The Cross Border Network, Loretto Latin America/Caribbean Committee and the St
Louis Inter-Faith Committee on Latin America (IFCLA) present:
Honduras: Our Next War?
Report back from May Human Rights Delegation
September 19, 2012
Speakers: Judy Ancel jancel@igc.org; Melissa Stiehlermelissastiehler@gmail.com; Alice
Kitchen akitchen@kc.rr.com.
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Things you cando to help
Action Steps
1)
See Rights Action Urgent Action alert p 5 in this packet
2)
Ask for a Congressional investigation of the massacre in Ahuas. Call your Senator and Senator
Patrick Leahy (202) 224-4242, chairman of Senate Judiciary Committee
3)
Urge Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II as chair and Rep. William Lacy Clay, Jr. of the Congressional
Black Caucus to investigate US counter narcotics actions in Honduras by sponsoring a
delegation to Honduras.
4)
Write letters to the editor about the massacre and include the demand to pay medical bills
and compensation to the victims or the families of the dead.
5)
Work with IFCLA and Loretto Latin America/Caribbean Committee to end all military aid to
Honduras and funding for the War on Drugs in Central America
6)
Apply to be a delegate on the Honduran Equality Delegation see p. 4
Money and membership
1)
Rights Action will take contributions for medical bills. See p. 3
2)
Join Rights Action
3)
Operational funding for COFADEH can be done through Alliance for Global Justice or Rights
Action
4)
Support closing the School of the Americas – www.SOAW.org. This is where many Honduran
military and police have been trained.
5)
Donate for scholarships for Honduran Equality Delegation in November 2013
2
CEPR / Rights Action
Collateral Damage of a Drug War
Summary of Recommendations:
1. The U.S. government should fully cooperate with the Honduran investigations of the May 11 shooting incident.
2. The U.S. should investigate the participation and apparent central role of U.S. agents in the May 11 interdiction operation to
determine what role U.S. agents had in the shootings and other alleged abuses that occurred during the operation.
3. The U.S. government should establish policies and procedures to minimize the risk of unnecessary casualties in interdiction
operations abroad, and establish improved accountability mechanisms to ensure that U.S. agents are systematically held
accountable for any breach of conduct or procedural violation.
4. The U.S. government should suspend all forms of assistance to the Honduras Tactical Response Team (TRT) until reports of human
rights violations committed during the May 11 counternarcotics operation in Ahuas are fully examined. More generally, the
international community should respond to appeals of Honduran human rights groups to suspend assistance to Honduran security
forces.
5. The international community should monitor the impact of militarization and quasi militarization in the Moskitia. In recent years,
the Moskitia region of Honduras has been subject to increased militarization, ostensibly as a result of increased counternarcotics
efforts taking place in that region.
6. The international community should reevaluate policies promoting the use of military methods and tactics in counternarcotics
efforts.
Useful Links
Honduras Delegation web page hhrd2012.wordpress.com/
Collateral Damage of a Drug War:The May 11 U.S.-D.E.A. Killings in Ahuas and the Impact of the U.S. War on Drugs in La Moskitia,
Hondurasby Annie Bird and Alexander Mainrightsaction.org/action-content/massacre-ahuas
COFADEH Report on Ahuasdefensoresenlinea.com/cms/documentos/2012_INFORME_Casos_Mosquitia_ingles.pdf
Rights Actionwww.rightsaction.org
Alliance for Global Justiceafgj.org
School of the Americas Watchsoaw.org
Presente Hondurasget on their email list for news https://lists.mayfirst.org/mailman/listinfo/presente-honduras
Honduras: Which Side Is the US On?byDana Frank, The Nation June 11, 2012 www.thenation.com/article/167994/honduras-whichside-us
Fellowship of Reconciliation, Backgrounder: Honduras and the U.S. Military
forusa.org/sites/default/files/hondurasusmilitary2012.pdf
Who Owns Honduras?www.nicaliving.com/node/15834
WHY IS HONDURAS SO VIOLENT?www.aljazeera.com/programmes/faultlines/2012/08/201281381310569607.html
And www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestoryamericas/2012/08/2012816637165865.html
Drug Policy Alliance Drug War Factswww.drugpolicy.org
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RELIEF FUNDS NEEDED
for victims of the US-DEA massacre in Honduras
EMERGENCY MEDICAL AND FAMILY SUPPORT NEEDED
Ever since the May 11 shooting, the families of those killed and injured have endured constant difficulties in attempting to
pull together resources needed for medical attention. In a June 6th statement in response to questions concerning the
attention provided to the family members of the dead and injured, the US State Department wrote: “All Honduran citizens
are eligible to receive care through the Honduran public health system. You can direct specific questions about treatment for
these individuals to the government of Honduras.” Shame on the State Department - it is insulting and denigrating to the
victims to suggest they can receive anything remotely close to adequate attention in the “Honduran public health system”.
