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Honduras: Murder of peasant leader related to agrarian reform implementation in Aguán
Honduras: Murder of peasant leader related to agrarian reform implementation in Aguán
On 11th June 2008, the peasant leader Irene Ramírez was murdered at 10:30 pm in the city of Trujillo, Colón, in front of the facilities of the Education Department of Colón, approximately 500 meters from the police offices and the Department of Criminal Investigation of Trujillo. As spokesperson of the local peasants' movement, Irene Ramírez had declared himself recently in favour of the resolution of the agrarian conflict regarding the former Regional Centre of Military Training. Some days before his assassination, Irene publicly reported to have received death threats by local landlords and farmers.
Background
Irene Ramírez was a member of the peasants' association "14th July" of the Aguán's peasant movement, MCA, and also member of the National Union of Rural Workers, CNTC. One day before being murdered, Irene Ramírez stated in the Catholic Radio Channel of Trujillo the need to implement decree 18-2008, in force since 29th April 2008, in order to solve the land conflict over the former Regional Centre of Military Training, CREM. Recently, Irene Ramírez reported in the general assembly of the Peasant Movement of Aguán to have received death threats from local landlords and farmers.
FIAN International met Irene Ramírez during the follow-up of the CREM case. FIAN has observed the development of the case CREM since 2000, including multiple visits to the place, meetings and written communications with the State competent authorities. At these occasions, FIAN has expressed its concern about the lack of serious and determined action by the State, so as to transfer effectively all lands of the former CREM to the peasant groups gathered in the Peasant Movement of Aguán.
FIAN Mandate
Honduras is State Party to the International Covenants of Human Rights and has therefore the obligation to respect, protect and fulfil the rights enshrined in these covenants, particularly the right to life and the right to food, and to take special care of the persons that are subject to intimidation and violence for defending these rights.
Call to Action
There is an urgent need to send letters to the President of the Republic of Honduras asking him to take the necessary measures to clarify the murder and solve the conflict over the CREM lands, in order to fulfil the right to food of the families settled on these lands for eight years. Please, send copies to the General State Attorney and to FIAN Honduras.
Original Letter:
Excelentísmo Sr. Presidente,
Por medio de la presente, me dirijo a Usted para manifiestar mi indignación por el asesinato del dirigente Irene Ramírez quién fue asesinado el pasado miércoles 11 de junio del 2008, en la ciudad de Trujillo, Colón, a las 10:30 pm. frente a las instalaciones de la Departamental de Educacion de Colón.
Irene Ramírez fue miembro de la Empresa Asociativa Campesina "14 de julio" del Movimiento Campesino del Aguán, (MCA) y afiliado a la Central Nacional de Trabajadores del Campo, (CNTC). Un día antes de su asesinato dió declaraciones a la Radio Católica de Trujillo sobre la necesidad de aplicar el Decreto 18-2008, ley en vigencia desde el 29 de abril de 2008 que permitiría la solución del conflicto sobre las tierras del antiguo Centro Regional de Entrenamiento Militar (CREM). Recientemente, Irene Ramírez informó en una asamblea general del Movimiento Campesino del Aguán que había recibido amenazas de muerte por los terratenientes y ganaderos de la zona.
Honduras es Estado parte de los Pactos Internacionales de Derechos Humanos, por lo que ha asumido la obligación de respetar, proteger y garantizar los derechos reconocidos en estos pactos, en particular el Derecho a la Vida y el Derecho a la Alimentación, y atender de manera especial la situación de aquellas y aquellos quienes al defender estos derechos, sufren intimidaciones y violencia.
En este sentido le solicito Sr. Presidente, adoptar las medidas necesarias para garantizar:
la investigación del crimen con apoyo de más alto nivel, para que reúna en el tiempo más corto posible todas las informaciones necesarias para descubrir los autores materiales e intelectuales del asesinato;
el debido proceso criminal contra los supuestos asesinos, para que la muerte de Irene Ramírez no quede en impunidad;
la atención inmediata a la pronta solución del caso ex-CREM en el sentido de la transferencia efectiva de todos los terrenos del antiguo Centro Regional de Entrenamiento Militar a favor de los grupos del Movimiento Campesino de Aguán, en el marco de la aplicación contundente del Decreto 18-2008;
la mayor protección posible de las defensoras y de los defensores de derechos humanos, en particular de la dirigencia campesina, sindical e indígena, que debe incluír mecanismos especiales de protección en la situación de que sufrieran amenazas u hostigamientos en su contra.
Atentamente,
Translated Letter:
Honourable Mr President,
I would like to express my deep concern about the murder of the peasant leader Irene Ramírez, assassinated on Wednesday 11th June 2008, in the city of Trujillo, Colón, at 10:30 pm., in front of the facilities of the Education Department of Colón.
Irene Ramírez was a member of the peasant association business "14th July" of the Aguán's peasant movement, MCA, and also member of the National Union of Rural Workers, CNTC. One day before being murdered, Irene Ramírez stated in the Catholic Radio Channel of Trujillo the need to implement decree 18-2008, in force since 29th April 2008, in order to solve the land conflict over the former Regional Centre of Military Training, CREM. Recently, Irene Ramírez reported in the general assembly of the Peasant Movement of Aguán to have received death from local landlords and farmers.
Honduras is State Party to the International Covenants of Human Rights and has therefore the obligation to respect, protect and fulfil the rights enshrined in theses covenants, particularly the right to life and the right to food, and to take special care of the persons that are subject to intimidation and violence for defending these rights.
I would therefore like to ask you, Mr President, to take the measures necessary to guarantee:
- Maximum support for the investigation of this crime, so that the necessary data are gathered in the shortest period of time possible and the material and intellectual authors of the murder are found.
- Persecution of the alleged murderers, so that the assassination of Irene Ramírez does not remain unpunished.
- Immediate attention for a quick resolution of the case of the former CREM with regard to the effective transfer of the lands of the former Regional Centre of Military Training in favour of the groups of the Peasant Movement of Aguán, in the framework of the expeditious implementation of decree 18-2008.
- Highest protection possible for the human rights defenders, in particular for peasant, union and indigenous leaders, including special protection mechanisms in case of threat and harassment.
Sincerely,
Recipients:
Presidente de la República de Honduras (gvalladares@presidencia.gob.hn)
Fiscal General de la República Ministerio Público (lrosa@mp.hn)
(fian@cablecolor.hn)
