admin – Page 13

15

December

TRUST Act NOW!

December 15, 2016 admin Action Alerts

(Español Aqui)

CRLN is a proud supporter of the IL TRUST Act and the Campaign for a Welcoming Illinois!

The

TRUST Act

recently passed the Illinois Senate with a vote of 31 to 21. The TRUST Act will help keep federal immigration enforcement separate from local law enforcement, will enact safe zones in communities, will help immigrant crime victims seek legal assistance, and prevent Illinois from participating in any sort of discriminatory registry.

➢ Bar law enforcement agencies in Illinois from complying with any ICE detainers or warrants that are not supported by a court-issued warrant

➢ Limit arrests based solely on immigration-related information included in federal databases

➢ Bar 287(g) agreements to deputize local police to execute immigration enforcement and limit other cooperation and information sharing with immigration enforcement (without a courtissued criminal warrant) ➢ Bar the use of private prisons to house immigration detainees

➢ Forbid use of immigration-related threats or verbal abuse by law enforcement agents

➢ Set deadlines and standards for law enforcement agencies to respond to requests for certifications needed to process U visa applications

➢ Establish an Illinois TRUST Act Compliance Board to train law enforcement agencies regarding this law and identify and research further issues regarding the impact of detainers

➢ Provide a private right of action for anyone to sue any agency that violates this Act

➢ Amend the Illinois Criminal Procedure Code to clarify provisions that probation officers and judges have used to ask about immigration status

➢ Allow certain individuals (including immigrants) to reopen prior criminal cases based on inadequate counsel or successful completion of probation. For immigrants, this provision could help them avoid deportation.

TAKE ACTION!

1. Make a call to your Representative and ask them to support the TRUST Act when it comes up for a vote!

How to contact your Representative:

1. Go to

http://www.elections.il.gov/districtlocator/addressfinder.aspx

2. Enter your address and click “Find Address”

3. Click “Confirm Address”

4. Find “Representative District__”

5. Call their Office(s)

6. Please email me to let us know that you called or left a message.

2. Join us and other ICIRR members as we travel to Springfield to advocate for the TRUST Act. The Illinois TRUST Act needs to pass out of the house by May 31st. We need your support! E-mail

crodriguez@crln.org

if you’re willing to go to Springfield on May 30th!

15

December

¡Ley TRUST de Illinois Ahora!

December 15, 2016 admin Action Alerts

¡CRLN es un orgulloso partidario de la Ley TRUST y de la Campaña de Welcoming Illinois!

La Ley TRUST recientemente fue aprobada por el Senado de Illinois con un voto de 31 a 21. La Ley

TRUST

ayudará a mantener la aplicación de la ley federal de inmigración separada de la aplicación de la ley local, promulgará zonas seguras en las comunidades, y evitará que Illinois participe en cualquier tipo de registro discriminatorio.

➢Prohibir a las agencias de ley en Illinois de cumplir con cualquier detención o orden de captura de ICE que no sean respaldada por una orden judicial.

➢ Limitar los arrestos basados únicamente en información relacionada con inmigración incluida en las bases de datos federales

➢ Prohibir los acuerdos 287(g) para delegar a la policía local la ejecución de medidas de inmigración y limitar la cooperación y el intercambio de información con las autoridades de inmigración (sin orden judicial)

➢ Impedir el uso de prisiones privadas para alojar a los detenidos de inmigrantes

➢ Prohibir el uso de amenazas relacionadas con la inmigración o abuso verbal por agentes de la ley

➢ Establecer plazos y estándares para que las agencias del orden y respondan a las solicitudes de certificaciones necesarias para procesar las aplicaciones de la visa U

➢ Establecer una junta de Cumplimiento de la Ley TRUST de Illinois para entrenar a las fuerzas del orden con respecto a esta ley e identificar e investigar otras cuestiones relativas al impacto de las órdenes de detención

➢ Proporcionar un derecho privado de acción para que cualquier persona pueda demandar a cualquier agencia que viole esta Ley

➢ Enmendar el Código de Procedimiento Penal de Illinois para aclarar las disposiciones que los oficiales de libertad condicional y los jueces han utilizado para preguntar sobre el estatus migratorio de una persona

➢ Permitir a ciertos individuos (incluyendo inmigrantes) reabrir casos penales previos basados en un consejo inadecuado o en la finalización exitosa de la libertad condicional. Para los inmigrantes, esta disposición podría ayudarles a evitar la deportación

¡TOME ACCIÓN!

