From
Kairos Taking Action web page.
Honduras In Crisis: Take Action
Get the background: Download the
Honduras Fact Sheet PDF
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KAIROS is gravely concerned
about the violence and human rights violations in Honduras
in the aftermath of the coup d’état staged on June 28 and
the recent escalation in violence and use of excessive
force by the coup regime. On September 21, nearly 3 months
after being forced from power and expelled from the
country by a military- backed group of politicians,
democratically elected President Jose Manuel Zelaya
Rosales clandestinely returned to Honduras and is residing
in the Brazilian Embassy. President Zelaya has called for
negotiations with the de facto regime as a first step
towards the peaceful resolution of the crisis.
Thousands of Hondurans surrounded
the Brazilian Embassy in support of president Zelaya’s
return and other peaceful demonstration emerged throughout
country. The de facto regime has responded with force and
brutality, sending in heavily armed police and military to
repress demonstrators. Hundreds of protestors were rounded
up and taken to detention sites across the city, making
them vulnerable to torture and forced disappearances. The
use of these military detention centers has brought
chilling comparisons with the military coup in Chile.
International human rights
organizations continue to denounce the situation. The
InterAmerica Human Rights Commission (IAHRC) has condemned
the use of force and called for a urgent visit to Honduras
http://www.cidh.org/Comunicados/English/2009/65-09eng.htm
The Secretary-General of the United
Nations has suspended technical assistance for elections,
expressing concern about human rights violations and
urging adherence with international human rights treaties.
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2009/sgsm12482.doc.htm
Amnesty International issued a press
release on Sept 23 warning that the rule of law is in
grave jeopardy. The statement denounces the sharp rise in
police beatings, mass arrests of demonstrators and
intimidation of human rights defenders since the June coup
d’état.
http://www.amnesty.ca/
Although KAIROS does not work
directly with partners in Honduras, this crisis has
clearly reached regional and international proportions and
requires a concerted and massive response from Canadians.
We would ask the KAIROS networks to consider being part of
this response.
KAIROS does work with regional
partners including the Latin American Council of Churches
(CLAI) that has members in Honduras. In fact, CLAI is
planning a pastoral visit of 16 church leaders from
throughout Latin America to Honduras, September 28-October
2. As well, the World Council of Churches (WCC) and CLAI
organized an international ecumenical team to Honduras
August 2-7 that included Jim Hodgson from the United
Church of Canada. The delegation issued a “Message to the
Churches of Honduras, Latin America- Caribbean and the
World”, encouraging the churches in Honduras to “accompany
the people in their search for peace with justice and the
re-establishment of democracy”.
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/other-meetings/visits/solidarity-visits/message-to-the-churches-of-honduras-latin-america-caribbean-and-the-world.html
Take
Action
In the face of the escalation in
violence and repression in Honduras, Canada has failed to
effectively isolate the coup regime. We need to speak out
now and demand action from the Canadian government.
Please take a few minutes to phone or
email the Canadian Minister of State, Peter Kent, urging
Canada to apply targeted sanctions and ensure democratic
order, respect for human rights and the rule of law.
The following urgent action provides
a sample script and letter as well as contact information
for Minister Kent -
http://www.maquilasolidarity.org/Honduras-Urgent-Action
Please act now. As our sisters and
brothers in Jubilee South have said:
Today we are all Honduras!
For more information please contact
Rachel Warden, Latin America partnerships program
coordinator,
rwarden@kairoscanada.org or 416-463-5312 ext 242
