Tegucigalpa.El lunes dio inicio el Juicio Oral y Público contra José Isabel “Chabelo” Morales, acusado de homicidio simple, en un caso que se le juzga por tercera vez, en el Tribunal de Sentencia- Seccional Trujillo, departamento de Colón.
Chabelo o “el Chele”, como lo conocen sus amigos y familia, es un campesino que se vio involucrado en la muerte de Carlos Manrique Osorto Castillo, sobrino del ahora comisionado de la Policía Nacional Preventiva, Henry Osorto Canales, hecho que sucedió en agosto del 2008, en la comunidad “Guadalupe Carney”, Trujillo, Colón, zona del Bajo Aguán, al norte de Honduras. En un inicio al menos 300 personas eran sospechosas, reduciendo la lista a unas 30 y señalando finalmente solo a una.
Ahora, es la tercera vez que el campesino Isabel Morales, enfrenta un juicio por el mismo delito, el primero fue entre 2010 y 2012 y el segundo en 2014.
Al inicio se le acusaba por la muerte de 12 personas, dejándosele responsable por uno –Manrique-, que fue señalado por un testigo no estuvo en el lugar de los hechos.
Se había programado diez días de juicio, del 28 de septiembre al 9 de octubre, pero hoy se anunció un cambio de fechas, que seguirá esta semana y se suspende para el 19 al 23 de octubre. Esto podría ser porque el Ministerio Público, MP, no ha localizado a sus testigos, declararon defensores de derechos humanos que acompañan el proceso.
“Pese a que Chabelo ha estado dos meses con Medidas Sustitutivas a la prisión, el MP ni siquiera ha ubicado a los testigos- solo un testigo se hizo presente, que un bombero, declarando que cuando ellos llegaron al lugar del incendio, no les permitieron la entrada, sino hasta el día siguiente cuando el MP había levantado los cuerpos incinerados”, relató una de las personas presentes en las audiencias.
El lunes declaró Chabelo, dando la versión de los hechos y que él ni siquiera se acercó al lugar del incendio, pues estaba trabajando y además debía ir a firmar al juzgado ya que, como la mayoría de campesinos, también estaba procesado por “hurto” cuando le decomisaron parte de la producción de palma africana que con otros compañeros llevaba a comercializar.
“Si los jueces se posicionan en base a la verdad, espero mi libertad” dijo Chavelo, al salir de la audiencia de este juicio que enfrenta en libertad condicional.
También afirmó que se reprograma el juicio conforme a las pruebas que presentará el MP y la defensa- ya que el MP alega que no ha contactado a los testigo, y Osorto se niega a presentarse porque está molesto debido a que el juicio de reprogramó.
El caso del campesino de 38 años de edad y que pasó siete años en prisión, ha sido denunciado como “juicio político” y dijo que “hay que tener paciencia y seguirle los pasos a la Fiscalía porque no tiene testigo todavía”.
Desde que inició la acusación en su contra, ha sido acompañado por defensores y defensoras de Derechos Humanos nacionales asimismo por organizaciones sociales, campesinas, y compañeros de comunidad, quienes permanecen atentos a lo que sucede en los tribunales de justicia, pues consideran el caso como persecución políticas y sin ninguna garantía de Derecho.
Su defensa la dirige el abogado Omar Menjivar Rosales y Sarah Aguilar, quienes a lo largo de los juicios han denunciado el irrespeto a las garantías procesales que establece la Constitución de la República y el Código Procesal Penal.
Los hechos se dan en el marco del conflicto agrario en la región del Aguán, según la defensa, el juicio en su contra se ha caracterizado por una serie de irregularidades como falso testimonio y violaciones al debido proceso que terminaron en una sentencia condenatoria que fue anulada por la Sala de lo Penal de la Corte Suprema de Justicia, quién además ordenó la repetición del juicio, en un proceso entre junio del 2010 y julio del 2012.
La primera condena la recibió el 24 de julio de 2012, donde le dictaron sentencia condenándolo a 20 años de prisión.
Por las inconsistencias, el juicio llegó a etapa de casación y la Sala Penal de la Corte anuló el proceso y ordenó uno nuevo, que se realizó en enero-febrero de 2014.
Todas las contradicciones de los testigos fueron pasadas por alto por el Tribunal de Sentencia de Trujillo y lo condenaron a 17.5 años. Este proceso fue apelado nuevamente por el defensor de Chavelo, Omar Menjívar, quien logró nuevamente la anulación del juicio.
Pero en julio pasado se anunció que Chavelo sería escuchado en libertad, tras la admisión de una solicitud de su defensa, y así volvió a su casa, aunque su familia ya no está completa, pues en este tiempo falleció una de sus hijas y otros parientes cercanos, a cuyos sepelios se le negó asistir.
