[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 71 (Thursday, May 17, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E835]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HUMAN RIGHTS IN HONDURAS

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                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 17, 2012

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my deep concern about 
the steady deterioration of human rights in Honduras since the June 
2009 coup d'etat. In recent months, attacks against journalists; 
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) advocates; 
land rights activists and other vulnerable communities have increased. 
I want to draw particular attention to a few tragic deaths that 
occurred just this month: on May 1st, Santos Alberto Dominguez, a 
member of the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations 
(COPINH), was murdered. On May 8th, Erick Martinez, a well-known LGBTI 
activist, was found dead in a gutter. And on May 9th, Alfredo 
Villatoro--a popular radio show host--was kidnapped on his way to work 
and has not been heard from since.
  These deaths come amidst numerous reports of abuses committed by 
Honduran security forces. And yet the vast majority of these abuses as 
well as Mr. Dominguez and Mr. Martinez's deaths have yet to be 
investigated and prosecuted. I have repeatedly requested that all U.S. 
assistance to Honduran police and military forces be suspended as long 
as Honduran authorities fail to investigate and prosecute these abuses. 
It is a travesty that U.S. taxpayers dollars are bolstering abusive 
security forces.
  But while the situation in Honduras continues to deteriorate, I am 
encouraged by the important work of Honduran human rights 
organizations. These groups are on the frontlines of justice, 
documenting human rights abuses and offering the support and legal 
representation that the Honduran state fails to provide. Yet these 
organizations are receiving threats of sexual violence--particularly 
targeted at female human rights workers--and death threats without any 
form of effective protection from the Honduran authorities. There has 
also been a troubling escalation of threats against international human 
rights accompaniers. All of these threats must be immediately 
investigated, and the individuals and groups that are behind them must 
be brought to justice.
  Mr. Speaker, I will continue to support human rights in Honduras. The 
people of Honduras deserve their rights. They deserve their freedoms. 
And they deserve peace. They have suffered too much. Justice cannot 
wait a moment longer.

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