1. ¡

Haga una llamada a su Representante y dígale que apoye el

Trust Act

cuando se presente para una votación!

Cómo ponerse en contacto con su representante:

1. Vaya a

http://www.elections.il.gov/districtlocator/addressfinder.aspx

2. Introduzca su dirección y haga clic en “Buscar dirección”

3. Haga clic en “Confirmar dirección”

4. Encuentra “Distrito Representativo__”

5. Llamar a su oficina (s)

6. Envíeme un mensaje por correo electrónico para dejarnos saber que llamo o dejo un mensaje.

2. Únase a nosotrxs y a otros miembros de ICIRR mientras viajamos a Springfield

para abogar por la Ley TRUST. La ley de Illinois TRUST necesita salir de la casa antes del 31 de mayo. ¡Necesitamos su apoyo! Mande un correo a

crodriguez@crln.org

si usted está dispuestx a ir a Springfield el 30 de mayo!

15

December

Actualizaciones de derechos humanos en Honduras

December 15, 2016 admin Edu. Central America

OFRANEH

, 25 de mayo: Marcha de las mujeres indígenas y negras en Tegucigalpa, exigiendo un alto a la criminalización y el enjuiciamiento de las defensoras de derechos humanos y #JusticiaparaBertaCaceres)

En marzo de 2017,

Global Witness publicó un informe

que nombraba a Honduras como el país más peligroso del mundo para los defensores de derechos humanos y medioambientales. Esto causó conmoción en el gobierno hondureño y los medios de comunicación, especialmente por la participación de funcionarios gubernamentales en empresas transnacionales y proyectos de desarrollo. Unos días más tarde, dos miembros del personal de CRLN y un miembro de la Junta Directiva viajaron a Honduras en una delegación de La Voz de los de Abajo. Se unieron a muchos visitantes internacionales, organizaciones y otras delegaciones en el país para actos de conmemoración del primer aniversario de la muerte de Berta Cáceres. Nuestra delegación vio y habló directamente con defensores de derechos humanos, líderes de comunidades indígenas, obreros, campesinos, miembros de la oposición y estudiantes que explicaron el peligro de defender sus derechos en Honduras. El siguiente informe refleja las demandas y peligros descritos en el reporte de Global Witness y lo que escuchamos en nuestra delegación en marzo de las comunidades afectadas. En Honduras,

como en toda América Latina

, ser un defensor ambiental y de derechos humanos es un gran peligro.

El representante de OFRANEH y líder Garifuna, Cesar Geovany Bernárdez, fue detenido el 18 de mayo y acusado de usurpación o posesión ilegal de tierra por el empresario canadiense Patrick Forseth de CARIVIDA.

Cesar Geovany Bernárdez fue acusado de usurpar tierras que se encuentran dentro del título comunitario otorgado a la comunidad garífuna de Guadalupe. La delegación de La Voz de los de Abajo se reunió con Cesar y otros líderes garífunas en el área de Barra Vieja en Marzo. Los líderes garífunas hablaron con la delegación sobre cómo han estado luchando contra las ventas ilegales de tierras de sus comunidades a proyectos de desarrollo estadounidenses y canadienses. Su comunidad ha estado rodeada de guardias privados, militares y cercas.

CARIVIDA Villas

, un proyecto canadiense de desarrollo turístico y de vivienda, está ilegalmente en posesión de tierras garífunas y obtuvo los documentos de propiedad de tierras, así como las órdenes de captura de Geovany mediante corrupción y abuso de autoridad con la ayuda del gobierno hondureño. Geovany fue puesto en libertad al día siguiente; Sin embargo, se le dieron medidas sustantivas, lo que significa que su libertad está restringida. Tiene que firmar con frecuencia ante un juez en Trujillo y no se le permite salir del país, entre otras restricciones.

OFRANEH publicó una declaración que concluye

: “Una vez mas ratificamos y denunciamos que las comunidades Garífunas de la Bahia de Trujillo, afectadas por los proyectos turísticos y habitacionales de la mafia canadiense, nunca fueron consultadas para obtener su consentimiento previo, libre e informado; violando de esta forma el Convenio 169 de la OIT.”

Además,

la criminalización de los campesinxs continúa en la región sur de Honduras.

