Héctor Soto

Human rights defender Mr Héctor Soto has been subject to threats and intimidation as a result of his work as Director of the Grupo Sociedad Civil – GSC (Civil Society Group).

Further Information

GSC is a non-political organisation that works to foster citizen participation in civil society, strengthen democracy and poverty reduction.

On 27 July 2010, at approximately 8.00 am, Héctor Soto received a call on his mobile phone, during which an unknown male voice said, “mira hijueputa te vamos a volar la cabeza ahí donde estas” (“look you son of a bitch, we're going to blow your head off there where you are”). When Héctor Soto did not respond, the caller appeared to get more irate and said “me estás oyendo” (“you're listening to me”). He continued with further insults and derogatory language. At that same time, an unknown person was observed talking on a mobile phone in the building where Héctor Soto lives.

Later the same day, Héctor Soto was involved in organising a workshop with youth groups about administrative procedures when an unidentified person tried to enter the building while posing as a water vendor. That night, two further incidents were reported: an unknown person of military appearance was noted watching the GSC offices, while another person reportedly entered Héctor Soto's apartment building and was noted near his front door.

Throughout the first week of August, a green Toyota RAV vehicle and a coffee-coloured Honda minivan, both with tinted windows and without licence plates, were parked in front of GSC's offices and were thought to be observing it. It has been reported that in recent months, a pattern has developed in Honduras of illegal investigations being carried out into the work of human rights organisations through audio surveillance carried out by cars parked near offices using listening devices.

Héctor Soto and GSC had been reporting incidences of harassment and intimidation for months prior to these recent threats. During the months of July and August 2010, the electronic network in GSC's offices has been sabotaged, affecting the organisation's communications and external work. The organisation's mobile phones have been interfered with on a regular basis. Prior to the elections in November 2009, Héctor Soto was often followed, he noted interference with his phones and electronic information stored on his mobile phone was stolen. On one occasion, unknown men wearing police uniforms, driving an unlicenced vehicle, took photographs of Héctor Soto and his home residence.

Front Line believes that the threats against, and intimidation of, Héctor Soto are directly related to his work in the defence of human rights. Front Line is concerned that this seems to form an ongoing pattern of harassment of human rights defenders in Honduras, particularly of youth activists who are reporting frequent death threats, attempted kidnappings, intimidating text messages and derogatory graffiti, as well as surveillance and interception of communications. Front Line is concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Héctor Soto, and of all those working with GSC.