equipment, triggering fears of an increased risk of excessive and disproportionate use of force by security forces around the presidential elections.br /
nbsp;br /
An Amnesty International delegation in Honduras to monitor the human rights situation around the presidential elections on 29 November received information of the recent official purchase of 10,000 tear gas grenades; 5,000 projectiles for tear gas grenades and a water spray tank, as well as the deployment of several thousand reservists.br /
br /
quot;Since taking power, the de facto authorities have allowed the security forces to use tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition to punish demonstrators in Honduras, causingnbsp; several deaths and serious injuries, and nobody has been held responsible,quot; said Javier Zuniga, Head of Amnesty International’s delegation in Honduras.br /
br /
quot;The past misuse of tear gas and other crowd control equipment, together with the lack of guarantees that the purchased equipment will not be used to attack demonstrators and the absence of investigations on past abuses paints an extremely worrying picture of what might happen over the next few days,quot; said Javier Zuniga. br /
br /
It is not clear how this new equipment will be used or whether the security forces have received appropriate training or put the procedures in place to ensure that security operations in the context of possible demonstrations do not abuse human rights.br /
nbsp;br /
In July, Amnesty International visited a detention centre in Tegucigalpa and spoke to a number of demonstrators who were arbitrarily arrested and had been beaten and ill-treated. br /
br /
Amnesty International also denounced the fact that human rights activists and journalists critical of the de facto authorities have been receiving increased threats and intimidation.br /
nbsp;br /
In a facsimile signed by the First Battalion of Communications, the Honduran Armed Forces requested a local mayor to provide a list of names and phone numbers of activist members of the Resistencia, a movement opposed to the de facto authorities.br /
nbsp;br /
quot;Today, there’s an environment of fear and intimidation in Honduras,quot; said Javier Zuniga. quot;We have seen an increased level of harassment against those who are seen as opposed to the de facto authorities and officials responsible for the protection of human rights are not doing anything to investigate the incidents or stop them.quot;br /
br /
The Amnesty International delegation will be in Honduras until 4 December. They are meeting with victims of human rights violations, representatives of human rights organizations, journalists, teachers and doctors. Meetings have also being requested with prosecutors, the Army and the Police.

Amnesty International has denounced an attack on the freedom of the press in Honduras, following the cancellation of three radio programmes by a popular radio stationrsquo;s managers who cited a controversial presidential decree to justify their action.br /
br /
Normally broadcast on the Radio Cadena Voices station, the programmes La Bullaranga, Entre Chonas and Tiempo de Hablar are largely produced and controlled by women and young people.br /
br /
quot;The arbitrary termination of such programmes deals another blow to freedom of expression and curtails the Honduran population’s access to information and discussion forumsquot; said Javier Zuntilde;iga, Special Adviser in Amnesty Internationalrsquo;s Secretriat.br /
br /
The programme managers were informed in writing by the directors of Grupo INVOSA, owners of the station, that their broadcasts quot;failed to promote peacerdquo; and ldquo;discreditedrdquo; the electoral process, therefore violating an emergency presidential decree issued by the de facto government.br /
br /
The decree cited has since been annulled, however the programmes remain suspended.br /
br /
quot;The pulling of these programmes has promoted an increased atmosphere of fear and intimidation for journalists, quot; said Javier Zuntilde;iga. quot;It also demonstrates the de facto authoritiesrsquo; intolerance of free discussion and expression of views, particularly any views which may be contrary to their own.quot;br /
br /
Amnesty International has urged the de facto authorities to comply with measures imposed by the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights, to ensure that media workers and outlets in Honduras can carry out their work free from intimidation and threats. br /
br /
On 23 October 2009 the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights placed the workers of the stations Canal 36, Radio Catracha, Cholusat Sur Radio and Radio Globo onto the list of those to be protected by medidas cautelares (provisional measures) after they had been shut down by Presidential decree.br /
br /
Human rights abuses in Honduras have increased since the democratically elected President Joseacute; Manuel Zelaya Rosales was forced from power on 28 June and expelled from the country by a military-backed group led by Roberto Micheletti, former leader of the National Congress.br /
br /
There has been widespread unrest in the country since the coup drsquo;etat with frequent clashes between the police, military and civilian protestors. At least two people have died after being shot during protests. br /
br /
On 19 August Amnesty International published testimonies and evidence which documented excessive use of force and beating of protestors by police in a report titled Honduras: Human rights crisis threatens, as violence and repression increase. The report was based on evidence gathered by the organization during a fact-finding mission 28 July ndash; 1 August 2009. br /
br /
The organization is calling for the de facto authorities to ensure Honduran citizens can freely access information – particularly vital during the current crisis.

