<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Amnesty International USA</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:alerts@takeaction.amnestyusa.org">alerts@takeaction.amnestyusa.org</a>></span><br>
Date: Wed, Sep 2, 2009 at 4:05 PM<br>Subject: How bad is it in Honduras?<br>To: Kaveri Rajaraman <<a href="mailto:krajaram@fas.harvard.edu">krajaram@fas.harvard.edu</a>><br><br><br>
<div>
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" align="center" bgcolor="#fdfdea" border="0">
<tbody><tr>
<td>
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="660" align="center" border="0">
<tbody><tr>
<td bgcolor="#fdfdea" colspan="3"><a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=gtKTJ8PRLrI1LjK&s=kwJ1JjN7JlKUIgN2KvF&m=enJIJNOoFdJQH" target="_blank"><img height="94" alt="Amnesty International USA: TAKE ACTION NOW!" width="651" border="0"></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#fdfdea" colspan="3"><img height="14" alt="" width="1" border="0"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img height="1" alt="" width="16" border="0"></td>
<td>
<div style="font-size:13pt;color:#666666;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">An ousted President. A disenfranchised population. An overthrown democracy.<br>
<a style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16pt;color:#000000;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;text-decoration:underline" href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=jmLZKhM3KuL8JtJ&s=kwJ1JjN7JlKUIgN2KvF&m=enJIJNOoFdJQH" target="_blank">Urge Secretary Clinton to ensure resolution to the political crisis and prevent further human rights abuses in Honduras!</a></div>
</td>
<td><img height="1" alt="" width="16" border="0"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#fdfdea" colspan="3"><br>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" align="center" bgcolor="#fdfdea" border="0">
<tbody><tr>
<td>
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="660" align="center" border="0">
<tbody><tr>
<td bgcolor="#fdfdea" colspan="6"><img height="6" alt="" width="666" border="0"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" rowspan="3"><img height="216" alt="" width="8" border="0"></td>
<td bgcolor="#ffffff" rowspan="3"><img height="1" alt="" width="20" border="0"></td>
<td valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff" colspan="2"><img height="10" alt="" width="1" border="0"></td>
<td bgcolor="#ffffff" rowspan="3"><img height="1" alt="" width="10" border="0"></td>
<td valign="top" rowspan="3"><img height="216" alt="" width="8" border="0"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding-top:10px" valign="top" width="405" bgcolor="#ffffff">
<div style="font-size:10pt;color:#000000;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Dear Kaveri,<br>
<br>
Right now, we are witnessing <strong>the biggest political crisis to rock Central America in years</strong><sup>1</sup>, but the U.S. has moved at, what amounts to politically as, a glacial pace.<br>
<br>
Two months ago, <strong>Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was removed from his home at gunpoint</strong> by 300 troops. He was forcibly put on a plane and has only managed to step foot in his home country for roughly two hours since.<br>
<br> In the meantime, <strong>a <em>de facto</em> government has assumed power</strong>, violently punishing all those who courageously speak out -- dealing a powerful blow to democracy and human rights.<br>
<br>
<strong>Yesterday, President Zelaya arrived in Washington, DC</strong> to meet with Organization of American States (OAS) and U.S. State Department officials to discuss plans for resolution. Tomorrow he is <strong>scheduled to meet with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.</strong> <br>
<br>
While the U.S. is finally poised to cut off nearly $150 million in military assistance to Honduras<sup>2</sup> and strengthen its restrictions on the country, <strong>there is still a major factor that has not yet been addressed.</strong></div>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="215" bgcolor="#ffffff"><a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=cpJLKWOBInKVL9L&s=kwJ1JjN7JlKUIgN2KvF&m=enJIJNOoFdJQH" target="_blank"><img height="385" alt="Protestor shows bruising left by police batons" width="215" border="0"></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#ffffff" colspan="2">