Defensores en Línea informan que el campesino y pescador Julio César Canales Torres fue detenido el 14 de mayo por usurpación de tierras.

Actualización del caso de Berta Cáceres

El 17 de mayo, el equipo legal que representa a Berta Cáceres y su familia denunció ante el Ministerio Público de Tegucigalpa la irregularidad con que se está llevando a cabo la investigación y proceso judicial de su asesinato. Al equipo legal de la familia se le ha negado repetidamente el acceso a la información sobre el caso. Por ejemplo, habia una audiencia programada para el caso de Berta el 24 de mayo; Sin embargo, el equipo legal que representa a su familia tuvo que pedir por segunda vez que se posponga la audiencia, ya que la información necesaria no fue entregada a tiempo a los abogados. La audiencia está ahora programada para el 7 de junio.

La delegación se reunió con la hija de Berta Cáceres y con COPINH, que exigen una investigación independiente de su asesinato y que los autores intelectuales sean llevados ante la justicia.

Trabajadores

Empleadas de Delta despedidas

“Entre los días 5 y 7 de abril de 2017, Delta Apparel, con sede en Estados Unidos, despidió a más de 40 trabajadores que sufren de lesiones músculo-esqueléticas debilitantes en su fábrica de Villanueva, Cortés, Honduras. 25 de los 40 trabajadores se han negado a aceptar los asentamientos y están exigiendo que Delta Apparel les devuelva su trabajo “.

Por favor lea aquí

, acerca de cómo puede apoyar a las 25 empleadas despedidas a recuperar su trabajo y exigir que Delta US Apparel deje de exponer a sus trabajadores a lesiones y factores de riesgo para la salud.

Campesinxs se declararon en huelga contra Tela Railroad Company

Más de 2.000 campesinxs hondureñxs se apoderaron de diez granjas durante 17 días pertenecientes a la Tela Railroad Company, una compañia sucesora de la ahora disuelta United Fruit Company. Los campesinxs exigían mejores condiciones de salud y de trabajo. Después de 17 días de huelga, la empresa y los trabajadores llegaron a un acuerdo. Sin embargo,

como informa Radio Progreso

, los riesgos para la salud y los peligros de trabajar en el campo y con productos químicos continúan para los campesinxs.

Elecciones de noviembre de 2017

Al acercarse las elecciones de 2017, la Alianza de Oposición, formada por partidos políticos de oposición , incluido el Partido Anticorrupción (PAC) y LIBRE, eligió a Salvador Nasralla como candidato para representar a la oposición en las elecciones de 2017.

Informe sobre asesinatos de la DEA en Ahuas, Honduras

The Center for Economic and Policy Research explica:

”

Un nuevo

informe

de las Oficinas del Inspector General (OIG) del Departamento de Justicia (DJ) y el Departamento de Estado (DE) de los EEUU afirma que agentes de la Administración para el Control de Drogas estadounidense (DEA, por sus siglas en inglés) se encontraban bajo control operacional durante un

incidente notorio en Ahuas

, Honduras, en mayo de 2012, en el que cuatro campesinos miskitu fueron asesinados y otros tres gravemente heridos. La evidencia encontrada contradice

anteriores declaraciones

de oficiales de la DEA según las cuales sus agentes jugaron tan solo un rol de “apoyo” en el incidente, “no dispararon una sola ráfaga”, siendo “la conducta del personal de la DEA consistente con los protocolos, políticas y procedimientos vigentes de la agencia”.

15

December

A Conversation about Women’s Rights in Cuba

December 15, 2016 admin Events

The rights of all women in Cuba have changed dramatically since the 1959 Cuban Revolution. What are the achievements as well as the ongoing campaigns? How does the U.S. blockade of Cuba affect women’s lives? Join us to talk about these questions with Latina lesbian feminist Moon (Luna) Vázquez. (

See bio below

)

Saturday June 10

from 2:30-5:00 at

La Parada Café 2059 W. 21
^st
Street

, Chicago, IL 60608

This event is a fundraiser for the

IFCO/Pastors for Peace 28
^th
Friendshipment to Cuba

and we will ‘’pass the hat” at the event. For more information email

MMcKenna@crln.org

.

This event was initiated by the

Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America

and

La Voz de los de Abajo

. Thanks to many others for their help.

