[HNA] COFADEH alert in English

[Tom Loudon]

*DE FACTO REGIME PREPARES REPRESSION LEADING UP TO ILLEGITIMATE ELECTIONS*

The Committee of Detained and Disappeared of Honduras (COFADEH) 
expresses its concern to the national and international community 
regarding the deterioration of the human rights situation in Honduras 
which is deepening each day.

A new wave of violence includes death threats, political persecution, 
illegal detentions, tortures and the militarization of sectors of 
principal cities.  Of particular concern is the incursion of vehicles 
without license plates, darkened windows, driven by heavily armed agents 
with hooded faces into neighborhoods identified as allied with the 
Resistance against the coup and self declared as "free of political 
propaganda."  These actions follow the creation of lists profiling 
leaders of the resistance movement by order of the military and police.

The overall environment that has been created is one of repression and 
uncertainty.   This was reinforced by a statement issued on November 16, 
2009 by the Sub-Secretary of the Service Networks of the Ministry of 
Public Health that orders the preparation of a CONTINGENCY PLAN for 
provision of health services for 24 hours per day from November 19^th 
thru December 4^th , 2009.  According to statement No. 1055-09-SSRDS, 
the plan must include: Anticipated Suspension of Activity without 
putting the health of patients at risk, Re-scheduling of Surgeries 
during these dates and supply of medicine and equipment necessary for 
the plan.

These measures appear to be related to the conduction of the illegal 
electoral process on November 29, which is proceeding in an irregular 
manner and reflects the militarization and para-militarization of the 
country.  The military reserves have been mobilized to support the 
16,000 members of the armed forces and 14,000 police already mobilized 
in the distribution of ballot boxes.

In departments in the western part of the country, army reserves 
distributed fliers to intimidate the population in resistance, 
characterizing members of the resistance as irrational delinquents and 
discrediting marches and protests as inhumane and uncivilized behavior.  
This activity parallels the "anti-communist" campaigns of the 1980's.

The military control advances and consolidates as Michelleti announces a 
"strategic departure" from the country between November 25^th and 
December 2, 2009. The security forces equip themselves with new 
repressive tools.  An armored vehicle has been added to the Secretary of 
Security for dispersing protests. The anti-riot units are equipped with 
video cameras and high pressure water cannon and a mechanism that marks 
anyone who comes in contact with the water for 48 hours.   The armed 
forces have begun conducting selective checks along major roads in the 
country and departments in the Atlantic zone of the country have 
experienced military over flights.

COFADEH communicates its concern to all Human Rights institutions and 
the international community regarding the safety of social activists who 
struggle for the reestablishment of democratic order.

COFADEH asks the international community to be on alert regarding the 
human rights situation in Honduras and to demand that the Honduran state 
guarantee the right to life and integrity of the Honduran population and 
foreigners living in the country.

*COFADEH, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.  November 21, 2009*

 

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