International Observation Mission for the Human Rights Situation in Honduras Preliminary Report

Translated into English by Laura Jung, Lena Mortensen, and Adrienne Pine.  Hail to the translators.

The date on the report is 23 de julio de 2009, which doesn't appear on this translation.  For the Spanish version, go here.  The Final Report, in Spanish and dated August 7, is here. (I have no idea why it's dated tomorrow - perhaps that's the official release date???)

Some time has intervened between the compilation of the data in the preliminary report and today, so there are a great deal of abuse that has happened since that is not included in the numbers and incidents in this report.  A sample:

8. The fundamental rights violations reported to the Mission included a significant number of extrajudicial executions, hundreds of arbitrary detentions, multiple threats, curtailment of freedom of expression and information, as well as undue restrictions on the freedom of movement, altogether signaling a clear context of political persecution that especially affects political and union leaders, human rights defenders, social activists, journalists, foreign citizens, and others.

9. Indeed, since the coup d'etat took place, and in relation to it, several distinct sources confirmed by the Mission have reported the following individual deaths: ISIS OBED MURILLO MENCIAS, 19 years old, killed by shots fired by the Armed Forces during the July 5 march on the Toncontin airport in Tegucigalpa by supporters of the ousted president; GABRIEL FINO NORIEGA, journalist with Radio Estelar in the Department of Atlántida, assassinated by seven bullet wounds on July 3 when he was leaving his place of work; RAMON GARCIA, a leader in the Democratic Unification party (UD), who was forced off a public transport vehicle upon returning from a demonstration and then riddled with bullets by unknown persons in the area of Santa Barbara; ROGER IVAN BADOS, ex-chairman of the textile worker union and current activist in the UD and the Popular Resistence Front (BP), who received death threats following the coup and was shot to death after being taken by force from his home on July 11 in San Pedro Sula; VICKY HERNANDEZ CASTILLO (SONNY EMELSON HERNANDEZ) , member of the LGTB community, killed in San Pedro Sula during the curfew by a bullet wound to the eye and displaying signs of strangulation, and an unidentified individual, wearing a t-shirt imprinted with the so called "cuarta urna," was found dead on July 3 in the "La Montañita" sector of Tegucigalpa, a place where a clandestine cemetery for extrajudicial executions during the 80's was located. The Mission is continuing to verify other reports of extrajudicial executions.

10. From the Center for Investigation and Promotion of Human Rights (CIPRODEH), the Mission has received related reports of forced disappearances of: ANASTASIO BARRERA, 55 years old, affiliated w/ith the National Union of Rural Workers, kidnapped in San Juan Pueblo, Atlántida, on July 5, 2009 by four individuals wearing police vests. It was also reported that MANUEL SEVILLA, 19 years old, was disappeared in San Pedro Sula on July 12 after returning from a demonstration.

So the story goes.  The common perception all over Latin America right now is that the Obama Administration is out to lunch on Honduras - "waffling" is the term of choice.  Stories floating right now in the U.S. msm are scaring folks down south, I think.  Typically, the WSJ story: U.S. Decides Not to Impose Sanctions on Honduras, or the NYT/Reuters -  U.S. Appears to Soften Support For Honduras' Zelaya.  The news stories are based on the State Department's letter to Senator Richard Lugar:

United States Department of State, Washington, D.C.
August-4 2009

Dear Senator Lugar:

Thank you for your letter of July 30 expressing concerns regarding the political crisis in Honduras and your interest in moving forward on the nomination of Arturo Valenzuela to be Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs.

All countries of the hemisphere should respect fundamental civil and political rights, democratic principles, and institutions of democracy. The events of June 28 were preceded by a
political conflict between President Zelaya and the other institutions of Honduras' government. We energetically condemn the actions of June 28. We also recognize that President Zelaya's insistence on undertaking provocative actions contributed to the polarization of Honduran society and led to a confrontation that unleashed the events that led to his removal. For this reason, our public statements and actions have focused on the importance of a negotiated, peaceful solution that restores democratic order in accordance with the principles of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, addresses the underlying problems of democratic governability, and enhances the rule of law. This understanding is reflected in our support for the mediation efforts of President Arias of Costa Rica, which we see as offering the best hope for Honduras' democratic future and the well-being of its people.

In both public and private communications, we have urged both sides to work constructively with President Arias, an experienced and proven mediator, to resolve the crisis peacefully. We will continue to do so. To enhance the success of these efforts, we have maintained the presence of our Ambassador in Honduras to ensure a reliable channel of communication with all relevant parties in the political crises.

Secretary Clinton has spoken with Roberto Micheletti and President Manuel Zelaya as part of our ongoing efforts to help fashion a peaceful, negotiated solution to the events of June 28. Our policy and strategy for engagement is not based on supporting any particular politician or individual. Rather, it is based on finding a resolution that best serves the Honduran people and their democratic aspirations.

