HONDURAN CONGRESS ACTS TO LIMIT FUNCTIONS OF NATIONAL COMMISSIONER FOR
HUMAN RIGHTS DR. LEO VALLADARES
Shortly before midnight on April 20, 1999 the Honduran Congress voted to
"reform"' the statute (Ley Organica) governing the National Commissioner
for Human Rights (Ombudsman) in that country. Only 62 of 128 deputies were
present. There was not a quorum. The changes: (1) take away the
Ombudsman's ability to investigate illegitimate, negligent, abusive or
discriminatory actions by public officials in administrative posts or
private entities that provide public services; and (2) reduce the term of
service of the Ombudsman from six to four years.
Since a quorum was not present during the vote on the reforms, they must be
"ratified" by the Honduran Congress. It appears that the ratification vote
will occur on Tuesday, April 27.
Several groups from Honduran civil society have issued statements
denouncing this action by the Congress. Several hundred Hondurans
demonstrated last night outside of the Honduran Congress to protest the vote.
These reforms are a direct response to a preliminary report published by
the current Commissioner Dr. Leo Valladares about the management of
international aid received by the Honduran government in the aftermath of
Hurricane Mitch. This report was issued on March 16, 1999. It outlined 17
cases of abuses in general terms and made recommendations for improvements
in the management of aid. The Commissioner later forwarded information on
to Special Prosecutor for the Struggle against Corruption in the Honduran
Attorney General's office about six cases where he believed that criminal
wrong-doing had occurred. Instead of seeing this report as a significant
step toward transparency and accountability, the Honduran government and
the press have strongly criticized Valladares for having "discredited" and
"tarnished" the image of the nation.
On March 25, 1999 Honduran President Carlos Flores personally authored an
editorial in La Tribuna, the newspaper that he owns. Flores indicated that
there is a new kind of "criminal" which has emerged in Honduras, and
specifically mentioned the National Commissioner for Human Rights.
I urge you to cover this story. I have the following background
information in Spanish available by email or fax upon request by email or
fax. I can be reached by telephone at 202-994-7213 or email:
ester@igc.apc.org
* 22 April 1999 Amnesty International Press Release;
* 22 April 1999 La Prensa article about Public Ministry position on statute
reform;
* 21 April 1999 letter from Leo Valladares to colleagues and friends;
* 21 April 1999 Honduran press clips on vote in the Congress;
* 21 April 1999 Pronouncement by Central American Civil Society groups;
* 21 April 1999 Declaration by Foro Ciudadano, a coalition of Honduran
civil society groups;
* 21 April 1999 Press Release from COFADEH (Committee of Families of the
Disappeared/Detained of Honduras);
* 21 April 1999 Statement by Visitacion Padilla;
* 15 April 1999 El Tiempo article on resignation of Special Prosecutors for
Human Rights and for the Struggle against Corruption;
* 25 March 1999 La Tribuna Editorial by Carlos Flores;
* 16 March 1999 Ombudsman's Report on management of international aid.
Dr. Leo Valladares can be contacted for interview at: conadeh5@hondutel.hn
or leval@conadeh.hn or at tel. 011-504-221-0520/24, fax. 011-504-221-0536.
The First Lady of Honduras, Mary Flake de Flores, is in Washington, DC for
the next couple days. The Honduran Embassy, Acting Ambassador Benjamin
Zapata (tel. 202-996-4596) and Honduran Ambassador to the OAS, Laura Nunez
(tel. 202-362-9656) should be aware of her schedule.
The President of the Honduran National Congress is Professor Rafael Pineda
Ponce, fax. 504-220-6662.
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H. B. (Keo) Cavalcanti
Sociology & Anthropology
University of Richmond, VA 23173
hcavalca@richmond.edu
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