Under Threat in Honduras

Readers:

A very close colleague of ours, Michael Pertschuk, is doing all he can to draw public attention to the serious threats being launched against an important human rights campaigner in Honduras, Dr Juan Almendares Bonilla, executive director of the Centre for the Prevention, Rehabilitation and Treatment of Victims of Torture.

As we know, human rights work in Latin America can be a dangerous enterprise and we owe it to keep watch and offer support to one another. Below is an abbreviated version of the official call for support from Amnesty International. I hope that you will consider formally expressing your concern to Honduran authorities by senbding a fax using the contact information given below.

Jim Shultz
The Democracy Center

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From Amnesty International
September 26, 2005

Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of Dr Juan Almendares Bonilla who is being threatened and harassed as a result of his work as a human rights defender.

On 12 September, Dr Juan Almendares Bonilla was intercepted by two men on a motorcycle when he got out of his car near the entrance of a clinic where he provides free medical care. The men are described as well built, and aged between 30 and 35 years. They also had a military style hair cut. One of the men put a 9mm gun to Dr Almendares left temple and demanded his mobile phone before they both rode off.

Although this could be seen as an ordinary criminal offence the circumstances in which it took place would indicate that it was a premeditated and targeted event. The fact that the men did not steal other objects of value, such as Dr Almendares Bonilla's wallet, would indicate that they stole the phone with the purpose of obtaining information about his contacts and the people he works with.

During the night of 18 September, unknown individuals (men and women) made phone calls to Dr Almendares Bonilla's home and his relatives’ homes. They asked about his whereabouts in threatening tones and similar calls have been made several times a week for the last three months.

On 19 September, the office administrator at the CPTRT office in the capital Tegucigalpa arrived at work to find that the front door frame had been forced and nearly broken during an attempted burglary. This followed an earlier break-in in October 2004.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Spanish or your own language, expressing concern at the attack, threats and harassment of Dr Juan Almendares Bonilla and calling on the authorities to take immediate steps to guarantee the safety of the CPTRT's staff members.

APPEALS TO:

President of the Honduras Republic
Lic. Ricardo Maduro
Presidente de la República de Honduras
Casa Presidencial
Boulevard Juan Pablo Segundo
Palacio José Cecilio del Valle
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Fax:+504 221 4570
Salutation: Dear President/ Señor Presidente

Minister of Security
Dr. Oscar Alvarez
Ministro de Seguridad
Ministerio de Seguridad Pública
Edificio Poujol, 4o piso
Col. Palmira (Blvd. Morazán)
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Fax: +504 220 4479
Salutation: Dear Minister/ Estimado Señor Ministro

COPIES TO:

Centre for the Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (CPTRT)
Col. La Reforma, Calle Principal, Casa No. 109, Tegucigalpa, M.D.C:
A.P. 5377
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Fax: +504 238 4027 (if someone answers ask for the fax “me da tono de fax por favor”)

And to diplomatic representatives of Honduras accredited to your country.