Jesuits in Honduras receive death threats

[struggle4progress]

Jesuits in Honduras receive death threats
Posted: Tuesday, October 6, 2009 2:23 pm

Statement of the National Caritas of Honduras on the State of Siege

"BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO WORK FOR PEACE, FOR THEY WILL BE KNOWN AS THE CHILDREN OF GOD" (Mathew 5, 9)

1. Moved by faith in Jesus Christ, the fount of justice, truth, fraternity, peace, and life, Caritas of Honduras declares its deep concern and dismay in the face of the direction the country is going which troubles and frightens even more large parts of the population; therefore, we join the different voices which have let themselves be heard in this moment and we express our longing in order that we together may construct a nation in peace, tranquillity, and liberty.

2. The critical situation in which we have lived since before June 28 and which was deepened from that date on, has been exacerbated increasingly until it has come to the taking of extreme measures by those who are now at the front of the nation, such as the declaration of a state of siege for 45 days, an act which we consider disproportionate in terms of the force imposed, as well as illegitimate and an obstacle to dialogue, because it damages the fundamental rights of the person, such as freedom of expression, assembly, association, normal circulation - rights and guarantees contained in articles 69, 72, 78, 81, and 84 of the Constitution of the Republic.

3. We are worried about the manner that in the pursuit of maintaining an alleged social peace, the life and physical integrity of so many people who have participated in the marches of the resistance have been wounded. We reject the death threats that Father Ismael Moreno SJ has received and the boycott of the transmissions of Radio Progreso in the diocese of Yoro, Radio Santa Rosa in Copán and other means of communication.

4. It is urgent to reverse as soon as possible this measure which affects and restricts the liberties of all those of us who live in Honduras, increases the tensions, the fear and aggressiveness in the population, without helping solve the real problem of the country ...

http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=14937

[timeforpeace]

1. No clue. Maybe it lost something in the translation.

[struggle4progress]

2. ... Father Ismael Moreno, S.J., and his Radio Progreso have been outspoken supporters of

the Resistance movement and have already drawn the unhappy attention of the de facto government of Roberto Micheletti (which today shut down two opposition media outlets). OCLACC, the Organización Católica Latinoamericana y Caribeña de Comunicación reports that Moreno has been receiving death threats via text message on his mobile phone. Though he can't say if the messages are merely jokes in extremely poor taste given the current tension in Honduras or if they reflect a campaign of psychological intimidation against commentators calling for the restoration of ousted President Manuel Zelaya, it is certainly disquieting to learn of offers of half a million lempiras "por la cabeza del Padre Melo," as he is known in Honduras ...

Jesuit receives TM'd death threats in Honduras
Posted at: 2009-09-29 17:40:48.0
Author: Kevin Clarke
http://www.americamagazine.org/blog/entry.cfm?blog_id=2&id=97307529-3048-741E-2832930612749789

[struggle4progress]

3. ... Honduran resistance and human rights organizations have condemned the murder of teacher

Mario Contreras, vice principal of the Abelardo Fortín Institute, and Lenca leader Antonio Leiva, two members of the resistance allegedly killed by hired assassins ...

The Center for the Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture and their Families (CPTRT) affirmed that "according to witness statements provided by relatives, it is presumed that the attacks were perpetrated by hired killers, given that none of the victim’s belongings were missing, ruling out the possibility of robbery."

Another member of the resistance front, Lenca leader Antonio Leiva, was also found dead in Santa Bárbara, in the west of the country. According to sources close to the victim, he was kidnapped in the morning and his body was discovered in the afternoon in a village in the area.

COFADEH President Berta Oliva informed the international media that several opposition leaders have received anonymous death threats and her organization fears for their safety ...

Murder of two members of the Honduran resistance condemned
http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2009/octubre/lun5/Honduran.html

[struggle4progress]

4. ... A group of 12 Lenca Indians supporting Zelaya sought asylum in the Guatemalan embassy on Tuesday

citing death threats and beatings from security forces. Activists plan a series of anti-coup protests in the next 24 hours.

"We are protesting peacefully, we want democracy," said Daniel Martinez, 51, at a small march near Brazil's embassy. He had head and leg wounds he said were from police clubs at a march last month where one protester died in serious clashes ...

Zelaya Mistrusts Honduras Talks, Diplomats Upbeat
By REUTERS
Published: October 6, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/10/06/world/international-us-honduras.html?_r=1