29 de agosto de 2014
Washington,
D.C. - La Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos (CIDH) expresa
preocupación por una serie de desalojos violentos que habrían ocurrido
en la zona del Bajo Aguán en el contexto del conflicto agrario que
existe en la región, así como por las amenazas y detenciones que habrían
sido perpetradas en contra de varios líderes y lideresas campesinos
beneficiarios de medidas cautelares otorgadas por la Comisión el 8 de
mayo de 2014, presuntos hechos que habrían ocurrido desde el mes de mayo
hasta la fecha. La Comisión insta al Estado a investigar estos hechos
de violencia y a procesar y sancionar a los responsables.
Adicionalmente, la CIDH urge al Estado a adoptar en forma inmediata
todas las medidas necesarias a fin de garantizar el derecho a la vida,
la integridad y la seguridad de las defensoras y defensores de derechos
humanos en el país.
Según información de público conocimiento, el 21 de mayo de 2014,
miembros de la policía y del ejército, así como guardias de seguridad
privada habrían participado en el desalojo violento de las fincas La
Trinidad y El Despertar, en el municipio de Trujillo, Colón. Según la
información disponible, 300 familias afiliadas al Movimiento Auténtico
Reivindicador Campesino del Aguán (MARCA) habrían sido desalojadas.
Presuntamente las fuerzas de seguridad habrían utilizado bombas
lacrimógenas y spray pimienta y habrían realizado disparos al aire para
amedrentar y desplazar a las familias que habitaban las fincas desde el
mes de julio de 2012. De esta operación presuntamente habrían resultado
heridos alrededor de 50 campesinos y 8 miembros de las fuerzas de
seguridad. Adicionalmente, 15 personas habrían sido detenidas y
presuntamente golpeadas, entre los detenidos se encontrarían Walter
Cárcamo, Jaime Cabrera y Antonio Rodríguez, beneficiarios de las medidas
cautelares otorgadas por la Comisión semanas antes del suceso.
Presuntamente Jaime Cabrera habría sido amenazado de muerte por miembros
del ejército y de la policía, quienes supuestamente le habrían colocado
un fusil en la oreja izquierda.Adicionalmente, de conformidad con información recibida por la CIDH, el 3 de julio la Policía Nacional Preventiva, los miembros de la Fuerza de Tarea Conjunta Xatruch III y el 15 batallón de Fuerzas Especiales habrían llevado a cabo el desalojo de 350 familias del Movimiento Campesino Fundación Gregorio Chávez (MCRCG) que se encontraban en la finca Paso Aguán desde el mes de mayo del presente año. Las familias presuntamente fueron desalojadas de forma violenta mediante el uso de gases lacrimógenos. Adicionalmente, varios de los campesinos habrían resultado heridos y siete habrían resultado detenidos, entre los que se encontrarían dos de los líderes campesinos beneficiarios de las medidas cautelares otorgadas por la CIDH.
Por otro lado, según información recibida por la Comisión, el 30 y 31 de julio los defensores de derechos humanos Martha Arnold, Irma Lemus y Rigoberto Durán, integrantes del Observatorio Permanente de Derechos Humanos del Bajo Aguán, habrían sido perseguidos por dos vehículos color blanco. Adicionalmente, el 19 de agosto el líder campesino Santos Torres, perteneciente al Movimiento Campesino Gregorio Chávez y beneficiario de las medidas cautelares otorgadas por la CIDH, habría sido amenazado por militares y guardias de seguridad en su domicilio, quienes presuntamente lo habrían apuntado a él y su esposa con armas de fuego. Presuntamente este mismo grupo de militares y guardias de seguridad se habría presentado en el domicilio de Glenda Chávez, integrante del Observatorio Permanente de Derechos Humanos de Aguán y lideresa de este movimiento campesino.