Moon (Luna) Vázquez:

Latina lesbian feminist Moon (Luna) Vázquez, is on the national steering committee of the U.S. Women & Cuba Collaboration and co-founder of the Cuba/US Lesbian and Allies project. She is also a member of the Cuba and Bolivarian Alliance Committee of the International Women’s League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). Moon works on many social and gender justice issues with a focus on advancing leadership opportunities for women of color in the international lesbian and bi-sexual movement. Since 2001 Moon has led numerous women’s delegations to Cuba so delegates can see for themselves the advances of Cuban women since the revolution. Moon shares her knowledge of Cuba’s social programs and the current state of US-Cuba relations to build bridges and understanding across borders. Her specific area of expertise is on the role of lesbian and bi-women and the role of the LGBTQ community in Cuba.

Event Date:

Saturday, June 10, 2017 –

14:30

17:00

15

December

End the embargo to help the people of Cuba and the US!

December 15, 2016 admin Edu. Cuba

Under the guise of “helping the Cuban people,” the current president has reinstated some restrictions on travel and trade that had been lifted by executive order during the Obama administration. One of the restrictions announced forbids individuals from travelling under the people to people travel category, requiring them to travel with a group. Another change forbids U.S. citizens or companies to do business with tourist sites in Cuba controlled by the the Cuban military. For more information click here.

As faith communities and human rights organizations in Cuba, the U.S. and around the world have long asserted, the human rights of Cubans and the people of the U.S. would best be served by lifting all travel restrictions and finally ending the rest of the embargo.

Congress needs to act to end these restrictions permanently!

There are currently bi-partisan bills in the House and Senate to finally end the travel restrictions and the embargo. In Illinois we are concentrating on the House of Representatives, since IL Senators are (or soon will be co-sponsors of the Senate bills.

Now while the restrictions are in the news, take a moment to call your Illinois Representative
(click here to find their contact info) and ask them to co-sponsor three bi-partisan bills in the House to end restrictions on travel and trade:

HR 525,

HR 442

and

HR 351

For more info on bills, current Illinois sponsors and a sample script click here.

Working together we have made a lot of progress and we will keep working until these harmful restrictions are ended!

Questions?
Contact Marilyn McKenna at the Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America (CRLN) at 773-293-3680 or mmckenna@crln.org with questions or if you need assistance. Thanks to the Latin American Working Group for providing information for this alert.

15

December

No Wall, No Registry, No White Supremacy

December 15, 2016 admin Edu. Immigration

By: Ivanna Salgado, CRLN Immigration Organizer Intern

[Espa

ñ

ol Aqui]

Were the words that were screamed with much enthusiasm by several protesters and organizations on June 15th, 2017 to push the city of Chicago to amend the Welcoming City Ordinance with no carve outs.

In 2012, Chicago passed the Welcoming City Ordinance establishing guidelines on how Chicago police interacts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), meant to limit collaboration between police and ICE, and protect immigrants from deportation.

These words allowed for my tears to silently splatter the concrete floor in the “One Chicago” that was built through the violence against immigrants and enslaved people on these stolen lands. Over the years, we have forgotten this actual reality because it has been covered by narratives of white supremacy that have manipulated us into believing their truth is the only truth that exists.

In fact, the word “immigrant” itself is a construction of white supremacy, a system that has gained power after settlers immigrated to America to separate themselves from those who they would soon treat as inferiors. Then, the word immigrant became racialized and criminalized.

Being an undocumented immigrant is nothing to be ashamed of, but we have been trained to do so by hearing quotes like “In America we only speak English.” The irony out of this quote is that, America includes all of North America and South America. America itself is made out 33 Latin American countries, and English is not even the main language there.

Over the years, for me, being an immigrant has come with so much pride and struggle rather than with shame. Being an immigrant has taught me to explore my own identity and celebrate and understands the politics of the cultures of my immigrant friends.

Yesterday’s rally made me reflect on the families that are currently being impacted by the immigration system or who have been criminalized by police officers or ICE.

It is hard to feel proud when our families are being ripped apart. It is often regret that our families feel for coming to the U.S.

Just like the City Hall building that has been built through the exploitation of immigrants. Just like Alderman Rosa says “Chicago cannot claim it is One Chicago if it is not offering sanctuary for all of its residents and instead it is working with ICE to deport immigrants. The City Hall building belongs to us because we built it so we have a voice.”