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/AMR/honduras-police-supporter-100×100.jpg alt= title= /br/The de facto Honduran authorities must allow opposition journalists to broadcast as negotiations over the country’s political future continue, Amnesty International has said.br /
br /
Radio Globo and the Canal 36 TV station have been closed since 28 September, after the imposition of a Presidential decree which severely limited freedom of expression, amongst other human rights. The order was verbally revoked on 5 October but Honduran security forces continue to hold equipment from both media outlets. br /
br /
quot;There’s no legal reason for Radio Globo and Canal 36 to remain closed,quot; said Susan Lee, Americas Director at Amnesty International. br /
br /
ldquo;Ensuring journalists can inform the public, and that freedom of expression is protected, are fundamental issues which must be addressed as part of the ongoing talks. br /
br /
quot;Further we also urge Mr Micheletti to entirely rescind the decree by publishing the order in the official Gazette and issue clear instructions to the police and military that they must respect and protect human rights.quot;br /
br /
Police have told legal representatives of the radio and TV station that the confiscated equipment was required for an investigation. No further information regarding the investigation was provided to them and the media outlets remain closed.

strongTestimony from Marvin Ortiz, a journalist with Radio Globo in Honduras /strongbr /
br /
On Monday at 5am, we started broadcasting with our normal schedule, starting with the Radio Globo news from 5 to 8am, presented by the director of our radio station and two other journalists. At around 5.20am, the heard someone beating on the door and people shouting quot;get outside!quot;. They were soldiers and police who had come to confiscate all the radio equipment.br /
br /
My colleagues heard the sound of shots aimed at the lock on the door, as if to break it and get inside the building. At that moment, several journalists decided to jump from the third floor of the radio station building. Now theyrsquo;re bruised and wounded. Luckily, a passerby saw them, gave them first aid and took them to a safe place.br /
br /
When the soldiers and police entered the radio station, without warning, they took all the equipment, everything you need to run the radio, computers, microphones, the console, the telephone switchboard, the amplifiers, and even the aerials. They destroyed the news table. They took everything away in a police patrol car.br /
br /
After that they started to occupy the building. As well as the radio station, a state agency also works in the same building ndash; the National Register of Persons ndash; and when the staff of that agency arrived, the police wouldnrsquo;t let them in. All they could do was punch in their time cards and go home.br /
br /
I arrived at the radio station at around 7am. I was with a colleague. Straight away the police and soldiers started to harass us. They threatened and harassed us. They took photos of us and insulted us. br /
br /
They confiscated the equipment of several journalists who were covering the shut-down of the radio, and arrested some of them. br /
br /
Everybody left the building at around 9am.br /
br /
All of this happened because of an Executive Decree issued by the de facto government led by Roberto Micheletti, which suspends Honduransrsquo; constitutional guarantees and restricts freedom of expression. The Decree specifically mentioned Radio Globo and Canal 36 [TV station], which has also been shut down.br /
br /
Since the coup drsquo;eacute;tat, Radio Globo has maintained its stance of informing the public about what has been happening in our country. We condemn the coup drsquo;etat. We give a space to people to express themselves freely and to make their complaints.br /
br /
There are around 50 of us who work at the radio station, including reporters, presenters, operators and administrative staff. There is a high level of persecution directed against us and a lot of fear. We never feel safe. br /
br /
A lot of people gathered near the radio station to protest against the [de facto] governmentrsquo;s decision to close it down. br /
br /
At the moment, Radio Globo is only operating via the Internet at a href=http://www.radiohonduras.com title=www.radiohonduras.comwww.radiohonduras.com/a. Yesterday [Monday], we had about 400,000 listeners. People are waiting to see what happens to the radio station. br /
br /
Following the intervention of several human rights organizations, the military and police decided to end their occupation of the radio station. A group of lawyers are working at the moment to ensure that the radio can start to operate again without restrictions on its broadcasts. br /
br /
Today [Tuesday], there are only two of us here, both presenters. Wersquo;re broadcasting via the internet because the ban, the Decree, doesnrsquo;t allow us to broadcast using a radio frequency.br /
br /
Threats, repression and arrests of journalists continue, but we reporters continue working. We have to go to where the news is happening but itrsquo;s frightening because we know that there could be repression against us, especially because they already know who we are. They know wersquo;re part of the Radio Globo team. br /
br /
We have a commitment to the people, to our profession and to our family.br /
br /
In spite of everything, wersquo;re going to carry on, informing.