The US government knows very well the state of public health in Honduras, and the vast majority of Hondurans receive little
to no medical support.
THESE ARE THE FAMILIES OF THE PEOPLE KILLED AND INJURED, FOR WHOM WE SEEK FURTHER SUPPORT:
EMERSON MARTINEZ was a father of two young children, a 3-year-old son and a 1-year-old daughter. Already a poor family,
the children’s mother now lives in extreme poverty, employed in Puerto Lempira and earning $42 per month.
JUANA JACKSON was a single mother, and is survived by two children, a 9-yearold son and a 2-year-old girl. She lived with
her mother and sister in Ahuas, but her mother died in March of 2012. Juana’s sister, also a single mother, unemployed, and
the only immediate family member currently living in Ahuas, has taken charge of the children.
CANDELARIA TRAPP was a single mother and has left six children, ages 22, 19, 18, 17, 16 and 14. She had been strongly
focused on providing for their education. Now, only four are currently studying in school in the town of Brus Laguna. Two
now live with Candelarias’ mother and sister in Barra Patuca. The family, already selling possessions to cover the children’s
costs, are struggling to cover emergency medical expenses.
HASKED BROOKS was a 14-year-old boy, the youngest of Clara Wood and her husband’s several children. The family had
been living in Roatán as the father is a diver on commercial fishing boats based in Roatán, but the family was in the process of
moving back to Ahuas when Hasked was killed. Clara’s husband spends weeks at a time on fishing expeditions and Clara, who
had expected the company of her youngest child, is home alone.
LUCIO NELSON was shot in the right arm and lower back. He suffered compound fractures, which required surgery, to
implant plates and pins which require ongoing medical attention at the Atlantida hospital in La Ceiba. After a month of
hospitalization, on June 10 he was able to travel to his parents’ home in Barra Patuca as they are able to better assist with his
recovery. He is reportedly slowly gaining mobility, he can walk with pain, and he can lift his right arm to shoulder level. His
capacity to carry out agricultural activities has been severely impaired, but may improve over time. He has an appointment
scheduled with the hospital in La Ceiba for August 28.
WILMER MORGAN was shot in the right hand, fracturing several bones. Fourteen year-old Wilmer’s mother raises her
children alone and had to leave her job in a shrimp packing factory in Roatán to attend to Wilmer, and leave her other
children. The family also had to cover costs related to treatment, and travel. The hospital in La Ceiba did not have the
capacity to carry out the surgery and initially discussed amputating his hand, however with the help of the Red Cross and
COFADEH, a hospital in San Pedro Sula carried out the operation.
HILDA LEZAMA was shot by a high caliber weapon from above. She had fallen sideways into the boat in an attempt to take
shelter from the gunfire. What appears to be an M-60 bullet pierced the muscles in the front of her thigh and fractured the
femur. She is currently able to walk only short distances with the assistance of both crutches and an assistant. Her injuries
have prevented her from resuming her work as a labor contractor, which has been her primary source of income for
approximately fifteen years.
TO MAKE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS (in Canada and the U.S.)for the medical and survival needs of these families, check
payable to "Rights Action" and mail to: Box 50887, Washington DC, 20091-0887 or CREDIT-CARD DONATIONS can be made at
http://www.rightsaction.org/tax-deductible-donations.
NB: On request, we can put organizations in direct touch with Honduran organizations, so that you can send funds directly to
Honduras
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On May 7, 2012 Erick Martinez, a beloved Honduran journalist, LGBT and resistance activist and candidate for
Congress with the LIBRE opposition party, was found dead, strangled, by the side of the road. No one has been
arrested for his murder.
