Rapid Response Network

We are very concernedabout the escalation of violent deaths, primarily of women, in the Garfuna (African-Caribbean descendant) communities. Since the beginning of September, at least five women have been killed in Colón and Cortés Departments.

We are writing to urge you to release all political prisoners in Honduras. We understand there are still 15 imprisoned and that most have been charged with crimes in the past two years, after the disputed presidential election of November 2017 (which many call fraudulent). They are often detained on false charges, such as arson and property damage. They are unnecessarily and unjustly investigated for terrorism. Sometimes cases are heard in national jurisdiction courts that have no jurisdiction over the charges against them. All of this illustrates the systematic political persecution and targeting of pro-democracy activists opposed to the government. Honduran law and due process are being violated.

We are deeply disturbed by the increasing number of assassinations of indigenous social leaders throughout Colombia. We urge that you investigate the killings of the following four person: Toribio Canas Velasco, Lilia Patricia García, Oneida Epiayú, Constantino Ramírez Bedoya

We are outraged at the Public Prosecutor’s decision to appeal a lower court’s acquittal of aggravated homicide charges against Evelyn Hernández in connection with an obstetric emergency. Evelyn Hernández, 21, was raped by a gang member and was unaware of her pregnancy until just before delivering a stillborn son in April 2016. After she was treated at a hospital, the attending staff reported her to the police. She was arrested, tried, and sentenced to 30 years in jail for aggravated homicide. In 2018, a higher court overturned this ruling and ordered a re-trial.

We are horrified at the attack in Tegucigalpa on Sandra Maribel Sánchez, an anchor and journalist for Radio Progreso. On September 26 at about 5:30p.m. when she was getting out of her car at her home, an unidentified man got off a motorcycle that had no license plates, pointed a 9mm caliber revolver at her head and ordered her to get back in the car. Fortunately for Sandra Sánchez, another car came by at that moment and the attacker immediately fled.

‌On September‌ ‌22,‌ ‌agents‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌Police‌ ‌Investigation‌ ‌Directorate‌ ‌(DPI)‌ arrived at the home ‌of‌ ‌María‌ ‌Concepción‌ ‌Hernández‌ ‌with‌ ‌an‌ ‌arrest‌ ‌warrant, and‌ ‌took her to a jail in Amapala municipality. She is accused of the ‌crime‌ ‌of‌ ‌usurpation‌ ‌of‌ ‌land‌. For many years, landowner ‌Jorge‌ ‌Cassis‌ ‌Leiva has ‌harassed‌ ‌and‌ ‌threatened‌ ‌the‌ ‌inhabitants‌ ‌of‌ ‌Playa‌ ‌Blanca,‌ ‌on‌ ‌the‌ ‌Zacate‌ ‌Grande‌ peninsula in the Gulf of Fonseca.‌ ‌ Her family has been the victim of previous attacks by landowner ‌Jorge‌ ‌Cassis‌ ‌Leiva. In February, Sabino González, an employee of Cassis, attacked Santos Hernández, the domestic partner of ‌María‌ ‌Concepción‌ ‌Hernández, sending him to the hospital with head and leg injuries.

We are deeply concerned about police attacks on human rights observers Elizabeth Medina, Human Rights Coordinator for Without Borders, and Katherin Cruz Cerrato, a member of the National Network of Human Rights Defenders in Honduras. On September 17, Elizabeth Medina and Katherin Cruz Cerrato were documenting repression against peaceful protests organized in various parts of Tegucigalpa by village communities that oppose the Santa María housing project, which threatens the water resources of La Tigra National Park. The police used firearms and tear gas indiscriminately and excessively; consequently, at least two people were injured by gunshot and dozens affected by the tear gas.

We are shocked and devastated that 142 former members of the demobilized Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have been killed since the signing of the peace agreement between the FARC and the Colombian Government in 2016. The latest victims: Milton Urrutia Mora, José Milton Peña Pineda, and Jackson Mena. On September 6, the three FARC former guerrillas were murdered and another badly injured in two separate attacks. All three were active in the reincorporation process, having willingly disarmed under the terms of the 2016 peace agreement. But, despite soaring levels of violence against FARC former combatants, your government had not granted them any security measures.

We are deeply concerned about threats issued by the Black Eagles (Águilas Negras) paramilitary organization against Colombia’s largest trade union, the Colombian Federation of Education Workers (FECODE). Named in the threats are: Nelson Alarcón, the president of FECODE; Martha Alfonso, second vice president of FECODE; Domingo Ayala, prosecutor for FECODE; and Carlos Rivas, former president and current secretary of Legal Affairs of FECODE.

Miguel Ángel Tróchez, a television reporter from Channel 24 (Paradise TV) has faced threats and attack in attempt of extortion and intimidation; however, the authorities are have dismissed his pleas for protection, arguing that there is no link between Miguel’s position as a journalist and the threats and attacks launched against him. During one of the attacks, Miguel’s car was lit on fire.