“Fueron siete años de mi vida que perdí, también perdí parte de mi rostro, perdí la manera de hablar (hay ciertas palabras que no puede pronunciar rápidamente), perdí mi dentadura, me corté mis labios, mi lengua, perdí parte de mi vista y me corté parte de la nariz”, expresó con tristeza Isabel Morales, hace unas semanas.
Las violaciones a sus derechos humanos se baja en la falta de un juicio justo, el maltrato en presión, humillaciones y ahora que debe ir firmar a los tribunales de Trujillo., mientras se le dicte sentencia la cual se espera sea el sobreseimiento definitivo.
Desde la cárcel, aprendió muchísimo “porque aquí se mira quiénes son los corruptos, quiénes son aquellas personas que están juzgando a aquellos pobres que no tienen cómo defenderse, porque las leyes en nuestro país no son perfectas, son una leyes corruptas porque condenan a las personas inocentemente y no averiguan los casos”.
Según su testimonio de Chabelo:
“Ellos me acusaron de 12 muertes, incendio de propiedad, incendio de carro y robo, cosas que solo Dios sabe que no fueron ciertas y utilizaron a un testigo protegido que estaba inconsciente, porque tenía un balazo y yo mismo le di apoyo a la policía abriendo camino en ese momento para que ellos salieran. “Yo seguí trabajando con mis helados y no huí, como algunos dicen, no, yo solamente di el apoyo a Arnulfo Guevara y a la policía que llevaba a otros heridos, Arnulfo Guevara murió cuando lo cargábamos con otros compañeros”.
Chavelo vive en la comunidad “Guadalupe Carney” que está asentada en las tierras que durante la década de los años ochenta, las Fuerzas Armadas (FFAA) bajo la coordinación directa del Pentágono y del Departamento de Estado de Estados Unidos (EEUU), utilizaron para entrenar a los ejércitos de El Salvador y Nicaragua envueltos en conflictos armados internos en sus respectivos países.
El Estado a través del Instituto Nacional Agrario (INA) reconoció el derecho de los campesinos a la tierra y con los años otorgó a la mayoría de las cooperativas de la comunidad títulos de propiedad.
Registros e investigaciones divulgados en internet, señalan que funcionarios militares y terratenientes, que se negaron a participar en la solución del conflicto promovido por el Gobierno, adquirieron ilegalmente tierras, antes y después del año 2000.
Entre éstas personas se señala a Henry Osorto, un oficial policial y al terrateniente palmero Miguel Facussé (fallecido en junio 2015), dueño de las más grandes extensiones de tierras cultivables en Honduras.
A raíz del conflicto por la tenencia de la tierra, la comunidad Guadalupe Carney ha perdido a numerosos dirigentes y miembros producto de los ataques violentos de que fueron víctimas de parte de guardias privados y paramilitares contratados por Osorto y Facussé, según denuncias del movimiento campesino.
Defensores de Derechos humanos acompañan a Isabel Morales este proceso judicial como parte de sus acciones de defensoría y procuraduría apoyados por el Comité de Familiares de Detenidos Desaparecidos en Honduras, COFADEH, quien ejecuta el proyecto “Apoyo y protección a los defensores de derechos humanos, trabajando en conflicto por la tierra y recursos naturales en las zonas rurales de Honduras” con FIAN Internacional- Honduras y el Centro Hondureño de Promoción para el Desarrollo Comunitario (CEHPRODEC).
http://www.defensoresenlinea.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3750:en-tercer-juicio-espero-mi-libertad-chabelo-morales&catid=42:seg-y-jus&Itemid=159
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From Honduras: Chance for Justice #2
Posted: 01 Oct 2015 03:30 PM PDT
Chabelo’s Trial - Day 4
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Thursday, October 1, 2015
V. Cervantes
It was already dark Wednesday evening when we got off the bus at the entrance to the community of Guadalupe Carney on the highway to Trujillo. We walked through the community, quiet except for the dogs and roosters announcing our arrival, to the house where we are staying while we accompany Chabelo, his family and community during this trial.
During the bus ride we were listening to Radio Globo’s audio broadcast of a video from a very violent eviction of campesinos in Palomar, near Choluteca, by the National Police in which one campesino was killed and many injured. The audio was chilling with women and children screaming, people yelling and the noise of tear gas and people running. Those sounds were still ringing in my ears as I looked at the community that has been a symbol of success for organized campesino recuperation of lands since its beginnings 15 years ago when 900 families moved on to an abandoned joint US/Honduran military base. Despite evictions, assassinations, and all the problems that affect the poorest campesinos, the community persisted and fought to win titles to most of the land they cultivate; only two landowners continue to dispute the campesinos’ right to the land, the most powerful landowners in Honduras, the Facusse family, and former military death squad member, now a police commissioner, Henry Osorto.