En la zona del Bajo Aguán, existe un conflicto de tierras de larga data entre campesinos y empresarios. Según una red de organizaciones nacionales e internacionales que dan seguimiento a esta situación, 112 campesinos y campesinas habrían sido asesinados en los últimos cuatro años en el contexto del conflicto agrario que aqueja a la región. La Comisión Interamericana se ha manifestado en reiteradas ocasiones sobre la situación en el Bajo Aguán, incluyendo en la sección sobre Honduras del Capítulo IV de sus Informes Anuales 2012 y 2013. La CIDH observa que la situación continúa siendo altamente preocupante.
En este contexto, el 8 de mayo de 2014, la CIDH otorgó medidas cautelares a favor de 123 miembros de las organizaciones “Movimiento Campesino Recuperación del Aguán” (MOCRA), “Movimiento Campesino Fundación Gregorio Chávez” (MCRGC), Movimiento Unificado Campesino del Aguán” (MUCA) y “Movimiento Auténtico Reivindicador Campesino del Aguán (MARCA), solicitando al gobierno de Honduras adoptar las medidas necesarias para garantizar su vida e integridad.
La CIDH recuerda que es obligación del Estado investigar de oficio hechos de esta naturaleza y sancionar a los responsables. Como ha señalado la Comisión anteriormente, los actos de violencia y otros ataques contra las defensoras y los defensores de derechos humanos no sólo afectan las garantías propias de todo ser humano, sino que atentan contra el papel fundamental que juegan en la sociedad y sume en la indefensión a todas aquellas personas para quienes trabajan. La Comisión recuerda asimismo que la labor de defensores y defensoras es esencial para la construcción de una sociedad democrática sólida y duradera, y tienen un papel protagónico en el proceso para el logro pleno del Estado de Derecho y el fortalecimiento de la democracia.
La CIDH es un órgano principal y autónomo de la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA), cuyo mandato surge de la Carta de la OEA y de la Convención Americana sobre Derechos Humanos. La Comisión Interamericana tiene el mandato de promover la observancia de los derechos humanos en la región y actúa como órgano consultivo de la OEA en la materia. La CIDH está integrada por siete miembros independientes que son elegidos por la Asamblea General de la OEA a título personal, y no representan sus países de origen o residencia.
August 29, 2014
Washington,
D.C. – The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) expresses
concern over a series of violent evictions in the Bajo Aguán region that
allegedly occurred in the context of the agrarian conflict in the area,
as well as over the threats against and arrest of various campesino
leaders who were beneficiaries of precautionary measures granted by the
Commission on May 8, 2014. These acts presumably took place between May
and the present time. The Commission urges the State to investigate
these acts of violence and to prosecute and punish those responsible.
The IACHR also urges the State to immediately adopt all necessary
measures to guarantee the right to life, integrity, and security of the
human rights defenders in the country.
As is publicly known, on May 21, 2014, members of the police force and the army as well as private security guards allegedly took part in the violent eviction of the La Trinidad and El Despertar farms in the municipality of Trujillo, Colón. According to available information, 300 families affiliated with the Movimiento Auténtico Reivindicador Campesino del Aguán [Authentic Peasant Reclamation Movement of Aguán] (MARCA) were evicted. The security forces presumably used tear gas and pepper spray and fired shots into the air to frighten and dislodge the families who had been living on the farms since July 2012. As a result of this operation, some 50 peasants and eight members of the security forces were allegedly injured and 15 people were arrested and presumably beaten. Among those arrested were Walter Cárcamo, Jaime Cabrera, and Antonio Rodríguez, beneficiaries of the precautionary measures granted by the Commission a few weeks before the incident. Jaime Cabrera was supposedly threatened with death by members of the army and the police, who allegedly put a rifle to his left ear.
