NEWS RELEASE Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Nov. 27, 1997

EMBASSY VIGIL FOR FATHER CARNEY

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SANTA CLAUS VISITS U.S. EMBASSY, PRESENTING GIFTS TO HONDURAS: THE BLACKED-OUT DOCUMENTS

FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL WRITES TO PRES. CLINTON, CRITICIZING BLACKED-OUT DOCUMENTS AND DEMANDING MORE ADEQUATE RESPONSE

VIGIL CONTINUES IN FRONT OF U.S. EMBASSY

FAST ENTERS 30th DAY

For more information, contact EPICA in Washington, DC, at: (202) 332-0292 or COFADEH in Tegucigalpa--country code 504, then 379800.

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Today, Thanksgiving Day in the U.S., a special demonstration was held in front of the U.S. embassy in Tegucigalpa, related to the arrival of Santa Claus in parades in various U.S. cities.

Here a Santa Claus appeared in front of the U.S. embassy, along with a Christmas tree (with an Uncle Sam hat on top), and the gifts which the U.S. government has given to Honduras: the blacked-out CIA and U.S. Army documents on U.S. priest Father James Guadalupe Carney and the other disappeared of Honduras.

Father Joseph Mulligan, S.J., now in his 30th day of a liquids-only fast along with Matthew Eisen and John Patrick Carney (brother of Father Carney), stated: "The U.S. government's gift to Honduras is a very cruel gift, especially to the relatives of the disappeared: CIA and U.S. Army documents which are more than 50% blacked out, a bad joke on the Honduran government and people and on the relatives of Father Carney."

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FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL RAMSEY CLARK WRITES TO PRES. CLINTON, CRITICIZING BLACKED-OUT DOCUMENTS AND DEMANDING MORE ADEQUATE RESPONSE

November 21, 1997

Dear President Clinton,

I am appalled at the cruelty and contempt for life of the governments of Honduras and the United States revealed by their involvement in the disappearance, apparent death and subsequent refusal to provide all known facts about the fate of Father James Carney, who disappeared in Honduras in 1983.

If we are to hold any hope for truth and reconciliation, it is imperative that governments come forward on their own initiative and reveal the whole truth about their acts and those of their officers, agents and others working for and with them which violated human rights. Impunity is a continuing violation of the rights of victims and society until there is confession, acknowledgment of the facts, accountability for what was done. Then compassion can bring us to forgiveness and reconciliation.

To fail to account for Father Carney violates international law which requires every government to notify families and the public of persons captured and in cases of death, to identify the deceased, notify the family and public and provide burial as required by the religion of the dead.

I support all the demands made by Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, our great religious leader and humanitarian, and those with him at the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa. There must be full disclosure of all known facts and documents concerning Fr. Carney's disappearance, treatment and fate. Assistance in finding the remains of Fr. Carney, if he is dead as reported, and providing government approvals for the transport and appropriate burial is essential.

Prompt action is required.

Sincerely,

Ramsey Clark

cc: Secretary of Defense William Cohen

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The growing support for this struggle for peace and justice is seen in the letter from Ramsey Clark and in those from Rigoberta Menchu Tum (Nobel Peace Laureate), U.S. Congressmen James P. McGovern and John Joseph Moakley, Senator Carl Levin, and other persons and organizations in the U.S., Honduras, and other countries, as well as in articles and editorials in the Washington Post, Miami Herald, Boston Globe, Cincinnati Enquirer, Detroit Free Press, National Catholic Reporter, and other newspapers in various countries.

We would ask our friends in solidarity to send copies of published articles along with their letters to their elected representatives in Washington in support of our demands on behalf of Father Carney and the other disappeared of Honduras.

People may also wish to write to Attorney General Janet Reno, including a copy of the letter by former Attorney General Ramsey Clark, and demanding that Ms. Reno personally scrutinize the originals of the blacked-out documents to determine whether there is any cover-up of criminal evidence.

Thank you. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

END

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Comite de Familiares de Detenidos-Desaparecidos en Honduras (COFADEH)

BERTHA OLIVA DE NATIVI

Coordinadora General

lorena@cofadeh.sdnhon.org.hn

Tele(fax): (504) 379800