5 November 2010

Re: Honduras- Human rights defender threatened and human rights lawyer abducted by armed gang who threatened to execute her

Women human rights defenders working with the Asociación para una sociedad más justa – ASJ (Association for a more just society) have been threatened at gunpoint in two separate incidents in the past number of weeks. On 3 November 2010 a member of the ASJ legal team was threatened by two armed men on a motorcycle. On 19 October 2010, an ASJ human rights lawyer was abducted while waiting for a taxi outside the organisation's offices. The lawyer who is working as a consultant for ASJ was held hostage for approximately 40 minutes during which time the men who abducted her threatened to execute her. The names of the two human rights defenders are being withheld for security reasons. These incidents form part of a recent campaign of harassment against this human rights lawyer and an ongoing campaign against other human rights lawyers working for ASJ.

On 3 November 2010, at approximately 12.30pm, the member of the ASJ legal team was sitting in her vehicle waiting to make a turn when two men approached on a blue and black motorcycle. The driver's window was half open and the passenger on the motorcycle opened his helmet visor and told the human rights defender to “be careful with Transformemos Honduras and ASJ”. Following this comment he took out a gun and twirled it around on his index finger.

Transformemos Honduras (TH) is a Christian movement that investigates corruption issues relating to the health and education systems in Honduras.

Previously, on 19 October 2010, at approximately 2.15pm, an ASJ human rights lawyer was negotiating a price with a taxi driver outside the organisation's offices when she was approached by two men who took her by the arm and forced her to get into the taxi, which they also proceeded to get into. According to the lawyer's testimony, the men ordered the taxi driver to take a route that follows the peripheral ring highway, ending up in the Carrizal neighborhood. En route, the two men exchanged pistols and commented to one another, “You know we were paid to execute her, we have to do it.” The kidnappers asked the lawyer if she worked for ASJ, how much they paid her, and if she was investigating a company called Technical Security of Honduras (SETECH). The lawyer refused to answer their questions, leading the kidnappers to begin insulting her.

After approximately 30 minutes the attitude of the kidnappers changed and they began to get nervous. Without explanation they ordered the taxi driver to change route. When they were in front of the Mega Larach hardware store they told the lawyer, “Get out now, and may God protect you.” The taxi then resumed its route with the men still inside.

In September 2010, the lawyer began carrying out an investigation working as a consultant for ASJ. The investigation examined the responsibility of various government bodies for the systematic violation of the labour rights of cleaning workers and security guards. The government agencies investigated included the Secretary of Labor and Social Welfare, the Honduran Institute for Social Security, the Office of the Prosecutor for Crimes against Women, the National Institute for Women, and the Solicitor General of the Republic. On 21 September, while the ASJ consultant carried out inspections of various record books in a number of offices of the Secretary of Labor and Social Welfare, she received warnings and threats from three different employees of this agency. One particular employee warned that the lawyer should not investigate security companies because they always have hitmen. References were made to Dionisio Díaz García who previously worked as a consultant for ASJ and was assassinated on 4 December 2006. Two hitmen riding on a motorcycle assassinated Mr Diaz Garcia as he was on his way to the Supreme Court to verify progress in the cases he was in charge of. An investigation was carried out, culminating in an oral, public trial in which a former SETECH security guard and an agent of the National Office of Criminal Investigation (DNIC) were sentenced to prison. This investigation and trial were carried out from 2007 – 2009.

In 2006 SETECH carried out a series of intimidating actions in an attempt to stop investigative work being done as part of ASJ’s labour-rights defence project, which protects the labour rights of employees in the fast-food, cleaning, and security industries.

Front Line is gravely concerned by the situation in Honduras regarding the investigation of security companies and state bodies. Such investigative activities in the past led to the assassination of the aforementioned human rights lawyer, Dionisio Díaz García. Front Line is extremely concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of the human rights lawyer involved in this case and all members of the ASJ staff. Front Line is concerned that they are under ongoing surveillance as part of a covert operation to curb their investigation into the work of security companies. Front Line is also further concerned with the link between SETECH and the Honduran government, which has provided SETECH with funding in the region of millions of
Lempiras.

Front Line urges the Honduran authorities to:

Carry out an immediate, impartial and thorough investigation into the armed incidents during which members of ASJ were threatened, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;

Guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of all members of ASJ, as well as all human rights defenders in Honduras, particularly by ensuring that adequate and effective security measures are provided to protect human rights defenders at risk;

Ensure that all human rights defenders in Honduras, carrying out their legitimate work in the defence of human rights, are able to operate free of restrictions and reprisals.