<div style="font-size:10pt;color:#000000;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><br>
The people of Honduras <em>voted for a democratic government,</em> but in the most undemocratic fashion possible, they are in danger of losing that right, among many others. The <em>de facto</em> government has used its unchecked power to conduct <strong>mass arrests and police and military-sanctioned beatings</strong> against any vocal oppositional figures. The <strong>U.S. must use President Zelaya's trip to Washington to send a clear message</strong> to coup leaders that abuse of human rights and democracy in Honduras will not be tolerated.<br>
<br>
<a style="font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;color:#73b010;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;text-decoration:underline" href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=cfLLJXNtE5KDI0I&s=kwJ1JjN7JlKUIgN2KvF&m=enJIJNOoFdJQH" target="_blank">Tell Secretary Clinton to push for accountability for the human rights violations that have been committed by the <em>de facto</em> government.</a><br>
<br>
Extreme instability and political unrest have <strong>forced the people of Honduras to take to the streets</strong> in protest. Amnesty International researchers have been on the ground since the coup took place and have <a style="font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;color:#73b010;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;text-decoration:underline" href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=fsIRJ6OFK8JKKaL&s=kwJ1JjN7JlKUIgN2KvF&m=enJIJNOoFdJQH" target="_blank">documented widespread police beatings</a> of students, reporters, political leaders and other activists. Women and media workers have been particularly vulnerable to the violence. We can only expect that <strong>the excessive use of police and military force will intensify</strong> unless order in soon restored. <br>
<br>
In this instance where <strong>political implications are huge</strong> and the <strong>human rights impact is tremendous,</strong> there is no time to waste. While <strong>President Obama's words</strong> have added much-needed pressure to the debate -- labeling the overthrow as illegal and recognizing the "terrible precedent" it would set if unchallenged -- they <strong>have not been enough</strong> to end the ongoing crackdown on human rights.<br>
<br>
Right now, the Obama administration must take decisive action in order to seek a negotiated solution and counter the damage that has already been done. <br>
<br>
<a style="font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;color:#73b010;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;text-decoration:underline" href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=ilKXKfPRJbIRLkK&s=kwJ1JjN7JlKUIgN2KvF&m=enJIJNOoFdJQH" target="_blank">Tell Secretary Clinton that you want to see human rights returned to the people of Honduras.</a><br>
<br>
The coup has already taken over political powers and human rights in Honduras -- if the U.S. hasn't taken bold action to push for urgent negotiations and a peaceful resolution of the crisis by now, then what more will it take?<br>
<br>
Sincerely,<br>
Daniel, Kate, Zahir and the rest of the Central America Team<br>
<br>
<br>
<table border="0">
<tbody><tr>
<td><a style="text-decoration:none" href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=boLJLUNpH4LEJ0J&s=kwJ1JjN7JlKUIgN2KvF&m=enJIJNOoFdJQH" target="_blank"><img height="16" alt="" width="16" align="absMiddle" border="0"><font face="arial" size="2"> Share on Facebook</font></a> </td>
<td><a style="text-decoration:none" href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=erJPL3OBJ7KLLaI&s=kwJ1JjN7JlKUIgN2KvF&m=enJIJNOoFdJQH" target="_blank"><img height="16" alt="" width="16" align="absMiddle" border="0"><font face="arial" size="2"> Share on Twitter</font></a> </td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="406" align="center" border="0">
<tbody><tr>
<td><a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=huLVIcPNIaJSJkL&s=kwJ1JjN7JlKUIgN2KvF&m=enJIJNOoFdJQH" target="_blank"><img height="25" alt="Take Action" width="112" border="0"></a></td>
<td style="width:20px;height:66px"></td>