Moreover, according to information received by the IACHR, on July 3 the National Preventive Police, members of the Xatruch III Joint Task Force, and the 15th battalion of Special Forces evicted 350 families of the Movimiento Campesino Fundación Gregorio Chávez [Gregorio Chávez Peasant Movement for Reestablishment] (MCRCG) who had been living at the Paso Aguán farm since May of this year. Allegedly, the families were violently dislodged with the use of tear gas. In addition, several campesinos were wounded and seven arrested, among them two of the leaders who were beneficiaries of the precautionary measures granted by the IACHR.
Moreover, according to information received by the Commission, on July 30 and 31 the human rights defenders Martha Arnold, Irma Lemus, and Rigoberto Durán, members of the Permanent Human Rights Observatory of Bajo Aguán, were allegedly followed by two white vehicles. Further, on August 19, the campesino leader Santos Torres, a member of the Movimiento Campesino Fundación Gregorio Chávez and a beneficiary of the precautionary measures granted by the IACHR, was presumably threatened at his home by members of the military and security guards, who it is claimed pointed firearms at him and his wife. That same group of military and security guards presumably went to the home of Glenda Chávez, a member of the Permanent Human Rights Observatory of Bajo Aguán and a leader of this campesino movement.
There exists a long-standing land conflict between peasants and businesspersons in the Bajo Aguán region. According to a network of national and international organizations monitoring the situation, 112 campesinos have allegedly been killed in the past four years in the context of the agrarian conflict affecting the region. The Inter-American Commission has spoken out about the situation in Bajo Aguán on repeated occasions, including in the section on Honduras in Chapter IV of its 2012 and 2013 Annual Reports. The IACHR notes that the situation remains a matter of great concern.
In this connection, on May 8, 2014, the IACHR granted precautionary measures in favor of 123 members of the organizations “Movimiento Campesino Recuperación del Aguán” [Peasant Movement for the Recovery of the Aguán] (MOCRA), “Movimiento Campesino Fundación Gregorio Chávez” (MCRGC), “Movimiento Unificado Campesino del Aguán” [Unified Peasant Movement of Aguán] (MUCA), and “Movimiento Auténtico Reivindicador Campesino del Aguán” (MARCA), requesting the Government of Honduras to adopt the necessary measures to guarantee the life and physical integrity of said members.
The IACHR recalls that it is the obligation of the State to investigate on its own initiative acts of this nature and to punish those responsible. As the Commission has stated previously, acts of violence and other attacks against human rights defenders not only affect the guarantees of every human being but also undermine the fundamental role that human rights defenders play in society and leave all those for whom they fight defenseless. The Commission also recalls that the work of human rights defenders is essential for the construction of a solid, lasting democratic society and that rights defenders play a leading role in the process of pursuing the full attainment of the rule of law and the strengthening of democracy.
A principal, autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), the IACHR derives its mandate from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has a mandate to promote respect for human rights in the region and acts as a consultative body to the OAS in this area. The Commission is composed of seven independent members who are elected in an individual capacity by the OAS General Assembly and who do not represent their countries of origin or residence. Información de Contacto / Contact Info
María Isabel Rivero
Directora de prensa y comunicación de la CIDH / IACHR Press and Communication Director
1889 F Street NW, Washington, DC, 20009, United States of America / Estados Unidos de América
Tel. (1) 202 370 9001
mrivero@oas.org
Suscripción y Cancelació
As is publicly known, on May 21, 2014, members of the police force and the army as well as private security guards allegedly took part in the violent eviction of the La Trinidad and El Despertar farms in the municipality of Trujillo, Colón. According to available information, 300 families affiliated with the Movimiento Auténtico Reivindicador Campesino del Aguán [Authentic Peasant Reclamation Movement of Aguán] (MARCA) were evicted. The security forces presumably used tear gas and pepper spray and fired shots into the air to frighten and dislodge the families who had been living on the farms since July 2012. As a result of this operation, some 50 peasants and eight members of the security forces were allegedly injured and 15 people were arrested and presumably beaten. Among those arrested were Walter Cárcamo, Jaime Cabrera, and Antonio Rodríguez, beneficiaries of the precautionary measures granted by the Commission a few weeks before the incident. Jaime Cabrera was supposedly threatened with death by members of the army and the police, who allegedly put a rifle to his left ear.
