Honduras: cambriolage des bureaux du COFADEH et intimidation et surveillance de Bertha Oliva, Coordinatrice du COFADEH

Your Excellency,

I am deeply concerned following reports that the premises of the Committee of Families of Disappeared-Detainees in Honduras (Comité de Familiares Detenidos-Desaparecidos de Honduras – COFADEH) have been broken into on two occasions and that Bertha Oliva de Nativí, General Coordinator of COFADEH has been followed. COFADEH is a non-governmental organisation which works in defence of the rights of the disappeared and prisoners and also on the issue of land rights in Honduras.

On the night of 3 July 2008, unknown individuals entered the offices of COFADEH and proceeded to vandalise the office, empty filing-cabinets and urinate in one of the corridors. The burglars then took two laptop computers, two video-cameras, three cameras and three USB devices, all of which contained information related to the work of the organisation. The break-in was reported to the police, who reportedly arrived at the scene five hours later to begin preliminary investigations.

On 5 August 2008, unknown individuals again entered the offices of COFADEH at night. On that occasion, they removed sensitive information concerning cases which COFADEH brings before the national judicial system as well as the Inter-American human rights system. They also took information from the General Coordination and Legal Assistance computers, as well as two valuable sculptures. The police reportedly arrived to begin the investigation six hours after the break-in was first reported.

On the night of 6 July 2008, unknown individuals driving a green Toyota pick-up followed the vehicle in which Bertha Oliva and her daughter were travelling home. When Ms Oliva's car approached the car-park of the housing development where they live, the vehicle following them pulled back upon seeing the car-park security guard. Before leaving, the vehicle briefly stopped half a block away, in what was believed to be an effort to ensure that Bertha Oliva had seen them.

I believe that the break-ins at the offices of COFADEH and the intimidation and surveillance of Bertha Oliva form part of an attempt to intimidate the members of COFADEH and curtail the work of the organisation. In view of these incidents, I express my serious concern for the physical and psychological integrity of all those affiliated with COFADEH and their families.

I urge the authorities in Honduras to:

1. Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the break-ins at the COFADEH offices and the following of Bertha Oliva, with the aim of bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;

2. Adopt the measures necessary to guarantee the security of Bertha Oliva and all members of COFADEH;

3. Ensure that all human rights defenders in Honduras, carrying out their legitimate work in defence of human rights, are able to operate free of restrictions, without fear of threats, intimidation and reprisals.

I respectfully remind you that the United Nations Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by consensus by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998, recognises the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders, their right to freedom of association and to carry out their activities without fear of reprisals.

I would particularly draw attention to Article 6 (b and c): “Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others: (b) As provided for in human rights and other applicable international instruments, freely to publish, impart or disseminate to others views, information and knowledge on all human rights and fundamental freedoms; (c) To study, discuss, form and hold opinions on the observance, both in law and in practice, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and, through these and other appropriate means, to draw public attention to those matters”, and to Article 12 (1 and 2): “(1) Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to participate in peaceful activities against violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms. (2) The State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration.”

Yours sincerely,