Inter-American Human Rights Report Riles (Honduran) Government

Inter-American Human Rights Report Riles Government

By Thelma Mejía

TEGUCIGALPA, May 21, 2010 (IPS) - On a fact-finding mission to Honduras this week, an Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) delegation took aim at the dismissal of several judges who expressed their opposition to the Jun. 28 ouster of president Manuel Zelaya.

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The statement issued by the IACHR, a Washington-based Organisation of American States (OAS) body, is a "quite faithful" reflection of the human rights abuses that have been committed in this Central American country, according to the Platform.

On its second visit to Honduras in nine months, the IACHR expressed "deep concern over the continuation of human rights violations" since the coup, and over "the absence of effective investigations that could lead to the clarification" of the murders of "a number of persons, including journalists and human rights defenders" during and after Zelaya's overthrow.

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The report also said that "of particular concern" is the harassment of judges "who participated in activities against the coup d’état."

The delegation was referring to four appeals court judges, founders of the Association of Judges for Democracy, who were dismissed from their posts two weeks ago on the grounds that they violated rules prohibiting judicial employees from participating in politics or strikes.

"It is unacceptable that those persons in charge of administering justice who were opposed to the democratic rupture would face accusations and dismissals for defending democracy. The IACHR urgently calls for a reversal of this situation that seriously undermines the rule of law," the statement says.

The four judges, Luis Alonso Chévez, Ramón Enrique Barrios, Guillermo López Lone and Tirza Flores Lanza, began a hunger strike Monday to demand their reinstatement.

Judge López Lone, who was an active human rights defender in the 1980s, when abuses were rife, told IPS that "our right to due process has been violated, we have not been listened to, and this is part of the political persecution brought on by our opposition to the democratic rupture and the coup."

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http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=51535

with Micheletti to genuinely believe they are COMPLETELY above the law, that they control the country, and everyone in it.

Hoping fate will quickly prove to them how stupid, and self-destructive they really are.

The more you hear of these monsters, the sicker you get, if that's possible.

Recommending.