We are encouraged by Mr. Micheletti's July 29 public reaffirmation of the Arias mediation process and his request that President Arias send a high-level international delegation to facilitate a dialogue among Honduran society concerning the terms of the proposed Arias agreement. On the same day, Honduran Vice President Mejia, on behalf of President Zelaya, signed the declaration of the Tuxtla Summit of Central American leaders, a text which fully supports the Arias process. We will continue our efforts to support President Arias and his mediation process, encourage both sides to negotiate a peaceful return to the democratic order in Honduras, and work with others in the international community to encourage the Arias process and discourage those who advocate violence.

With respect to the legality of actions in Honduras, we have suspended certain assistance as a policy matter pending an ongoing determination under U.S. law about the applicability of the provisions requiring termination of assistance in the event of a military coup. Our course here is consistent with past Department practice in similar situations in which aid that might be affected has been paused to ensure that the U.S. government stays on the right side of the law while a political crisis unfolds. In addition, after careful review, we revoked the diplomatic visas of five officials of the de facto regime in Honduras. At the Organization of American States (OAS) we have worked closely with our partners in the region to ensure that the OAS, while condemning the removal of President Zelaya and suspending Honduras' participation in the Organization, serves to further the cause of a negotiated and peaceful resolution of the crisis. We have rejected calls for crippling economic sanctions and made clear that all states should seek to facilitate a solution without calls for violence and with respect for the principle of nonintervention. We continue to work in and with the OAS to support the efforts of President Arias.

The Department of State has regularly briefed Congress on the situation in Honduras. Starting shortly after the June 28 coup, the Office of Central American Affairs held daily conference
calls with Congressional staff in which Senate Foreign Relations Committee staff members Carl Meacham and Fulton Armstrong have participated as their schedules have permitted. In addition, former Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs David Robinson and Office of Central American Affairs Director Christopher Webster gave a classified briefing on Honduras-related developments to Senate Foreign Relations Committee staff and Mark Lopes of Senator Menendez' staff on July 7. Acting Deputy Secretary of State Robinson's successor, Bisa Williams, and Mr. Webster have been in touch regularly with Congress to answer questions and to discuss initiatives. Regarding the nomination process in the Senate for Messrs. Valenzuela, Pascual, and Shannon, we appreciate your interest and support in moving these nominations forward.

We hope this information is useful to you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we may be of further assistance.

Sincerely,
Richard R. Verma
Assistant Secretary
Legislative Affairs

Anyone familiar with State's response to the Honduran coup so far won't find anything new in this letter.  Certain sanctions have been exercised, as well as the revoking of diplomatic visas (although this document does speak of five visas lifted instead of the four that were mentioned in several news stories last week).  Those "crippling economic sanctions" are of course embargoes on trade and other measures that would adversely affect a large swath of the Honduran people, rather than just those directly responsible for the Coup d'Etat.

I think comparing the actual letter with the MSM "interpretations" is interesting, if for no other reason than to ponder political  propaganda.  But that's not my point here.

My point is the perception that exists in Latin American per the "American" response.  Latin Americans, especially Hondurans, are seeing the US press almost exclusively backing up the coup, and they are not seeing anything in the US MSM about what's happening on the ground in Honduras.  Day by day the golpistas are cranking up the repression of the people, more people are being arrested, beaten and murdered, and the perception is that when the Wall Street Journal publishes a story like the one cited above, the golpistas are emboldened to further their repression.

Here's the story from today, provided by Raj on her web site.  The Honduran National University is under seige by the National Police and Army.  I'll just past the text to an email Raj received from a student there:

A half hour ago, the police force and military of the dictatorial regime imposed on Honduras, has initiated a vandalistic offensive against the National Autonomous University of Honduras. With the pretext of dissolving a peaceful demonstration of resistance that the students were carrying out at the entry to the University in Tegucigalpa, they began to throw tear gas, and as the students fled to the interior of the university grounds, they have pursued them and continue their human hunt at this moment, with SHOTS. The Rector and members of the Junta Directiva of the University, who had come out to dialogue with the police and military, have been assaulted in their physical integrity, thrown on the ground, grabbed with blows.

There are wounded, the cruel repression continues in the present moments. Colleagues, students and administrators from within the University are calling us, anguished, they cannot exit, they are shooting at them, breaking in the windows and walls, the tear gas has entered the university halls, they feel they are suffocating and are afraid to come out and be shot with bullets.

And the title of her blog?
While State Department Waffles, Honduran University Members are Beaten

Now why isn't this in our newspapers and TV news programs? What's the chance of it appearing in  WSJ?