By June 24th - Call and E-mail the Honduran and US authorities to demand the charges against the Lenca leaders of San Francisco de Opalaca be dropped!
Urgent Action Information provided by B. Gynther, SOAW
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| foto Honduras Tierra Libre |
Leaders of the Lenca people of San Francisco de Opalaca are facing charges of sedition for standing up against the fraudulent imposition of the ruling party Mayor in their municipality. For 5 months, they have prevented the corrupt government imposed Mayor from taking office and selling off their natural resources an instead elected their own democratically chosen Mayor and authorities in a massive Indigenous Assembly. Now, over 30 community leaders -- including the Indigenous Assembly elected Mayor and Municipal Corporation, community leaders, a correspondent for Radio Progreso, and community radio communicators -- have to appear in court this Tuesday (June 24) to face charges of sedition and usurpation. Call and e-mail the authorities below today to urge them to drop the bogus charges against the Lenca people and leaders. Sample scripts for calls and e-mails are below the contact information:
Ministerio Publico: Oscar Chinchilla, Fiscal General, Phone: 011-504-2221-5670 or 011-504-2221-3099, E-mail: denuncias@mp.hn
Office of the President: Roger A Ordóñez, Assistant to JOH, E-mail: rogerodonezf@yahoo.com, Phone: 011-504-9970 6001
Secretariat of Human Rights, Justice, Government, and Decentralization: Karla Cueva, Under-Secretary for Justice and Human Rights, Phone: 011-(504) 2231-1542 and 011-(504)- 2232-0231, E-mail: karlacueva144@gmail.com
First Court of Letters of Intibuca: Phone: 011-504-2783-0084
US Embassy: Amanda Johnson-Miller, Human Rights & Labor Officer. E-mail: Johnson-MillerA@state.gov
Sample phone script for calls to Honduran authorities:
Estoy llamando desde YOUR STATE OR ORGANIZATION para pedir un fin a la criminalización del pueblo Lenca de San Francisco Opalaca y exigir que retiren las acusaciones de sedición y usurpación contra sus lideres eligidos en asambleas Indigenas y los comunicadores sociales. Le pido que el estado de Honduras respeta al Convenio 169 de la OIT sobre pueblos Indigenas, incluso el derecho de tener su propio sistema de gobierno. Les insto retirar los cargos contra los mas que 30 lideres del pueblo de San Francisco de Opalaca quienes han sido citado para una audiencia el 24 de junio, incluso Entimo Vasquez y Jesus Rodriguez. Gracias.
Sample e-mail for contacting the Honduran authorities:
Estimado NAME,
Le escribo desde YOUR STATE OR ORGANIZATION para expresar mi preocupación ante la criminalización del pueblo Lenca de San Francisco de Opalaca como resultado de su lucha para la autodeterminación Indígena. Les insto retirar las acusaciones contra los y las 30 líderes Indígenas y comunicadores sociales por cargos como sedición y usurpación de los bienes del estado.
Como sabe usted, Honduras ha ratificado el Convenio 169 de la OIT sobre Pueblos Indígenas y les pido respetar los derechos del pueblo Lenca de San Francisco de Opalaca, incluso el derecho de tener su propio sistema de gobierno.
Si hay alguien que debe ser enjuiciado en San Francisco de Opalaca, son los empleado de la Corporación Municipal del gobierno quienes dispararon contra Irene Meza el 25 de Mayo de 2014. Pero el pueblo Lenca y sus autoridades Indígenas llevan al cabo una lucha pacifica y esto debe ser respetado.
Les pido retirar los cargos contra los 30 líderes de San Francisco de Opalaca y respetar su Alcaldía Indígena.
Gracias.
Sample e-mail to US Embassy:
I am writing because I am extremely concerned about the criminalization of the Lenca people of San Francisco de Opalaca, who have been standing up for their rights as autonomous Indigenous people. 30 Lenca leaders have been summoned to present themselves in court on Tuesday, June 24th, facing charges that include sedition and usurpation. In reality, the Lenca people have been exercising their right to self-determination and Indigenous forms of government, as protected by ILO Convention 169 and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. They do not recognized the government-imposed Mayor but instead have elected their own Indigenous Mayor and authorities in a massive Indigenous Assembly.
I urge the US Embassy to contact the Honduran authorities and ask them to respect the rights of the Indigenous Lenca people to self-determination, including to their own forms of government. Most importantly, please express your desire for the charges against the Lenca leaders -- which include community radio leaders and a correspondent for Radio Progreso-- to be withdrawn.
It is also important to encourage the Tribunal Superior de Cuentas finish its audit of Mayor Socorro Sanchez in an impartial way and that there be accountability and charges if merited for mis-use of public funds in San Francisco de Opalaca. That would be an important step towards addressing corruption and impunity in Honduras.
Thank you,
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