Attached is an NGO sign-on letter drafted by CONPAH (Confederation of
Autochthonous Peoples of Honduras), an indigenous human rights group. The
intention is to have both Honduran and international organizations sign on
and support these indigenous land struggles (as explained in the letter).
The letter will be sent directly to President Reina of Honduras.
The situation in Honduras is precarious and the threat of more violence is
great. Please read the letter and consider lending your support. You can
email me at: vgardos@us.net. I wecome your call if you have any further
questions, (202) 232-3317 or fax, (202) 232-3440.
Thank you very much for your time.
Sincerely,
Victoria Gardos
Center for International Policy
Washington, D.C.
Letter to Carlos Roberto Reina
President of the Republic of Honduras
Dear Mr. President:
We the undersigned individuals and representatives of organizations
congratulate you for signing the Accord between the Government and the
Indigenous and Black Peoples of Honduras on May 13, 1997. This historic
agreement shows your willingness to restore land and provide much needed
social programs to the Maya Chorti peoples in your country.
Honduras has demonstrated its commitment to the human rights of its
indigenous population by signing and ratifying the 169th Covenant of the
International Labor Organization. Some government officials argue that
the Covenant needs to be written into Honduran law to be enforced, but the
Honduran Constitution stipulates that International Agreements take
precedence over domestic law. Since the Honduran Government has signed
and ratified this covenant, the spirit of the ILO Covenant 169 should
supersede any other domestic law. The only legislation needed are laws
stipulating penalties for noncompliance with Covenant 169.
We are aware that this Accord was reached only at a great cost to many.
Leaders who sought land for their peoples were killed for that commitment,
including:
-- Candido Amador, brutally assassinated April 12, 1997, a Chorti leader
in the struggle for land in Copan Ruins, the ancestral capital of the
Mayan world.
-- Jesus Alvarez Rochez, shot on April 9, 1997 who died one month later.
He was an advisor to the Defense of the Land Committee in the Garifuna
Community of El Triunfo de la Cruz.
-- Manvil Pinace Age, who was shot and killed on April 22, 1997 on Roatan,
the largest of the Bay Islands. This 17-year-old was an active member of a
communal organization on the island (NABIPLA) which vehemently protests the
violent forced removal of 12 Black families, evicted from their homes of
over 20 years. This illegal eviction occurred on March 12, 1997.
We urge you to investigate fully these and other killings and evictions,
bringing the perpetrators of these crimes to justice. Other Indigenous and
Black leaders are still under threat for their ongoing efforts to ensure the
basic right to land for their peoples.
On May 12, 1997 at 4:00a.m., just five hours before an earlier draft of the
Accord was to be signed, over 2,000 soldiers and police, armed with riot
gear, attacked and removed the peaceful encampment of Indigenous and Black
peoples near the Presidential Palace. This violent eviction was carried out
without judicial order. Some soldiers were reticent in attacking the
protesters, who were peacefully assembled in front of the Presidential
Palace, while others blindly assaulted them. One pregnant woman was beaten
by soldiers. Many children were trampled by police as their mothers fell
during the police charges. Police poured large pots of cold water on top of
protesters. They destroyed tents and personal belongings.
Marchers trying to comply with police orders, as well as those seated
peacefully in defiance were kicked by police. Men, women and children had
to be treated medically for the beatings by police. One soldier was also
injured.
It is disconcerting to learn that Col. Rodolfo Interiano Portillo who led
the violent attack, as well as the government's chief negotiator prior to
this raid, Rodolfo Pastor Fasquelle, both have land interests in western
Honduras, where the Chorti are demanding that their ancestral lands be
returned.
We are deeply concerned over the lack of compliance with key elements of the
Accord. On May 30, 1997, one thousand hectares of land were to be turned
over to the Chorti communities in Copan and Ocotepeque. Another 500
hectares were to be handed over on June 15 and yet another 500 acres on June
30. As of July 8, 1997, no land has been transferred to the Indigenous
people. It is appalling that some key governmental officials openly speak
of not being able to fully comply with the Agreement you signed.
It is very troubling to hear reports of landowners in western Honduras who
are arming themselves to prevent their land from being confiscated. It is
extremely important that the disarmament called for in the Accord be
complied with fully in order to avoid bloodshed.
Mr. President, we implore you to do everything in your power to stop the
repression against those striving for what is rightfully theirs. We also
exhort you to bring to justice those who seek to use murder and repression
as a means of halting those working for land rights on behalf of the
Indigenous and Black Peoples of Honduras who are organized under the
Confederation of Autochthonous Peoples of Honduras (CONPAH).
We urge you to promote laws which would implement the ILO Covenant 169 and
take up as a personal priority before you leave office the achieving of full
compliance with the Accord, especially the promised turnover of 9,000
hectares of land to the Chortis. Not fulfilling this important goal would
be serious failure in your long-standing leadership in the field of human
rights.
Sincerely,
Please note that this letter will be sent to President Reina of Honduras.
The intention is to have both Honduran and internatioanal NGO's sign on and
support these indigenous land struggles. If you know of any other
organizations who might be interested in signing, please indicate. Please
fax the information below by Friday, July 18th to the Center for
International Policy at (202) 232-3440 or call at (202) 232-3317.
Name:
Title:
Organization:
Address:
Phone:
__Signing on as an organization
__Signing on as an individual with organization for identification purposes only
-------------
South and Meso American Indian Rights Center (SAIIC)
P.O. Box 28703
Oakland CA, 94604
Phone: (510)834-4263 Fax: (510)834-4264
Email: saiic@igc.apc.org
Office: 1714 Franklin Street, 3rd Floor, Oakland
http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/nativeweb/abyayala/orgs/saiic/
For more information about SAIIC, send an empty email message to:
saiic-info@igc.apc.org