Dear Ally,
The Honduran LGBTQ community is facing massive violence and violations of their human rights. Since the
2009 military coup, which the U.S. failed to oppose, there have been over 70 reported hate-based
assassinations of LGBTQ activists in the struggle for equality. While the LGBTQ community in Honduras fights
for justice, there is a culture of total impunity. Less than five arrests associated with these caseshave been
made. We have not heard much of this in U.S.All the while, the US government has sent millions of dollars to
the Honduran state - which is said to be the country’s number one human rights violator.
They deserve justice NOW.
The Honduran Equality Delegation is seeking applicants for our delegation to spend 10 days to two weeks
accompanying and assisting the LGBTQ community throughout the November 2013 general electionsin
Honduras. International presence is an important component in ensuring the election is fair and the LGBTQ
movement leaders are safe. We will take testimony and document any human rights violations that occur. Our
findings will supplement a public education campaign to hold our government accountable for its support of
this oppressive regime. This work is vital to the success of the international LGBTQ movement, and we cannot
do it alone.
We need you.
Necessary Qualifications: All delegates must be over 18 years of age and have current travel authorization
or be able to acquire one at their own cost.
Delegates should be passionate LGBTQ and Economic Justice activists interested in building a transnational
movement. Delegates will be expected to invest time after the delegation organizing events and speaking
publicly about the plight of the Honduran LGBTQ community after the trip. The cost is approximately $2,000
(including airfare). Delegates will fundraise for the cost over the next year in order to build a network of
support in their local area. Training on fundraising, if needed, will be available.Speaking Spanish is not a
requirement.
How to apply: Please contact us for an application.
Applicants will be assessed and asked to participate in a face-to-face or telephone interview.
Thank you for your interest. If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to contact
us. We look forward to your joining us in this fight for justice!
Sincerely,
Jaclyn Scudiero
Melissa Stiehler
For more information about Honduran Human Rights Delegations, visit www.HHRD2012.wordpress.com
Sponsored by the Cross Border Network for Justice and Solidarity
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Rights Action: Urgent Action!
CALL YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS AND SENATOR ABOUT THE “AHUAS
MASSACRE”U.S.-D.E.A. Must be Held Accountable
Please write your Congressional Representative and Senator to insist that the U.S. end its so-called drug
war in Central America and that it fully assist in obtaining justice for the victims of the May 11, 2012
massacre in Ahuas, Honduras, during a joint operation by DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) agents and a
special Honduran police unit created by the DEA.
Below, find a sample letter and a list of key members of the House Judiciary Committee and Senate
Judiciary Committee, which have oversight of the DEA. When you write your Congress Member and
Senator, please emphasize the DEA Oversight hearing on June 20, 2012, but after the hearing still write
asking offices to direct questions to the Department of Justice.
MORE INFORMATION, QUESTIONS: Annie Bird (annie@rightsaction.org)
Please re-post and re-publish this information - Get on/off listserv: www.rightsaction.org
www.facebook.com/RightsAction.org - http://twitter.com/#!/rightsaction
——————————————
Sample Letter:
Dear Representative / Senator X:
I urge that you ask specific questions to the DEA representatives regarding a recent interdiction
operation in the Moskitia region of Honduras that resulted in the deaths of four Miskitu Afro-indigenous
villagers.
On May 11 at about 2:30am, a passenger boat – which for many years has regularly traveled the
Patuca River in Honduras, a region without roads – was approaching its destination in the town of
Ahuas, after traveling about 8 hours up river from the town of Barra Patuca, when it was fired upon U.S.
State Department titled helicopters taking part in a joint Drug Enforcement Agency and Honduran police
action. Two pregnant women, a 21 year old man, and a 14 year old boy were all killed; the boy shot
dead in front of his mother. Four more were gravely injured. Boats frequently travel long distances at
night to avoid intense midday heat.
After the shooting, eyewitnesses report that apparent DEA agents took no measures to assist
the injured victims but instead prevented family members from providing the victims with timely
assistance for two to three hours.
The U.S. must fully investigate the May 11 incident, but to date the US government has
indicated that it is relying primarily on the Honduran government investigation, even though the State
Department itself reports that the Honduran justice system does not prosecute crimes, especially those
committed by State Security forces.
Militarizing Central America will not solve America’s drug problem, it will only increase violence,
costing thousands of lives in Central America and costing US tax payers millions of dollars badly needed
at home.
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PLEASE ASK THESE QUESTIONS OF THE DEA, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND STATE DEPARTMENT.
