Date: Sun, 9 Nov 1997 10:53:34

Subject: INDIGENOUS HARASSMENT HEIGHTENS

Priority: normal

Organization: Visitacion Padilla, Tegucigalpa Honduras

HARASSMENT OF INDIGENOUS LEADERS AND CIVIC COUNSEL HEIGHTENS

LETTERS OF SOLIDARITY TO DROP THE CHARGES AND STOP THE POLITICAL REPRESSION OF COPIN ARE STILL URGENTLY NEEDED.

Berta Caceres, Indigenous leader of COPIN and wife of Salvador Zuniga held a press conference in collaboration with CONPAH on November 6, 1997 to denounce the intimidation of her and Candido's families and the organization of COPIN in general. The press release follows.

If you have not yet sent a letter, please consider a letter of solidarity to the addresses listed below. YOUR SUPPORT IS NEEDED!

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PRESS RELEASE:

CONFEDERATION OF AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITIES OF HONDURAS

CONPAH

PUBLIC DENUNCIATION

Confederation of Autonomous Communities of Honduras CONPAH before the Indigenous and Black communities, the Honduran population in general, Nongovernmental Human Rights organizations, National Commission of Human Rights, The Attorney General, Members of the National and International Press, we denounce the following:

1. The actions of blatant harassment, intimidation and vigilance towards members of the Civic Counsel of Popular and Indigenous Organizations (COPIN) in La Esperanza,Intibuca continue. These maneuvers, typical of the repressive forces and of military intelligence of the armed fores, are manifested in the placing of a military "Cobra" unit that use a black truck with grey stripes, tinted windows and no license plates. Paramilitary units which are linked to the death squad 3-16 are also present in La Esperanza.

2. Does the political repression of COPIN, under the pretext of searching for Salvador Zuniga and Candido Roberto Martinez, come from the NATIONAL CIVIL POLICE, directed by Mr. Hernan Corrales Padilla and the Intermediate Coordinating Committee or is it due to the actions of Military Intelligence of the Public Security Forces, which is directed by Colonel Julio Cesar Chavez or is it the Head of the Armed Forces? We ask ourselves, Is it really just a simple arrest that they are trying to do?

3. We reaffirm that we are an Non-Violent Indigenous and Black Movement and that our struggle is based in the conditions in which our lives are lived, in the revindication of our territorial, economic, political, cultural and social rights and in the demand that all of the accords signed by the State of Honduras, the President of the Republic of Honduras Dr. Carlos Roberto Reina be completed. Because of this, we are the objects of repression and political persecution today.

4 We remain ready for the struggle, in a state of alertness to defend our brothers Salvador Zuniga and Candido Roberto Martinez. We state that one day our brothers will turn themselves in, but with them will come all the Indigenous and Black communities to Tegucigalpa. Therefore, all the jails should be prepared to take us in.

!With the spirit of Lempira, our voice of justice and liberty is raised!

City of Comayaguela M.D.C., Honduras, C.A.

On the 6th day of November, 1997

CONFEDERATION OF AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITIES OF HONDURAS

CONPAH

SEND LETTERS OF SUPPORT TO:

FAX TO:

President Carlos Roberto Reina at 001-504-34-09-84

Honorable Supreme Justice; Supreme Court at 011-504-33-97-93

EMAIL TO:

Honduran Ambassador to the U.S. at embhondu@ix.netcom.net

President's Informational Office of Honduras at oip@ns.hondunet.net

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