Nov 25 - Dec 2, 2009
Honduras Human Rights Observers Daily Reports
A bi-national delegation of Canadian and US representatives from labour, human rights, and faith-based organizations is in Honduras to conduct human rights accompaniment and observation at the time of the country’s controversial elections on November 29. The bi-national delegation has been co-organized along with the Quixote Centre in the U.S. (that has organized 7 previous delegations since the June 28 military-backed coup). The delegation’s members hope that their presence will mitigate human rights violations by the Honduran military and police, and that they will be able to document any violations that occur. The team is posting regular reports which appear below, with the most recent report on the top. The members of the delegation are listed in the left column.
Daily Report #11 - Scott Marshall
Scott’s second report from San Pedro Sula Nov. 29 Election day
We witnessed some significant events after my initial email this afternoon. Our plan was to visit a few of the polling stations after I first e-mailed you, however when we stepped outside to wait for our transportation we saw people running through the streets again, away from the police. We could see a police helicopter circling in the air. The police followed behind them and stopped about a block away from where we were standing (5 or 6 of us) waiting for our van. They fired 2 tear gas cylinders at us, 1 landing right beside us. We managed to get back into the hotel safely, with some exposure to the tear gas.
After the tear gas dispersed we got back into the van and drove to a police station where we believed they were detaining some protestors from the afternoon march. When we arrived some other human rights advocates had arrived at the station to assist with the release of the detained citizens. We saw a young man (probably 21 years old) being released from the police station. His eyes were swollen shut (he said he was sprayed with tear gas), and his head was bleeding and his shoulder limp.
He told us he had been hit and stomped on by the police when they arrested him at the demonstration. We then drove to another police station where we were told more protesters were being detained, but were advised by police that no one was there. It is difficult to tell whether the police are being truthful or not. We are now back at the hotel and the streets are somewhat quieter. We plan to head back to the capital tomorrow.
Tom is going to email some video of the afternoon events, and we have some pictures as well.
This was a very tense day in the city of San Pedro Sula.
Scott