HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION POST-COUP UPDATE 3

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000589

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/13/2019
TAGS: PHUM PGOV SOCI DS SNAR HO
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION POST-COUP UPDATE 3

REF: TEGUCIGALPA 584

Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b and d).


1. (C) Summary: The human rights situation in Honduran
appeared to deteriorate over the weekend as two pro-Zelaya
political organizers were killed, a dissident member of
Congress reported that her home was raided, and 11 Venezuelan
reporters were arrested and then strongly encouraged to leave
the country. On July 12, the de facto regime lifted the
curfew that had been in place since the coup and was seen by
some as a means of stifling dissent. Human rights NGOs
report that on July 13, the Supreme Court approved the
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) June 30
request to enter Honduras and investigate alleged human
rights violations. The Embassy continues to raise strong
concerns over specific cases and the general deterioration of
human rights publicly and in private meetings. End Summary

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Leftist Leaders Killed
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2. (U) Press reported that Bloque Popular leader and
Democratic Unification (UD) Party member Roger Bados,
described as a 54-year-old militant leftist activist, was
shot multiple times in the back and neck at his home in San
Pedro Sula on the evening of July 11 by a group of masked
individuals. Bados's niece and sister were also wounded in
the gunfire. Press also reported that UD party member Ramon
Garcia was forced at gunpoint out of a public bus in Santa
Barbara and later killed by unknown assailants.

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Congresswoman Margarita Zelaya
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3. (C) According to Margarita Zelaya, Liberal Party
Congresswoman from Cortes Department and cousin of President
Zelaya, her house was raided for the second time in recent
weeks by soldiers. Zelaya, who is one of a group of Liberal
members of Congress who have publicly denounced the June 28
coup and plan to travel to Washington next week to give their
version of recent events, said she did not report the first
instance out of fear. She said she was not informed of the
reason for the raid and remains worried for her safety.
Human rights NGOs have requested that the Inter-American
Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) add her name to its list of
Hondurans for whom they demand "protective measures" be
taken.

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Telesur Reporters Arrested
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4. (U) Upon returning to their hotel just before the 11 p.m.
curfew on July 11, eleven Venezuelan journalists from the
"Telesur" TV network were arrested by 15 policemen on charges
relating to owing payments on their rental car. The
journalists were held until 3 a.m., when Venezuelan
Ambassador Jose Armando Laguna intervened on their behalf.
All eleven made official complaints with Human Rights
Prosecutor Sandra Ponce July 12 and left the country as they
had been advised to do by the police.

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Comment
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5. (SBU) These events are especially troubling as they appear
to represent a deterioration in the human rights situation,
from one weighted towards legislative and regulatory issues
to more targeted, violent actions. Post will continue to
raise alleged human rights abuses and specific cases with the
Attorney General (on July 13,
for example, the Ambassador sent a letter to the AG on Dr.
Luther Castillo, a doctor and NGO activist concerned for his
safety) , as well as liaise with human rights NGOs who have
become the not only the promoters of human rights but also
the protectors of human rights in the absence of impartial
government institutions. End Comment.
LLORENS