Senior citizen murdered by U.S.-financed Honduran military

On January 20th, 2018, the U.S.-financed Honduran military of dictator Juan Orlando Hernández shot and killed a senior citizen, a campesino, Don Telmo, in Colón, for participating in a non-violent protest against electoral fraud, repression and the consolidation of the corrupt dictatorship. What follows is a disturbing video of the last steps Don Telmo took after being shot before bleeding to death and dying, followed by a painting and poem in his honor:

BLOOD FROM THE DEPTHS OF HONDURAS

Painter/Pintor: Daniel Valladares Bustamante

by Joaquín Cardoza
Translation by Matt Ginsberg-Jaeckle

Don Telmo,
Grandfather in resistance
The official mouthpieces,
bought and paid for,
will pronounce
That you were a terrorist,
A vandal
Maybe even a gang-banger
to try to justify their crime,
to save their backs

ASSASSINS!!!!

Don Telmo,
This is the new Honduras
Of the festering
satraps:

Death,
Narco state,
Buy, sell,
Indignity,
Disgrace....
.
Your killing is a new milestone
For the blond, the rich
And the ignorant poor

For your children, grandchildren and the rest,
 just as for our own,
As the last drop of your blood falls
On the land of this nation,
The struggle digs deep
for redemption
As the people roar
mightily in the streets:

THE BLOOD OF MARTYRS,
IS THE SEED OF FREEDOM!

J.Cardoza.

Original Poem in Spanish:
SANGRE DE HONDURAS

Don Telmo,
Resistente abuelo,
Pregonarán
Los órganos de resonancia,
tarifados,
Qué si usted era terrorista,
Vándalo
O bien marero;
intentando justificar su crimen,
A mansalva

¡¡¡ ASESINOS!!!

Don Telmo,
Esta es la nueva Honduras
Del sátrapa
Enquistado:

Muerte,
Narco estado,
Compraventa,
Indigidad,
Desvergüenza....
.
Su asesinato es un nuevo hitz
Para rubiios, ricos
Y pobres ignorantes

Para sus hijos, nietos y demás,
 Como para los nuestros,
Al caer la última gota de su sangre
Sobre el territorio nacional,
Se recrudece la lucha
Para la redención,
Pues como  grita
con energía, el pueblo en las calles:

¡SANGRE DE MÁRTIRES,
SEMILLA DE LIBERTAD!

J.Cardoza.

ALERT! Edwin Espinal arrested for participation in protests against the dictatorship

COPINH denounces arrest of prominent Honduran activist Edwin Espinal, captured for his participation in protests against the dictatorship

[Original en español]

Tonight, while driving home, compañero Edwin Espinal was captured by members of the police along the Fuerzas Aramadas Boulevard in Tegucigalpa for his participation in the protests days before against the imposition of fraud and dictatorship by Juan Orlando Hernández (JOH).

Edwin Espinal is a well-known figure in the struggle against the dictatorial regime imposed since the 2009 coup d'etat in Honduras. His capture stems from orders by JOH the dictator to repress, demonize and criminalize the dignified protest of  people who oppose the imposition of violence and betrayal.

Edwin's capture comes days after having been victim of a demonization campaign in social media, just like what has happened to our brothers Martín Fernández and Víctor Fernández from the Broad Movement for Justice and Dignity (MADJ), as well as Father Melo from Radio Progreso among a long list of sisters and brothers in struggle against the regime.

The actions by the JOH government seek to sew fear and consternation amongst the mobilized people, as has been demonstrated by the brutal displays of force by the military police and the illegal statements by FUSINA, trying to interfere with the basic right to protest.

Nonetheless, the strength of our cry as a Honduran people against the illegality and illegitimacy of JOH is clear and we are sure that nobody will rest until he falls.

While JOH's spurious electoral tribunal certifies his illegal victory, they capture and criminalize compatriots who struggle for truth and dignity.

They use an iron fist against the people, but for foreign interests they kneel down as low as they can.

COPINH demands Edwin Espinal be released immediately and holds the Honduran state accountable.

We call on the national and international community to denounce these actions of criminalization along with the series of assassinations, aggressions, campaigns of stigmatization and brutal repression by the state against a mobilized people.

COPINH calls for a deepening of national mobilization against fraud and dictatorship.

The more they repress, the more we struggle and organize.

January 19th, 2018.

With the ancestral strength of Berta, Lempira, Mota and Etempica our voices rise, full of life, justice, dignity, freedom and peace!