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/AMR/honduras-roberto-micheletti-100×100.jpg alt= title= /br/Honduran de facto president Roberto Micheletti must rescind a decree that provides sweeping new powers of detention to the police, bans all public meetings and imposes a 45 day curfew, Amnesty International said on Tuesday. br /
br /
quot;Honduras risks spiralling into a state of lawlessness, where police and military act with no regard for human rights or the rule of law,quot; said Susan Lee, Americas Director at Amnesty International. quot;Roberto Micheletti must urgently rescind the decree and send clear instructions to the security forces to respect human rights in all circumstances and at all times.quot;br /
br /
Attacks on opponents of the de facto government by the police and military have escalated dramatically since the publication of the Presidential decree. Radio Globo and Canal 36, a local radio station and TV channel, were forcibly and violently shut down in joint police and military operations, which disregarded legal procedures and human rights. br /
br /
On Monday at around 5.20am, a joint military and police operation broke down the front door of the offices of Radio Globo shooting live ammunition into the air while taking over the building. br /
br /
The police and military had given no notice or provided any official reason for the operation. br /
br /
The Radio Globo employees who were in the building were forced to flee, and some in their panic leapt from the windows of their third storey office. The director of Radio Globo is reported to have suffered a fractured arm and other injuries as he fled the building. br /
br /
The equipment and vehicles owned by Radio Globo were also confiscated. The same violent and arbitrary methods were employed by the military and police when they simultaneously took over Canal 36. br /
br /
The closure of two of the key media outlets which deliver an alternative view to that of the de facto government undermines the right of Honduran citizens to access information and also demonstrates the clamp down by the authorities on freedom of expression and association. br /
br /
A journalist interviewed by Amnesty International said that there has been a marked increased in aggression towards human rights defenders and journalists by the de facto authorities, and with the arbitrary closure of key media outlets by the police and military the atmosphere is one of quot;high tension and real fearquot;. br /

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/AMR/honduras-roberto-micheletti-100×100.jpg alt= title= /br/Honduran de facto president Roberto Micheletti must rescind a decree that provides sweeping new powers of detention to the police, bans all public meetings and imposes a 45 day curfew, Amnesty International said on Tuesday. br /
br /
quot;Honduras risks spiralling into a state of lawlessness, where police and military act with no regard for human rights or the rule of law,quot; said Susan Lee, Americas Director at Amnesty International. quot;Roberto Micheletti must urgently rescind the decree and send clear instructions to the security forces to respect human rights in all circumstances and at all times.quot;br /
br /
Attacks on opponents of the de facto government by the police and military have escalated dramatically since the publication of the Presidential decree. Radio Globo and Canal 36, a local radio station and TV channel, were forcibly and violently shut down in joint police and military operations, which disregarded legal procedures and human rights. br /
br /
On Monday at around 5.20am, a joint military and police operation broke down the front door of the offices of Radio Globo shooting live ammunition into the air while taking over the building. br /
br /
The police and military had given no notice or provided any official reason for the operation. br /
br /
The Radio Globo employees who were in the building were forced to flee, and some in their panic leapt from the windows of their third storey office. The director of Radio Globo is reported to have suffered a fractured arm and other injuries as he fled the building. br /
br /
The equipment and vehicles owned by Radio Globo were also confiscated. The same violent and arbitrary methods were employed by the military and police when they simultaneously took over Canal 36. br /
br /
The closure of two of the key media outlets which deliver an alternative view to that of the de facto government undermines the right of Honduran citizens to access information and also demonstrates the clamp down by the authorities on freedom of expression and association. br /
br /
A journalist interviewed by Amnesty International said that there has been a marked increased in aggression towards human rights defenders and journalists by the de facto authorities, and with the arbitrary closure of key media outlets by the police and military the atmosphere is one of quot;high tension and real fearquot;. br /

