Honduras: Fundamental rights under threat?

GENEVA – Four* United Nations Human Rights Experts expressed their serious concern about the recent human rights violations in Honduras, as a result of the events that have taken place in the country since the return of deposed President Manuel Zelaya.

“It is worrying that police and military officers are resorting to the use of excessive force, including beatings and shootings, in order to dissolve street protests,” expressed the experts in a joint statement.

“The result of these interventions has been large-scale detentions, in some cases in non-authorized detention facilities, where those arrested run the risk of being subjected to torture or other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment,” reaffirmed the four human rights specialists.

Two months ago, on 2 July, a similar number of experts made an urgent appeal to the authorities to immediately reestablish democracy and fundamental liberties, while expressing their concern over the human rights situation in the country.

In the last few days, five people have been killed as a result of the political disturbances, including an 18-year-old youth. The UN experts also reiterated their concern while making reference to National Police officers who fired teargas into the offices of a well-known human rights non-governmental organization. Approximately 100 persons were at the NGO offices to provide their testimonies on abuses committed by the police during the break-up of one of the demonstrations.

An executive decree proclaiming a state of emergency was issued on 22 September, suspending the freedoms of opinion and expression, movement and association. This has led to the closure of radio and television stations such as Radio Globo and Canal 36. The decree also authorizes the police to repress all non-authorized public meetings or demonstrations.

“We are particularly worried about the increase in allegations received concerning attacks, aggressions and intimidating acts against journalists and human rights defenders in Honduras”, expressed the experts, while highlighting that some journalists have been stripped of their possessions in order to prevent them from reporting on the demonstrations and protests.

“The rights to life, freedom of expression and opinion, as well as the prohibition of torture are fundamental rights which must always be respected”, recalled the group of independent experts. They urge the authorities to prevent the excessive use of force by the public authorities.

(*) Mr. El Hadji Malick Sow, Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; Ms. Margaret Sekaggya, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; Mr. Frank La Rue, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and Mr. Manfred Nowak, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.