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Honduras: Peasant Cooperative threatened by eviction

Beginning of Action: 03-04-2006 - End of Action: 15-05-2006

The 54 peasant families which constitute the Cooperative “Cristóbal Castro”, located in “La Concepción”, Department Yoro, are threatened by an imminent eviction from their land which they legally acquired. With the announced forced eviction, the families would lose their livelihood basis and not any longer in a position to feed themselves. Last Wednesday, 29 of March, the interested landlord and several policemen tried to proceed with an extrajudicial eviction, but the Cooperative was able to stop the intended destruction of houses and harvests.

Background

The Cooperative “Cristóbal Castro” bought the land, which it is cultivating at present (about 400 manzanas, i.e.  280 hectares) with an official contract from Mrs. Cleotilde Castro, the legitimate heiress together with other descendents of  Cristóbal Castro, according to public scripture of May 28th, 2002. It seems that there exists a claim of an influential landholder in the region, Mr. Dagoberto Rosales Padilla, who maintains to be owner of part of the disputed land (about 60 manzanas, i.e. about 42 hectares), and who intends to evict the cooperative from the whole land of 400 manzanas.

Mr. Dagoberto Rosales Padilla has presented a request at the Sectional Court of Yoro, accusing the Cooperative of forest damages and theft. On the other hand, on January 2, 2006, public prosecutor Franklin Ismael López has presented a charge of illegal seizure to the same Court, under case record Nr. 08-2006. The judge has accepted the claim of the prosecutor and is currently considering a detention and eviction order against the Cooperative “Cristóbal Castro”. In consequence, there is the risk that in the days and weeks to come the eviction will be ordered and carried out, and that further harassment and penal persecution of the peasant families will take place.

The Mandate of the Emergency Network

Honduras is State Party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which has been adopted as Law of the Republic by Decree 961-80, published in the “Gaceta” Nr. 23167 on June 30th, 1980. Therefore, all authorities of the State have to respect, protect and fulfil the Right to Food as established under Art. 11 of the ICESCR. The Committee on ESC Rights which is competent body of the United Nations for the observance of the ICESCR issued General Comment 7 in 1997 which establishes and defines the prohibition of forced evictions, and General Comment 12 in 1999, which underlines that the State has to abstain from any kind of measure which might deprive vulnerable persons of their livelihood basis, in particular forced eviction of peasant groups, as they do violate the obligations of the State with regard to the Right to Food. Finally, it should be underlined that in Honduras the Agrarian Reform has a constitutional mandate.

Call to Action

In view of this situation, it is very important to call the attention of the new government of Honduras to this case so that it may look for just and lasting solutions for this type of conflict. Please send a letter to the President of Honduras in which you express your concern about this case and ask the President to adopt adequate measures to stop the eviction and solve the conflict in compliance with the Right to Food. Please send a copy to the Foreign Minister and to the National Peasant Association (ACAN).

URGENT ACTION 0605AHND

Original Letter:

Excelentísimo Señor Presidente,

Con profunda preocupación he recibido la información de que 54 familias campesinas que conforman la Cooperativa “Cristóbal Castro”, situada en “La Concepción”, departamento de Yoro, están amenazadas por un inminente desalojo de las tierras que legalmente adquirieron. Con el desalojo forzoso anunciado, las familias perderían su base de sustento y por tanto se les privaría de su acceso a la alimentación. Según mis informaciones, la Cooperativa “Cristóbal Castro” ha adquirido el terreno que actualmente cultiva (que es de aprox. 400 manzanas) por contrato de compra y venta a la Sra. Cleotilde Castro, legítima heredera junto a otros descendientes de Cristóbal Castro, conforme instrumento público del 28 de mayo de 2002. Al parecer, existen reclamos de un terrateniente influyente de la región, el Sr. Dagoberto Rosales Padilla, terrateniente quién alega ser dueño de una parte del predio en disputa (aprox. 60 manzanas), y quién en este momento está promoviendo el desalojo y órdenes de captura en contra de las familias campesinas.

Honduras es Estado Parte del Pacto Internacional de Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales, que además ha sido adoptado como Ley de la República mediante el Decreto 961-80, publicado en La Gaceta No. 23167 del 30 de junio de 1980. Por lo tanto, toda autoridad del Estado tiene que respetar, proteger y garantizar el derecho a la alimentación reconocido en el art. 11 del PIDESC. El Comité de Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales, órgano competente de las Naciones Unidas para la vigilancia del PIDESC, ha emitido la Observación General 7 en 1997 que establece y define la prohibición de los desalojos forzosos, y la Observación General 12 de 1999 que hace énfasis en que el Estado debe abstenerse de cualquier medida que pueda privar a personas vulnerables de sus bases de sustento, en particular de desalojos forzosos de grupos campesinos, por su carácter violatorio de las obligaciones del Estado en materia del derecho a la alimentación. Finalmente, cabe subrayar que la Reforma Agraria en Honduras, es un mandato constitucional.

Por lo tanto, le solicito, Sr. Presidente, adoptar en cooperación con las demás autoridades competentes las medidas inmediatas y apropiadas para:

- Detener cualquier intento de desalojo forzoso de la Cooperativa “Cristóbal Castro”;
- Detener cualquier intento de criminalización en contra de los campesinos y  las campesinas, miembros de la Cooperativa;
- Garantizar el derecho a la tierra y el derecho humano a la alimentación de las familias campesinas miembros de la Cooperativa “Cristóbal Castro”.

Atentamente

Translated Letter:

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Dear  Mr. President:
I am very concerned about the information that the 54 peasant families who constitute the “Cristóbal Castro” cooperative, located at “La Concepción”, Yoro Department, are threatened by an imminent eviction from their land which they acquired legally. With this announced forced eviction the families would lose their basis for livelihood and therefore be deprived of their access to food. According to my knowledge the cooperative “Cristóbal Castro” has bought the land which it is cultivating at present (of about 400 manzanas) by legal contract from Mrs. Cleotilde Castro, the legitimate heiress together with other descendents of Cristóbal Castro, according to public  scripture on May 28th, 2002. It seems that there is a claim of an influential landholder of the region, Mr. Dagoberto Rosales Padilla who maintains to be owner of part of the disputed land (about 60 manzanas), and who at this moment is promoting eviction and detention orders against the peasant families.
Honduras is State Party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which has been furthermore adopted as Law of the Republic by Decree 961-80, published in La Gaceta Nr. 23167 on June 30th, 1980. Therefore, all State authorities are obliged to respect, protect and fulfil the Right to Food as enshrined in Art. 11 of the ICESCR. The UN Committee on ESC Rights which is the competent body of the United Nations for the observance of the ICSPR issued General Comment 7 in 1997 which establishes and defines the prohibition of forced evictions and General Comment 12 in 1999 which stresses that the State must abstain from any kind of measure which might deprive vulnerable persons of their basis of livelihood, particularly forced eviction of peasant groups as this violates the State obligations regarding the Right to Food. Finally, it should be underlined that in Honduras the Agrarian Reform has a constitutional mandate.
Therefore I ask you, Mr. President, to take together with all other competent authorities the immediate and appropriate measures to:
- stop any kind of intent to forcibly evict the “Cristóbal Castro” cooperative,
- stop any kind of attempt to criminalise the peasants, members of the Cooperative,
- guarantee the right to land and the human right to food of the peasant families, members of the “Cristóbal Colón” cooperative.
Yours sincerely,


Recipients:

Lic. José Manuel Zelaya Rosales
Presidente de la República de Honduras
Abog. Milton Jimenez
Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores
Asocación Campesina Nacional
(acan@amnettgu.com)