Today, Thursday, the Morales family and supporters from Guadalupe Carney, the Human Rights Observatory of the Aguan, COPA, Fundacion San Lorenzo and other campesino movements in the Aguan mobilized early to get to the court in Trujillo before 9am. Only a handful of people were allowed into the courtroom to observe, but everyone else continued their accompaniment by hanging up banners and placards in from of the court and maintaining a visible presence, keeping an eye on the 8 or so armed soldiers who were standing watch outside. In the courtroom we watched the panel of judges file into the room and call for the prosecution witnesses. One witness appeared, a doctor who received the body of Carlos Manrique Osorto; the doctor read out loud his original statement which details the injuries but, of course, has no information or evidence relevant to the charges against Chabelo. That testimony lasted about 20 minutes then it was announced that none of the other prosecution witnesses had come to court, including Henry Osorto and that the trial would reconvene tomorrow morning.
The trial so far, like the previous 2 trials, has seen no concrete evidence presented linking Chabelo to the death of Carlos Manrique Osorto and has been marked by the failure of witnesses called by the prosecution to show up to testify. Henry Osorto himself has missed two scheduled appearances. (See the report from Greg McCain below for Tuesday and Wednesday’s court sessions).
Of course, we can only imagine what would happen if campesino witnesses ignored the summons to court to testify, but it is unlikely they would be allowed to delay a trial the way the prosecution witnesses are doing.
It seems that these delays, that may now stretch out the trial through the end of the month, are part of a strategy to wear out the supporters; reduce the number of international observers and hope that the Honduran media and people lose interest in Chabelo’s chance for justice. This is important also because attempts to intimidate defense witnesses and fear of violence against Chabelo, his family and the community to prevent a verdict in his favor continue.
This afternoon, we gathered with Chabelo and his family members and were watching the news on TV Globo when the video of the eviction in Choluteca was aired. We were frozen with outrage and sadness, watching the police attack the campesino community, mostly women of all ages and a few young men and small children. The women rushed to defend the community members being beaten and one woman passed out with blood seeming to pour out of a head wound. The policeman stood over her and a young man lying on the ground, with his combat style nightstick still raised. The TV Globo commentator was indignant and cited the statistics that there is enough land for everyone in Honduras to have 20 manzanas (50 acres) of land. One of Chabelo's brothers turned to me to say, imagine what we could do if everyone had land like they are saying, but the big landowners and government only want to do that, and he pointed at the violence on the screen.
It was already dark Wednesday evening when we got off the bus at the entrance to the community of Guadalupe Carney on the highway to Trujillo. We walked through the community, quiet except for the dogs and roosters announcing our arrival, to the house where we are staying while we accompany Chabelo, his family and community during this trial.
During the bus ride we were listening to Radio Globo’s audio broadcast of a video from a very violent eviction of campesinos in Palomar, near Choluteca, by the National Police in which one campesino was killed and many injured. The audio was chilling with women and children screaming, people yelling and the noise of tear gas and people running. Those sounds were still ringing in my ears as I looked at the community that has been a symbol of success for organized campesino recuperation of lands since its beginnings 15 years ago when 900 families moved on to an abandoned joint US/Honduran military base. Despite evictions, assassinations, and all the problems that affect the poorest campesinos, the community persisted and fought to win titles to most of the land they cultivate; only two landowners continue to dispute the campesinos’ right to the land, the most powerful landowners in Honduras, the Facusse family, and former military death squad member, now a police commissioner, Henry Osorto.
Today, Thursday, the Morales family and supporters from Guadalupe Carney, the Human Rights Observatory of the Aguan, COPA, Fundacion San Lorenzo and other campesino movements in the Aguan mobilized early to get to the court in Trujillo before 9am. Only a handful of people were allowed into the courtroom to observe, but everyone else continued their accompaniment by hanging up banners and placards in from of the court and maintaining a visible presence, keeping an eye on the 8 or so armed soldiers who were standing watch outside. In the courtroom we watched the panel of judges file into the room and call for the prosecution witnesses. One witness appeared, a doctor who received the body of Carlos Manrique Osorto; the doctor read out loud his original statement which details the injuries but, of course, has no information or evidence relevant to the charges against Chabelo. That testimony lasted about 20 minutes then it was announced that none of the other prosecution witnesses had come to court, including Henry Osorto and that the trial would reconvene tomorrow morning.