I study in Ohio, and when I heard that Chicago was a sanctuary city my heart was filled with happiness and proudness because I am a Chicagoan. Ohio unfortunately is a swing state. However, I am disheartened to know that the city of Chicago is not the sanctuary city it displays to the public. Many immigrants are being criminalized and dehumanized for wanting to stay with their loved ones.

As I saw signs like “Sanctuary For All. No Exceptions.” or “La Lucha Obrera No Tiene Fronteras” uplifted at the rally, I was happy to know that many communities were on board and continued to fight. Because once we are done turning the city of Chicago into a sanctuary city with no loopholes,

are we really done?

What’s the next move? It is a long battle because in every other city there are undocumented communities fighting for the same cause, for our liberation, and we should be standing next to them fighting and screaming “No Wall. No Registry. No White Supremacy.”

This ongoing battle that has been supported by a working group: Arab American Action Network, Asian American Advancing Justice- Chicago, Organized Communities Against Deportation, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Right,s the National Immigrant Justice Center, the Southwest Organizing Project, Centro de Trabajadores Unidos – Immigrant Worker Defense Project, the Latino Policy Forum, Mujeres Latinas en Acción, Enlace, the Hana Center, Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America, Chicago Community and Workers’ Rights, the Latino Union of Chicago, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, Communities United, and Black Youth Project 100.

Thank you to these organizations and individuals that been in solidarity with becoming a “Model Sanctuary City.”

15

December

Action Alert: Contact officials to demand protection for Rio Blanco

December 15, 2016 admin Edu. Central America

Para Español:

CRLN is seriously concerned about increasing levels of violent threats against the Lenca indigenous inhabitants of Rio Blanco, who have been resisting the illegal construction of a hydroelectric dam across a river on their lands. This is exactly the type of escalating threats that ended in the murder of Berta Caceres, so it is imperative that we act now. We received a request from the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH) for international voices to add to COPINH’s complaints to the Honduran authorities about the threats and crops destruction and to ask them to act to protect members of the Rio Blanco community.. Apparently, the police have started accompanying armed men with guns responsible for the threats rather than arresting them.

Please email the Human Rights officer at the U.S. Embassy, Jason Smith,

SmithJA6@state.gov,

or call the Embassy at 011 504 2236-9320 and ask to be connected to Jason Smith. Please also call the Honduran Ambassador to the U.S., Jorge Alberto Milla Reyes, 1-202 966-7702. You can use the following script:

“I am very concerned about the increasing frequency of violent threats by men with guns against members of the community of Rio Blanco, Intibuca, including death threats against the children of Francisco Javier Sanchez. Threats of increasing frequency preceded the murder of Berta Caceres, who worked with this community, so the threats must be taken very seriously. The community has identified one individual making threats–Franklin Madrid–and has asked for the authorities to arrest him and any others making threats. Instead, the police have accompanied those making the threats.The U.S. funds training for the Honduran police. If they are abusing their positions as law enforcement, they should not receive U.S. funds. Please call on the Honduran authorities to protect the lives of people in Rio Blanco by arresting and bringing to justice those who are harassing them.”

The COPINH letter follows:

COPINH urgently communicates to the national and international community our serious worry about the defenseless state of the Lenca people in Río Blanco, faced with armed men and constant threats. We insist that the authorities take immediate action to protect the physical wellbeing and lives of COPINH members in Río Blanco, who continue to defend their ancestral territory against the invasion of people linked to the DESA corporation.

In recent months, and especially in the past few weeks, the threats against COPINH members have intensified, especially while they are working on their ancestral lands in Vega del Achiotal and Vega del Culatón, sites where the DESA corporation has invaded Lenca territory to build the Agua Zarca project.

The Madrid family, who is originally from Santa Bárbara, illegally took over Lenca territory and sold part of it to the DESA corporation. Several of these people have been employees of the DESA corporation and have been put to work threatening members of COPINH, including our sister Berta Cáceres. We remind you that one of them threatened that they were going to “set things straight with Berta one way or another” just a few months before her assassination, and they warned us to look out for the consequences.

We denounce that

Franklin Madrid has pointed firearms at COPINH members in Río Blanco and fired into the air close to COPINH members while they worked their ancestral lands.

The frequency of the threats is increasing and the COPINH members are in a state of complete vulnerability against the armed men who are openly threatening and intimidating them. Today, June 21^st,in the morning hours, several armed men once again threatened COPINH members while they were working at Vega del Culaton.

