On July 25th, 2013, French citizen Orlane Vidal and Swiss
citizen Daniel Langmeier, both international human rights accompaniers
with the Honduran International Accompaniment Project (PROAH), were
kidnapped and threatened for two and a half hours by armed guards of the mining operations of Minerales Victoria, in the community of Nueva Esperanza, Atlántida Department, Honduras. Vidal
and Langmeier had met the previous day with members of Nueva Esperanza
to discuss protection issues and international accompaniment for the
community, which has been protesting Minerales Victoria's operations
in the community. Armed men had been present in Nueva Esperanza for
nearly two months prior to this kidnapping, terrorizing the community
for resisting the mining activities. There has been no response from
Honduran authorities and U.S. diplomatic officials, and armed men
continue to be present in the community.
Next week, a 30th anniversary WFP delegation will travel to
Honduras to accompany human rights defenders in various areas of the
country. Delegates will document threats and violence against human
rights defenders by U.S.-funded state security forces. Accompaniment of human rights defenders is a major part of WFP's work in Honduras. Tell
the U.S. Embassy in Honduras and the State Department that they must be
vocal in support of human rights accompaniers in Honduras, and take
steps to ensure that the work of accompaniers is not undermined. If
the U.S. government consistently and substantively expresses support
for human rights, accompaniment has a better chance of being effective.
Thank you for standing up for human rights accompaniment in Honduras!
In solidarity,
The Witness for Peace Honduras/Nicaragua Team and Walker Grooms, National Grassroots Organizer
--
Estimad@ Arnulfo,
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