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/AMR/honduras-police-supporter-100×100.jpg alt= title= /br/p
The Honduran authorities must immediately halt their quot;repressivequot;
response to a week of violent political unrest that left five people
reportedly killed, Amnesty International has said.br /
br /
Police are alleged to have shot dead an 18-year-old man in San Pedro Sula on Tuesday. Four more deaths have been reported in the capital Tegucigalpa amid widespread demonstrations against the emde facto /emauthorities. br /
br /
quot;The emde facto/em authorities must put an immediate halt to these repressive tactics and commit to respecting fundamental human rights,quot; said Susan Lee, Amnesty International’s Americas Director.br /
br /
There has been a sharp rise in police beatings, mass arrests of demonstrators and intimidation of human rights defenders since the return to Honduras on Monday of deposed President Manuel Zelaya, who was expelled from the country in a coup in June.br /
br /
There are reports that protestors have been shot by security forces. A 65-year-old man died of gunshot wounds during a demonstration in Tegucigalpa. The circumstances of three more reported deaths in the capital remain unclear. br /
br /
The man reported to have been shot dead in San Pedro Sula was identified as Joseacute; Jacobo Euceda Perdomo, 18. br /
br /
Amnesty International understands that police raided poor residential neighbourhoods in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, searching for opponents of the authorities who had taken part in protests.br /
br /
Police are reported to have fired live ammunition and tear gas as they entered homes, before beating and detaining individuals. Young people appear to have been particularly targeted.br /
br /
The location of those detained in Tegucigalpa remains unclear. Some were taken to the main police stations, while others may have been held in the residential neighbourhoods. br /
br /
Such irregular methods of detention place individuals at risk of grave human rights abuses, since their detention may never be formally registered. br /
br /
Witnesses in Tegucigalpa have also reported seeing soldiers randomly beating people on the street with wooden clubs.br /
br /
Concerns about human rights in Honduras have intensified since the democratically elected President Zelaya was forced from power on 28 June and expelled from the country by a military-backed group of politicians led by Roberto Micheletti, former leader of the National Congress. br /
br /
There has been widespread unrest in the country since the emcoup drsquo;etat /emwith frequent clashes between the police, military and civilian protestors. Tensions have mounted since the return of deposed President Zelaya on 21 September. br /
br /
Amnesty International has documented the restrictions that have been imposed on freedom of expression since the emcoup drsquo;eacute;tat/em. These include the closure of media outlets, the confiscation of equipment and physical abuse of journalists and camerapersons covering events.br /
br /
quot;The people of Honduras deserve a speedy resolution to this increasingly serious situation,quot; said Susan Lee. quot;The efforts of the international community to broker a negotiated outcome to the political confrontation offers the best opportunity to avoid a human rights crisis and must be backed by all political sides in Honduras.quot;
/p

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/AMR/honduras-bruised-demonstrator-100×100.jpg alt= title= /br/Amnesty International has received continuing reports of numerous demonstrators being beaten by police and some several hundred detained across Tegucigalpa, the capital city of Honduras. The reports follow the break up by police of a mass demonstration outside the Brazilian Embassy on Tuesday. br /
br /
Reports also indicate similar human rights violations across the country. There has been a sharp rise in police beatings, mass arrests of demonstrators and intimidation of human rights defenders since the return to Honduras on Monday of President Manuel Zelaya Rosales. The President was expelled from the country in a coup drsquo;etat in June. br /
br /
Amnesty International has warned that fundamental rights and the rule of law in the Central American nation are in grave jeopardy.br /
br /
quot;The situation in Honduras can only be described as alarming,quot; said Susan Lee, Americas Director at Amnesty International. quot;The attacks against human rights defenders, suspension of news outlets, beating of demonstrators by the police and ever increasing reports of mass arrests indicate that human rights and the rule of law in Honduras are at grave risk.br /
br /
According to reports received by the organization, around 15 police fired tear gas canisters at the building of the prominent human rights organization, the Committee of Relatives of the Disappeared in Honduras (Comiteacute; de Familiares de Detenidos Desaparecidos en Honduras) on Tuesday morning. Around 100 people, including women and children, were inside the office at the time. br /
br /
Many had come to denounce police abuses during the break up of a demonstration earlier outside the Brazilian Embassy, where ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya has taken refuge. br /
br /
Amnesty International has received information that dozens of protestors were taken to unauthorised detention sites across the capital on Tuesday night. Although most of those detained have been released, mass arbitrary arrests may make those detained vulnerable to human rights abuses such as ill-treatment, torture or enforced disappearance.br /
br /
Amnesty International has documented the limits which have been imposed on freedom of expression since the coup drsquo;eacute;tat. These include the closure of media outlets, the confiscation of equipment and physical abuse of journalists and camerapersons covering events. br /
br /
Radio Globo and TV channel 36 yesterday suffered power stoppages or constant interruptions to their transmissions which prevented them from broadcasting.br /
br /
quot;The only way forward is for the de facto authorities to stop the policy of repression and violence and instead respect the rights of freedom of expression and association,quot; said Susan Lee. quot;We also urge the international community to urgently seek a solution, before Honduras sinks even deeper into a human rights crisis.quot;