We alert you that one of the armed men threatened to kill at any moment the children of Francisco Javier Sánchez, Coordinator of the Indigenous Council of Río Blanco and member of the General Coordination of COPINH.

COPINH has filed complaints with the authorities regarding the threats and destruction of the corn crops. Nonetheless, to this day, those responsible continue to be free.

Instead of penalizing those who make violent threats, the police have instead accompanied them.

We also denounce the responsibility of the Municipality of Intibucá for having illegally granted land rights on ancestral Lenca territory at the Vega del Achiotal, facilitating the invasion of Lenca territory.

We demand that the authorities take immediate action to secure the life and physical wellbeing of the Lenca people of Río Blanco and to resolve the situations denounced by COPINH.

We call on the national and international community to speak with the Honduran authorities and embassies to demand that they Honduran state take immediate action and prosecute those who are threatening the Lenca people with firearms.

· Oscar Chinchilla, Attorney General – 504-2221-3099

· Julian Pacheco, Secretary of Security – 504-9456-3699

· National Human Rights Commission (CONADEH)

Tegucigalpa: 504-2231-0204,

central@conadeh.hn

Intibucá: 504-2783-0039,

intibuca@conadeh.hn

No more martyrs!

We demand immediate action before it is too late.

Berta lives on, COPINH is still strong!

With the ancestral strength of Berta, Lempira, Mota and Etempica, we raise our voices full of life, justice, dignity, freedom and peace!

From Río Blanco, Intibucá, June 21^st, 2017

15

December

Contacte a Oficiales Para Demandar la Proteccion de Rio Blanco

December 15, 2016 admin Edu. Central America

CRLN está seriamente preocupado por el incremento de amenazas contra los habitantes indígenas Lenca del Río Blanco quienes han resistido la construcción ilegal de una presa hidroeléctrica sobre sus ríos y tierras. Este es el tipo de amenazas que han escalado y acabaron en el asesinato de Berta Cáceres, es imperativo que actuamos ahora. Hemos recibido una solicitud del consulado cívico popular y de las organizaciones indígenas de Honduras (COPINH) quienes piden por el apoyo internacional para dar a conocer sus quejas ante las autoridades hondureñas sobre las amenazas y la destrucción de sus cultivos. También se debe asegurar la protección de los miembros de la comunidad de Río Blanco. Aparentemente, la policía ha estado protegiendo a los hombres armados cuales son responsables de las amenazas en vez de arrestarlos.

Si usted habla español, por favor llame a cualquier autoridad nombrada en la carta de COPINH. Puede utilizar el siguiente guión:

“Yo estoy muy preocupado sobre las frecuentes amenazas hechas por hombres armados contra los miembros de la comunidad de Río Blanco, Intibucá, incluyendo amenazas de muerte contra los hijos de Francisco Javier Sanchez. Amenazas cuya frecuencia llevaron al asesinato de Berta Cáceres, quien trabajaba con esta comunidad, entonces estas amenazas tienen que ser tomadas seriamente. La comunidad ha identificado a uno de los amenazadores- Franklin Madrid- y han pedido que las autoridades lo arresten al igual que a los otros amenazadores. En vez de arrestarlos la policía los está acompañando y protegiendo. Por favor llame a su gobierno para enjuiciar aquellos individuos que han amenazado a miembros de la comunidad de Río Blanco.”

Carta de COPINH:

El COPINH comunica con urgencia a la comunidad nacional e internacional nuestra grave preocupación por el estado de indefensión en que se encuentra el pueblo Lenca de Río Blanco frente a hombres armados y amenazas constantes. Instamos a las autoridades que tomen acción inmediata para salvaguardar la integridad física y la vida de los miembros de COPINH en Río Blanco, quienes siguen defendiendo su territorio ancestral ante la invasión de personas vinculadas con la empresa DESA.

En los últimos meses, y especialmente las últimas semanas se ha intensificado las amenazas en contra de los miembros de COPINH, especialmente mientras trabajan su territorio ancestral en la Vega del Achiotal y la Vega del Culatón, sitios donde la empresa DESA había invadido territorio Lenca para intentar construir el Proyecto “Agua Zarca”.

Miembros de la familia Madrid, quienes son originalmente de Santa Bárbara, ilegalmente acapararon territorio Lenca y vendieron parte de eso a la empresa DESA.

