Sr. Juan Orlando Hernández
President of the Republic of Honduras
Sr. Oscar Chinchilla Banegas
Attorney General of Honduras
Dear President and Attorney General:
We are outraged at the complaint filed against Jackeline Jiménez and Sonia Martínez, who are demanding justice in the disappearance of their brother and husband, Donatilo Jiménez Euceda, president of a local chapter of the SITRAUNAH (Union of Workers of the National Autonomous University of Honduras). He was kidnapped and disappeared on April 8 while working his daily shift as maintenance man at CURLA (Regional University Center of the Atlantic Coast) in La Ceiba in the Department of Atlántida. To date, only his vehicle has been found.
Jackeline Jiménez pointed out that on April 8 her brother Donatilo was working with three other men from CURLA’s maintenance department. She said there is a security guard post a few meters from where he was working that is responsible for watching the area. She claims the men will not talk because they “are probably being threatened.”
In late May the Public Prosecutor accused the alleged gang member José Augusto Turcios Salinas, alias “Mayimbu,” of being responsible for the kidnapping of Donatilo Jiménez. “Mayimbu,” is currently in the San Pedro Sula Penal Center for a series of crimes.
“We are not going to believe what the authorities are saying and we will not allow this case to be used to clear the name and image of the university’s highest authority. . .” said Jackeline Jiménez. She and other family members are questioning the indifference and presumed institutional complicity in the disappearance of Donatilo Jiménez, who had been denouncing internal acts of corruption at the university.
Jackeline Jiménez, who has also worked at CURLA for more than 25 years, said the Public Prosecutor made a written request to the authorities at CURLA to deny her entrance to the workplace after her claims about her brother’s disappearance. An agreement had to be reached giving her permission to reenter her workplace.
Bertha Oliva, Coordinator of the Committee of Relatives of the Detained and Disappeared of Honduras (COFADEH), stated, “We see this as a theme in our country right now. No one can invoke their rights or report an abuse because they are afraid they will have to appear in court.”
Forced disappearances are a crime against humanity and a violation of international law. The incidents described here are a direct attack against liberty of expression and the right to information. Therefore we strongly urge that you
- immediately drop the defamation claim against Jackeline Jiménez and Sonia Martínez;
- conduct a thorough investigation into the disappearance of Donatilo Jiménez, publish the results and bring those responsible to justice
Sincerely,
Brian J. Stefan Szittai Christine Stonebraker-Martinez
Co-Coordinators