The trial so far, like the previous 2 trials, has seen no concrete evidence presented linking Chabelo to the death of Carlos Manrique Osorto and has been marked by the failure of witnesses called by the prosecution to show up to testify. Henry Osorto himself has missed two scheduled appearances. (See the report from Greg McCain below for Tuesday and Wednesday’s court sessions).
Of course, we can only imagine what would happen if campesino witnesses ignored the summons to court to testify, but it is unlikely they would be allowed to delay a trial the way the prosecution witnesses are doing.
It seems that these delays, that may now stretch out the trial through the end of the month, are part of a strategy to wear out the supporters; reduce the number of international observers and hope that the Honduran media and people lose interest in Chabelo’s chance for justice. This is important also because attempts to intimidate defense witnesses and fear of violence against Chabelo, his family and the community to prevent a verdict in his favor continue.
This afternoon, we gathered with Chabelo and his family members and were watching the news on TV Globo when the video of the eviction in Choluteca was aired. We were frozen with outrage and sadness, watching the police attack the campesino community, mostly women of all ages and a few young men and small children. The women rushed to defend the community members being beaten and one woman passed out with blood seeming to pour out of a head wound. The policeman stood over her and a young man lying on the ground, with his combat style nightstick still raised. The TV Globo commentator was indignant and cited the statistics that there is enough land for everyone in Honduras to have 20 manzanas (50 acres) of land. One of Chabelo's brothers turned to me to say, imagine what we could do if everyone had land like they are saying, but the big landowners and government only want to do that, and he pointed at the violence on the screen.
Link to another broadcast of the Choluteca eviction video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moWnHn6rhyU&feature=youtu.be
We also got word that today there were multiple protests blocking streets in Tegucigalpa as students, youth and other resistance members continued the protests against Juan Orlando Hernandez. The police violently displaced all the blockades.
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Greg McCain
Defensor Internacional de Derechos Humanos Honduras
September 30, 2015
Yesterday, after the lunch time break, the trial resumed with a witness for the prosecution. It was an investigator from the DNIC, his testimony was intende to basically to back up one of the protected witnesses' testimony. Instead he added to the inconsistency of the testimony by stating that the protected witness stated that he could identify with 100% certainty who killed Enrique Osorto, the man Chabelo is accused of killing. The problem being that the protected witness has changed his testimony on several occasions, unable to identify Chabelo until instructed to by investigators.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moWnHn6rhyU&feature=youtu.be
We also got word that today there were multiple protests blocking streets in Tegucigalpa as students, youth and other resistance members continued the protests against Juan Orlando Hernandez. The police violently displaced all the blockades.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Greg McCain
Defensor Internacional de Derechos Humanos Honduras
September 30, 2015
Yesterday, after the lunch time break, the trial resumed with a witness for the prosecution. It was an investigator from the DNIC, his testimony was intende to basically to back up one of the protected witnesses' testimony. Instead he added to the inconsistency of the testimony by stating that the protected witness stated that he could identify with 100% certainty who killed Enrique Osorto, the man Chabelo is accused of killing. The problem being that the protected witness has changed his testimony on several occasions, unable to identify Chabelo until instructed to by investigators.
This
was the only testimony given before the hearing ended for the day. The
other witnesses for the prosecution didn't show up so the judges
adjourned for the day.
Today, the trial started around 9:30am.
Again
only one prosecution witness showed up. This was a fireman from
Trujillo who got to the scene after the fact. He wanted to read his
testimony from a notebook that he brought in, but the judges told him he
needed to tell it from his own memory. He basically offered nothing to
the prosecutor's case against Chabelo.
The
judges wanted to offer suggestions on how to proceed in light of the
prosecution witnesses not showing nor being able to state when they will
show up. This includes Henry Osorto. The Prosecutor informed the
judges that Osorto was upset with being expected to state exactly when
he would show up stating, "he is concerned for his saftey and can't
give specifics in advance." This from a police officer who has recently
been promoted to a police commissioner thus having the entire police
force at his disposal.
It was finally decided that the hearings would proceed tomorrow and Friday.
If the two protected witnesses didn't show the prosecution agreed to
give up that evidence. The judges then stated that after this Friday the trial would be suspended until Oct 19th
so that the Prosecution could have ample time to have their agenda for
witnesses in place. Nevermind that they had 2 months since the initial
hearing to get their agenda in place, let's see what they accomplish in
19 days.
After
the hearing I spoke with one of the international jurists who are here
to observe. He stated that it appeared to him that it was obvious
manipulation of judicial proceedings on Osorto's part and that the
judges had the power to order him to testify on a specific date.
In
the meantime, more suspicious men have been seen walking around
Guadalupe Carney. Yesterday, two of Chabelo' sisters saw a man enter the
yard of Chabelo's mom stood there for awhile than wandered off.
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