Varios de estas personas han sido empleados de la empresa DESA y se han dedicado a amenazar a miembros de COPINH, incluso a la compañera Berta Cáceres. Recordamos que uno de ellos amenazó que se iban a arreglar las cosas con Berta por las buenas o las malas pocos meses antes de su asesinato y advirtieron de estar atentos a las consecuencias. Denunciamos que

Franklin Madrid ha apuntado armas de fuego a miembros de COPINH en Río Blanco e hizo disparos al aire cerca de miembros de COPINH mientras que trabajan en su territorio ancestral.

La frecuencia de las amenazas va aumentando y los compañeros de COPINH están en un estado completo de vulnerabilidad frente los hombres armados que abiertamente les amenazan y hostigan. El día de hoy, 21 de junio, en horas de la mañana, varios hombres armados amenazaron otra vez a los miembros de COPINH mientras trabajaban en la Vega del Culaton.

Alertamos que uno de los hombres armados amenazó de matar en cualquier momento a los hijos de Francisco Javier Sánchez, Coordinador del Consejo Indígena de Rio Blanco y miembro de la Coordinación General del COPINH.

El COPINH ha presentado denuncias a las autoridades sobre las amenazas y destrucción de los cultivos de maíz,

sin embargo, hasta la fecha los responsables siguen libres.

En vez de sancionar a los que amenazan con violencia, la policía les han acompañado.

Denunciamos de igual manera la responsabilidad de la Municipalidad de Intibucá en otorgar dominios plenos ilegalmente en territorio ancestral Lenca en la Vega del Achiotal, facilitando la invasión de territorio Lenca.

Exigimos a las autoridades que tomen acción inmediata para salvaguardar la vida y integridad física del pueblo Lenca de Río Blanco y resolver las denuncias del COPINH.

Invitamos a la comunidad nacional e internacional a que se comunican con las autoridades hondureñas y sus Embajadas para exigir al estado de Honduras que tomen acción inmediata y proceden contra las personas que están amenazando con armas de fuego al pueblo Lenca.

Fiscal General Oscar Chinchilla

Ministerio Publico

504-2221-3099

Julian Pacheco

Secretario de Seguridad

(504) 9456-3699

Comisionado Nacional de los Derechos Humanos (CONADEH)

intibuca@conadeh.hn

,

central@conadeh.hn

504-2231-0204,

5

04-2783-0039

¡

No queremos más mártires!

Exigimos acción antes de que sea tarde.

¡Berta Vive, COPINH sigue!

¡Con la fuerza ancestral de Berta, Lempira, Mota y Etempica se levantan nuestras voces

llenas de vida, justicia, dignidad, libertad y paz!

Dado en Rio Blanco, Intibucá, a los 21 días del mes de junio 2017

15

December

H.R. 1299 Berta Cáceres Human Rights in Honduras Act

December 15, 2016 admin Edu. Central America

Bill Summary:

This bill prohibits funds from being made available to Honduras for the police or military (including for equipment and training), and directs the Department of the Treasury to instruct U.S. representatives at multilateral development banks to vote against any loans for the police or military of Honduras, until the Department of States certifies that the government of Honduras has:

prosecuted members of the military and police for human rights violations and ensured that such violations have ceased;
established the rule of law and guaranteed a judicial system capable of bringing to justice members of the police and military who have committed human rights abuses;
established that it protects the rights of trade unionists, journalists, human rights defenders, government critics, and civil society activists to operate without interference;
withdrawn the military from domestic policing; and
brought to trial and obtained verdicts against those who ordered and carried out the attack on Felix Molina and the killings of Berta Caceres, Joel Palacios Lino, Elvis Armando Garcia, and over 100 small-farmer activists in the Aguan Valley.

Current co-sponsors:

60 total in U.S.; from IL – Schakowsky, Lipinski, Gutierrez, Rush, Davis, Quigley, Foster

Reasons to Co-sponsor:

The U.S. should not fund security forces that have committed such an alarming number of human rights abuses with a 97% impunity rate.

Some argue that U.S. training for Honduran troops will professionalize them, but there is no evidence of improvement since the 2009 military coup d’etat. Those who planned that coup
are still in power. In fact, there is credible evidence that units of the Honduran military trained by the U.S. are operating as “death squads” and have hit lists of the leaders of various social movements. Berta Cáceres was one casualty.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/28/berta-caceres-honduras-military-intelligence-us-trained-special-forces
The U.S should not entrust funds to an administration as corrupt as that of Juan Orlando Hernández’ in a country with such a weak judicial system.

