[Shadow_Group] Fw: HONDURAS: assassination of Iginio Hernandez Vasquez - support needed

[Dean HICKAM]

January 8, 2005

HONDURAS:  Remembering Iginio Hernandez Vasquez, INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY LAND
ACTIVIST MURDERED

On December 31, 2004, Iginio Hernández Vásquez, indigenous community land
activist affiliated with COPINH (Civic Council of Grassroots and Indigenous
Organizations) in the department of La Paz, was murdered.  Rights Action
prepared this urgent action today, two years since Montaña Verde community
activists Marcelino and Leonardo Miranda, also COPINH affiliates struggling
for communal land rights, were tortured and jailed (they are still in jail,
on fraudulent charges).

In solidarity with community activists in Honduras struggling for land and
justice in a context of repression and ongoing impunity, please send your
messages of concern to the authorities listed below.  To support the
humanitarian needs of the surviving family of Iginio Hernandez Vasquez, make
tax-deductible donations to Rights Action (see below).

Please redistribute this information.  If you want on-off this elist:
info at rightsaction.org<mailto:info at rightsaction.org>

===

HONDURAS: Remembering Iginio Hernandez Vasquez

On December 31, 2004, IGINIO HERNANDEZ VASQUEZ was murdered in the
department of La Paz, in southern Honduras.  He was ambushed and fired at by
armed men in the old health center in the community of Planes.  Already
shot, he managed to run away, but soon fell to the ground.  His assailants
soon caught up to him and slit his throat.  There were two witnesses to the
murder, who identified Roberto Vasquez as one of the murderers, who are
suspected to be paid assassins.

Iginio Hernandez was born in the community of Crucitas, municipality of
Santa Maria, La Paz.  He was the Secretary of the Indigenous Communal
Council of Las Olominas, a small Lenca community of some 14 families.  The
group affiliated with the Civic Council of Grassroots and Indigenous
Organizations of Honduras in 1993, the year of its foundation.  Las Olominas
struggled for land rights, recuperating land to cultivate which was later
recognized under the communal land initiative for indigenous communities.

Aside from the danger that faces Iginio's family and the two witnesses,
several other community members - including Martin Garcia, who has
previously been jailed related to the struggle for community land - have
been threatened.

SEND MESSAGES:

- expressing anger about murder of Iginio Hernandez Vasquez and threats
against other Las Olominas community members;
- demanding measures be taken to guarantee the safety of Iginio's family,
witnesses, Martin Garcia and other threatened community members;
- demanding an impartial, complete investigation so that those found
responsible be brought to justice.

CANADIANS:
- Robert Richard, Canadian Ambassador to Honduras, F:(504)239-7767,
E:tglpa at dfait.maeci.gc.ca
- Honduran Embassy in Canada, Ana Carolina Galeano Burgos, 151 Slater
Street, Suite 805-A, Ottawa, KIP-5H3, E: embhonca at embassyhonduras.ca<mailto:embhonca at embassyhonduras.ca>,
T:(613)233-8900, F:(613)232-0193

USA:
- Larry Palmer, US Ambassador to Honduras, t:(504) 236-9320 / 238-5114,
F:(504) 236-9037
- Mario Miguel Canahuati, Honduran Ambassador to US, T:(202) 966-7702,
966-2604, 966-9751, F:(202) 966-9751, E: embassy at hondurasemb.org<mailto:embassy at hondurasemb.org> , 3007
Tilden Street N.W. , Suite  4-M, Washington, D.C. 20008

HONDURAS:
- Honduras mission to the United Nations, T: 212-752-3370, E:hndun.org
- Lic. Ricardo Maduro, President of the Republic, Fax: (504) 221-4552
- Dr. Ramon Custodio Lopez, National Human Rights Commissioner, Fax: (504)
232-6894, Email: custodiolopez at conadeh.hn<mailto:custodiolopez at conadeh.hn>

with copies to COPINH: copinhonduras at yahoo.es<mailto:copinhonduras at yahoo.es>, Tel/Fax: (504) 783-0817

FUNDS FOR HUMANITARIAN NEEDS
To contribute tax-deductible funds for the emergency needs of Iginio's
family, and threatened community members of Las Olominas, make check payable
to "Rights Action" and mail to:

* United States:  1830 Connecticut Av, NW, Washington DC, 20009.
* Canada:  509 St. Clair Ave W, box73527, Toronto ON, M6C-1C0.

On-line donations: USA and Canada: www.rightsaction.org<http://www.rightsaction.org/>.
Wire funds to Rights Action: contact info at rightsaction.org<mailto:info at rightsaction.org>, 416-654-2074.

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