Why did DEA trained and supported Honduran Tactical Response Team of the Honduras national police,
accompanied by DEA agents, a team with night vision capability, shoot repeatedly at a boat full of
passengers, including children and pregnant women?
Why was no action taken to warn the passenger boat away from the interdiction?
Why, after the shooting incident reportedly left four dead and four injured, was no action taken by
Honduran or U.S. agents to provide medical attention to those injured?
Why were family members of victims who attempted to provide assistance to the victims of the
shooting prevented from doing so by US and Honduran agents according to various eye-witness
testimonies?
Are all operations of a similar nature to the May 11 interdiction operation being suspended?
Is a full investigation of the May 11 incident that led to the tragic deaths being carried out in a thorough
and impartial manner by our government, and measures being taken to avoid potential future killings of
innocent bystanders?
Are DEA and otherU.S. authorities working to ensure that those responsible for any innocent life are
brought to justice, and the surviving victims and victims’ families are duly compensated?
Sincerely,
**********
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRIME, TERRORISM AND HOMELAND SECURITY
Hon. John Conyers Jr., Ranking Member, (D) Michigan, 14th, 202-225-5126,
http://conyers.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.OnlineContactForm
Hon. Bobby Scott, (D) Virginia, 3rd, (202) 225-8351, https://forms.house.gov/bobbyscott/webforms/issue_subscribe.htm
Hon. Steve Cohen , (D) Tennessee, 9th , (202) 225-3265, https://cohenforms.house.gov/Forms/WriteYourRep/
Hon. Hank Johnson, (D) Georgia, 4th, (202) 225-1605, https://hankjohnsonforms.house.gov/contact-form.shtml
Hon. Judy Chu, (D) California, 32nd, (202) 225-5464, http://chu.house.gov/connect-with-me/email-judy
Hon. Ted Deutch, (D) Florida, 19th, 202-225-3001, https://teddeutch.house.gov/forms/writeyourrep/default.aspx
Hon. Sheila Jackson Lee, (D) Texas, 18th, (202) 225-3317, http://jacksonlee.house.gov/contact/
Hon. Mike Quigley, (D) Illinois, 5th, (202) 225-4061, https://forms.house.gov/quigley/webforms/issue_subscribe.htm
Hon. Jared Polis, (D) Colorado, (202) 225-2161, http://polis.house.gov/Contact/
Hon. Lamar Smith, Chairman Judiciary Committee, (R) Texas, 21st, 202-225-4236, http://lamarsmith.house.gov/Contact/
Hon. Jim Sensenbrenner Jr., Subcommittee Chairman, (R) Wisconsin, 5th, (202) 225-5101, http://sensenbrenner.house.gov/Contact/Email.htm
Hon. Ted Poe, (R) Texas, 2nd, (202) 225-6565, https://forms.house.gov/poe/webforms/zipauthen_contact.shtml
OTHER HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Hon. Berman, (D) California, 28th - Hon. Nadler, (D) New York, 8th - Hon. Watt, (D) North Carolina, 12th
Hon. Lofgren, (D) California, 16th - Hon. Waters, (D) California, 35th - Hon. Sánchez, (D) California, 39th
Hon. Goodlatte, (R) Virginia, 6th - Hon. Lungren, (R) California, 3rd - Hon. Forbes (R) Virginia, 4th - Hon. Chaffetz, (R) Utah, 3rd Hon. Griffin, (R)
Arkansas, 2nd - Hon. Marino, (R) Pennsylvania, 10th - Hon. Gowdy, (R) South Carolina, 4th
Hon. Adams, (R) Florida, 24th - Hon. Amodei, (R) Nevada, 2nd
KEY MEMBERS OF SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRIME AND TERRORISM
Patrick Leahy, Judiciary Committee Chairman, Vermont - Chuck Grassley, Judiciary Committee Ranking Member, Iowa
Sheldon Whitehouse, Chairman Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism, Rhode Island
Jon Kyl, Ranking Member Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism, Arizona - Herb Kohl, Wisconsin
Dianne Feinstein, California - Dick Durbin, Illinois - Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota - Christopher Coons, Delaware
OTHER SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Orrin Hatch, Utah - Chuck Schumer, New York - Jeff Sessions, Alabama - Lindsey Graham, South Carolina - John Cornyn, Texas
Al Franken, Minnesota - Michael S. Lee, Utah - Tom Coburn, Oklahoma - Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut
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