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Quixote Center Delegation documents terror and repression during elections
Reports coming in from Quixote Center delegates who deployed to four different regions of the country during the last week to observe the electoral climate and the human rights situation point to a systemic pattern of militarization, intimidation, human rights violations and generalized repression. This, coupled with extremely low voter turnout.
Elections In Honduras: Whitewashing The Path To A Past Of Horrors
by Lisa Sullivan, School of the Americas Watch /Quixote Center Accompaniment Delegation
I came to Honduras with the to participate as a human rights observer of the electoral climate in a delegation organized by the Quixote Center. Several delegations converged, connecting some 30 U.S. citizens with dozens more from Canada, Europe and Latin America. In the days prior to the elections we scattered to different cities, towns and villages, meeting with fishermen, farmers, maquila workers, labor leaders, teachers and lawyers, as well as those who were jailed for carrying spray paint, hospitalized for being shot in the head by the military, and detained for reporting on the repression. It was, most likely, a bit off the 5-star, air-conditioned path of most of the mainstream journalists who are filling your morning papers with the wonders of today´s elections.
Tocoa, Honduras – Delegation Report November 28, 2009
Two of the leaders of the Frente (the resistance coalition) in this region met with us to give more information about the situation and to work out what we will do tomorrow, on election day.
As I write this at ten at night, the streets are deserted and all the shops and restaurants closed. Last night these same streets had a steady stream of cars and people walking along the sidewalks. The hotel, tonight, has a guard armed with a shotgun circulating around the hotel.
San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Delegation Report, Nov. 28, 2009
We have just returned to our hotel. Today was a busy day. We met with the Canadian Ambassador to start the day. He presented us with an official position taken by the G16 (written paper), as well as the press release yesterday from Minister Peter Kent. The Ambassador indicated that Canada has not stated that they will recognize the elections on Sunday, but he did also not take a position that they would not recognize the elections. We appear to be sitting on the fence.
Press Conference TODAY IN FRONT OF US EMBASSY, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
U.S.HUMAN RIGHTS OBSERVERS IN HONDURAS *
"I don't know how they are going to legitimate these elections…" –Bertha Oliva
29 November 2009
TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS: The streets are empty, as are the polling places. The majority of activity outside of the polling places is at the kiosks whose existence–replete with illegal election propagando, balloons, and cheerful and helpful citizens–is meant to encourage and motivate people to vote in the face of what is already a clearly successful people’s boycott of elections.
Press Release of US Citizens protest in front of Embassy in Honduras
INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE TO OBSERVE THE ELECTORAL CLIMATE
Farmers Block the Border
Hundreds of small farmers from the "Agrarian Platform" blocked the border between Guatemala and Honduras since yesterday in protest of the elections in Honduras which they consider to be illegal. The farmers blocked all transport from crossing the border, creating long lines of vehicles waiting to cross and resulting in economic losses. The blockade was lifted today.