The Committee of Detained and Disappeared of Honduras (COFADEH)
expresses its concern to the national and international community
regarding the deterioration of the human rights situation in Honduras
which is deepening each day.
A new wave of violence includes death threats, political persecution,
illegal detentions, tortures and the militarization of sectors of
principal cities. Of particular concern is the incursion of vehicles
without license plates, darkened windows, driven by heavily armed agents
with hooded faces into neighborhoods identified as allied with the
Resistance against the coup and self declared as “free of political
propaganda.” These actions follow the creation of lists profiling
leaders of the resistance movement by order of the military and police.
The overall environment that has been created is one of repression and
uncertainty. This was reinforced by a statement issued on November 16,
2009 by the Sub-Secretary of the Service Networks of the Ministry of
Public Health that orders the preparation of a CONTINGENCY PLAN for
provision of health services for 24 hours per day from November 19^th
thru December 4^th , 2009. According to statement No. 1055-09-SSRDS,
the plan must include: Anticipated Suspension of Activity without
putting the health of patients at risk, Re-scheduling of Surgeries
during these dates and supply of medicine and equipment necessary for
the plan.
These measures appear to be related to the conduction of the illegal
electoral process on November 29, which is proceeding in an irregular
manner and reflects the militarization and para-militarization of the
country. The military reserves have been mobilized to support the
16,000 members of the armed forces and 14,000 police already mobilized
in the distribution of ballot boxes.
In departments in the western part of the country, army reserves
distributed fliers to intimidate the population in resistance,
characterizing members of the resistance as irrational delinquents and
discrediting marches and protests as inhumane and uncivilized behavior.
This activity parallels the “anti-communist” campaigns of the 1980′s.
The military control advances and consolidates as Michelleti announces a
“strategic departure” from the country between November 25^th and
December 2, 2009. The security forces equip themselves with new
repressive tools. An armored vehicle has been added to the Secretary of
Security for dispersing protests. The anti-riot units are equipped with
video cameras and high pressure water cannon and a mechanism that marks
anyone who comes in contact with the water for 48 hours. The armed
forces have begun conducting selective checks along major roads in the
country and departments in the Atlantic zone of the country have
experienced military over flights.
COFADEH communicates its concern to all Human Rights institutions and
the international community regarding the safety of social activists who
struggle for the reestablishment of democratic order.
COFADEH asks the international community to be on alert regarding the
human rights situation in Honduras and to demand that the Honduran state
guarantee the right to life and integrity of the Honduran population and
foreigners living in the country.
*COFADEH, Tegucigalpa, Honduras. November 21, 2009*
