This piece was reprinted by OpEd News with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.
"A patrol car was advancing toward the crowd, and as it turned round at speed....police....started to shoot...." Women were treated harshly like men, some sexually abused, police systematically using disproportionate force, in violation of international law standards to which Honduras is party, including the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), affirming the "right to peaceful assembly," and prohibiting torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
In addition, Article 2 of the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials states:
"In the performance of their duty, law enforcement officials shall respect and protect human dignity and maintain and uphold the human rights of all persons."
Article 3 says "Law enforcement officials may use force only when strictly necessary and to the extent required for the performance of their duty," meaning only under extreme circumstances, never against peaceful protestors or persons posing no threat. Arbitrary arrests, detentions, beatings, torture, and other abuses are strictly prohibited.
Free expression, assembly and association are enshrined in human rights law. Yet Robert Barra, a Chilean independent photo-journalist told AI that police beat him and confiscated his camera while he was covering a peaceful protest. He was severely bruised and cut. Others were treated the same way, and media outlets like Radio Globo, Canal 36, Maya TV and Radio Progreso were taken off the air and shut down. Anyone suspected of threatening state authority faces recriminations, even death.
Rights Action Honduras Update
Published June 22, Grahame Russell calls Honduran repression "very bad," explaining that:
"The (Lobo) regime (has) implemented a policy of state repression (terror) - including the activation of paramilitary death squad groups, to threaten, intimidate, terrorize and kill members of the pro-democracy, anti-coup movement," and potentially anyone challenging state authority, Oscar Geovanny Ramirez, a 16-year old campesino, one of many.
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
1
1
1