Moreover, according to information received by the IACHR, on July 3 the National Preventive Police, members of the Xatruch III Joint Task Force, and the 15th battalion of Special Forces evicted 350 families of the Movimiento Campesino Fundación Gregorio Chávez [Gregorio Chávez Peasant Movement for Reestablishment] (MCRCG) who had been living at the Paso Aguán farm since May of this year. Allegedly, the families were violently dislodged with the use of tear gas. In addition, several campesinos were wounded and seven arrested, among them two of the leaders who were beneficiaries of the precautionary measures granted by the IACHR.
Moreover, according to information received by the Commission, on July 30 and 31 the human rights defenders Martha Arnold, Irma Lemus, and Rigoberto Durán, members of the Permanent Human Rights Observatory of Bajo Aguán, were allegedly followed by two white vehicles. Further, on August 19, the campesino leader Santos Torres, a member of the Movimiento Campesino Fundación Gregorio Chávez and a beneficiary of the precautionary measures granted by the IACHR, was presumably threatened at his home by members of the military and security guards, who it is claimed pointed firearms at him and his wife. That same group of military and security guards presumably went to the home of Glenda Chávez, a member of the Permanent Human Rights Observatory of Bajo Aguán and a leader of this campesino movement.
There exists a long-standing land conflict between peasants and businesspersons in the Bajo Aguán region. According to a network of national and international organizations monitoring the situation, 112 campesinos have allegedly been killed in the past four years in the context of the agrarian conflict affecting the region. The Inter-American Commission has spoken out about the situation in Bajo Aguán on repeated occasions, including in the section on Honduras in Chapter IV of its 2012 and 2013 Annual Reports. The IACHR notes that the situation remains a matter of great concern.
In this connection, on May 8, 2014, the IACHR granted precautionary measures in favor of 123 members of the organizations “Movimiento Campesino Recuperación del Aguán” [Peasant Movement for the Recovery of the Aguán] (MOCRA), “Movimiento Campesino Fundación Gregorio Chávez” (MCRGC), “Movimiento Unificado Campesino del Aguán” [Unified Peasant Movement of Aguán] (MUCA), and “Movimiento Auténtico Reivindicador Campesino del Aguán” (MARCA), requesting the Government of Honduras to adopt the necessary measures to guarantee the life and physical integrity of said members.
The IACHR recalls that it is the obligation of the State to investigate on its own initiative acts of this nature and to punish those responsible. As the Commission has stated previously, acts of violence and other attacks against human rights defenders not only affect the guarantees of every human being but also undermine the fundamental role that human rights defenders play in society and leave all those for whom they fight defenseless. The Commission also recalls that the work of human rights defenders is essential for the construction of a solid, lasting democratic society and that rights defenders play a leading role in the process of pursuing the full attainment of the rule of law and the strengthening of democracy.
A principal, autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), the IACHR derives its mandate from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has a mandate to promote respect for human rights in the region and acts as a consultative body to the OAS in this area. The Commission is composed of seven independent members who are elected in an individual capacity by the OAS General Assembly and who do not represent their countries of origin or residence. Información de Contacto / Contact Info
María Isabel Rivero
Directora de prensa y comunicación de la CIDH / IACHR Press and Communication Director
1889 F Street NW, Washington, DC, 20009, United States of America / Estados Unidos de América
Tel. (1) 202 370 9001
mrivero@oas.org
Suscripción y Cancelació
Atentamente,
Karla Zelaya
Facilitador & Comunicaciones
Plataforma Agraria
Teléfono: (504) 9950-9387
Skype: plataforma.agrariahonduras
¡Cosechemos Justicia en el Campo!
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