We cannot have any confidence that funds given to Honduras will be used for their intended purpose. There is rampant institutional corruption in Honduras. High-level officials siphon off money from public institutions for their own gain or for political advantage. The looting of at least $350 million from the social security system by its chief administrator, part of which funded National Party efforts to elect current President Hernández in 2013, is an example.

The Unbearable Solitude of Honduras’ Attorney General

Officials also have been implicated in taking bribes from drug trafficking gangs in exchange for allowing gangs to operate without police interference.

Another Day, Another Damning Testimony of Elites by Honduras Trafficker

3. U.S. funds should not be sent to support military and police forces in a country which appears headed for dictatorship.

Current President Hernández is running for re-election, forbidden by the Honduran Constitution. Last year, he fired 4 Supreme Court justices who challenged the constitutionality of his running for re-election and appointed replacements who would support it. He uses the military in domestic policing, also forbidden by the Constitution, and has formed a Military Police Force in addition to the National Police. This year, the Honduran Congress passed changes to the penal code that threaten free speech and freedom of assembly rights, with stiff criminal penalties, which have citizens worried that they will not be able effectively to publicly oppose government policies.

15

December

A win for social movements in Buenaventura, Colombia!

December 15, 2016 admin Edu. Colombia

[Español aqui]

From May 16 – June 6, 2017, 89 civil societies in the port city of Buenaventura called for an indefinite general strike, demanding the Colombian government provide basic infrastructure (such as sanitation, housing and clean water), public services (such as education and health care), and creation of dignified jobs. Over 80% of the residents in the largely Afro-Colombian population live in economic poverty without these public goods and services, in spite of the fact that Buenaventura is Colombia’s most important international port that generates billions of dollars of revenue. However, neoliberal privatization of the port slashed wages and put profits largely into the hands of private owners, and expansion of the port destroyed the coastal mangroves that were spawning sites for fish, ruining fishing as an occupation. The strike addressed years of government abandonment, lack of investment, and structural racism.

The strike was extremely well organized, disciplined and peaceful, and they used blockades to shut down truck traffic to the port until the government would negotiate in good faith with them. In contrast, instead of negotiating in the beginning, the government sent in the Anti-Riot Unit of the National Police (ESMAD), which on May 19^thused gas, helicopters, stun bombs, tanks, and firearms against a peaceful blockade that included children, pregnant women, youth and elderly people. In subsequent days, ESMAD started firing teargas into residential areas of vulnerable populations who live in wooden houses on stilts, where teargas easily entered and threatened to asphyxiate especially babies and young children.

In a press conference on June 1, human rights defender and member of Proceso de Comunidades Negras (Black Communities Process, or PCN), Danelly Estupiñan asserted “we reject the Colombian State’s military response to an issue that could have been resolved by political means, it’s as if social protest were a crime.”

The Afro-Colombian population stuck to their strike, and the government finally had to negotiate with the strike committee, reaching an agreement on June 6. CRLN Board member Eunice Escobar, who is from Buenaventura, kept CRLN apprised of the situation and reported that the agreement has four important components:

1. The creation of a special autonomous fund with resources that are considered the patrimony of the people in Buenaventura, coming from 50% of business taxes levied on companies profiting from activities related to the port, plus $76 million dollars that the government will raise from credits with international banks, regulated by a law that should be signed in July.

2. An initial investment of COP$1.500 billion to attend to immediate needs in basic infrastructure for water, health and basic sanitation services in rural and urban areas.

3. An integral development plan for the city that includes policies and programs, institutional reform and community participation to make Buenaventura a port for the people and not simply for profit.

4. The proper investigation, prosecution and sentencing of those in the state riot police who used violent tactics to break up a peaceful protest, dropping of charges against protesters who have been criminalized, and ensuring security and protection for the many leaders that guided 22 days of this peaceful, organized and successful strike.

CRLN will keep you posted on how well the Colombian government lives up to its promises. We congratulate the many organizations who insisted that the government fulfill its responsibilities to the people of Buenaventura.

Below is an article on the strike:

https://afrocolombian.org/2017/05/31/peaceful-strikers-are-still-being-a…

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