<td><a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=boIJJUMpG4IHL3J&s=kwJ1JjN7JlKUIgN2KvF&m=enJIJNOoFdJQH" target="_blank"><img height="25" alt="Donate" width="112" border="0"></a></td>
<td style="width:20px;height:66px"></td>
<td><a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=erKPJ3OBI7LOIdI&s=kwJ1JjN7JlKUIgN2KvF&m=enJIJNOoFdJQH" target="_blank"><img height="25" alt="Blog" width="112" border="0"></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-size:8pt;color:#666666;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-align:left" align="center">1. <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8124154.stm" target="_blank">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8124154.stm</a><br>
2. <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gnMGFpZDNYTDgJVPOpdveATHoZTg" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gnMGFpZDNYTDgJVPOpdveATHoZTg</a><br>
<br>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#ffa100" colspan="6"><img height="5" alt="" width="1" border="0"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#f7e5c6" colspan="6"><img height="2" alt="" width="1" border="0"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="6"><img height="4" alt="" width="1" border="0"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="6">
<div style="font-size:8pt;color:#999999;font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE. Messages sent to this email address are not read. If you have a question or comment, please use our interactive <a style="font-weight:normal;font-size:8pt;color:#757575;font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-decoration:underline" href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=huIVKcPNLaKVKnL&s=kwJ1JjN7JlKUIgN2KvF&m=enJIJNOoFdJQH" target="_blank">online help system</a>. Subscribe to our <a style="font-weight:normal;font-size:8pt;color:#757575;font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-decoration:underline" href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=anJHLRMlF3JII3K&s=kwJ1JjN7JlKUIgN2KvF&m=enJIJNOoFdJQH" target="_blank">RSS feeds</a>.<br>
<br>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="6">
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="660" align="center" border="0">
<tbody><tr>
<td style="width:26px;height:25px"></td>
<td style="padding-top:8px"><img height="10" alt="Find Us On" width="70" border="0"></td>
<td style="width:19px;height:25px"></td>
<td style="padding-top:2px"><a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=fiIRJ6OFK9JKK9L&s=kwJ1JjN7JlKUIgN2KvF&m=enJIJNOoFdJQH" target="_blank"><img height="16" alt="Facebook" width="78" border="0"></a></td>
<td style="width:31px;height:25px"></td>
<td style="padding-top:2px"><a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=ilKXKfPRJcIRLjK&s=kwJ1JjN7JlKUIgN2KvF&m=enJIJNOoFdJQH" target="_blank"><img height="21" alt="MySpace" width="78" border="0"></a></td>
<td style="width:31px;height:25px"></td>
<td><a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=beLJLUNpH5LEJZJ&s=kwJ1JjN7JlKUIgN2KvF&m=enJIJNOoFdJQH" target="_blank"><img height="25" alt="YouTube" width="62" border="0"></a></td>
<td style="width:33px;height:25px"></td>
<td style="padding-top:0px"><a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=ehJPL3OBJ8KLL9I&s=kwJ1JjN7JlKUIgN2KvF&m=enJIJNOoFdJQH" target="_blank"><img height="18" alt="Twitter" width="76" border="0"></a></td>
<td style="width:28px;height:25px"></td>
<td style="padding-top:4px"><a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=huLVIcPNIbJSJjL&s=kwJ1JjN7JlKUIgN2KvF&m=enJIJNOoFdJQH" target="_blank"><img height="21" alt="Change.org" width="96" border="0"></a></td>
<td style="width:30px;height:25px"></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="6">
<div style="font-size:8pt;color:#999999;font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" align="center"><br>
<br>
© Copyright 2009 | Amnesty International USA | 5 Penn Plaza | New York, NY 10001 | 212.807.8400 </div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br><br><a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=beLJLUNrH7LCJXJ&s=kwJ1JjN7JlKUIgN2KvF&m=enJIJNOoFdJQH" target="_blank">Remove yourself from this mailing</a>.<br><br><a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=erJPL3ODJaKJL7I&s=kwJ1JjN7JlKUIgN2KvF&m=enJIJNOoFdJQH" target="_blank">Remove yourself from all mailings from Amnesty USA</a>.</div>
<img height="1" width="1">
</div><br>