Stand with Peasants in Honduras

In the past year, over 40 peasants in the Lower Aguan region of Honduras have died because they are refusing to give up their land to giant plantations growing African palm oil to produce agro-fuel. Peasants have been intimidated, injured, and even killed by private security forces employed by the plantations. The situation has further deteriorated with the arrival of 600-1,000 military troops, who received aid and training from the U.S. military.

This is why we need you to take action today by telling U.S. diplomats and Honduran officials to uphold economic, social and cultural rights in the Lower Aguan, including the regulation of private security forces, the demilitarization of the region, and establishment of a permanent office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Honduras to monitor the situation.

Thank you for standing with the peasants in the Lower Aguan today.

Subject:

Your Letter:

(Traduccion al Español abajo)

To:
Mr. U.S. Ambassador Craig Kelly,
Honduran President Porfirio Lobo Sosa,

CC: 
Maria Otero, U.S. Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs; 
Benjamin Gedan, Honduras Desk Officer, U.S. State Department; 
Stephen Moody, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, U.S. State Department; 
Jorge Alberto Rubi, President of the Supreme Court of Honduras; 
Ana Pineda, Minister for Human Rights in Honduras; 
Cesar Pena David Ham, Minister of the National Agrarian Institute; 
Oscar Alvarez, Minister of Security in Honduras;

I am writing to request that you help uphold economic, social and cultural rights in the Lower Aguan region of Honduras. In the past year, over 40 peasants from the Lower Aguan have died because they are refusing to give up the land they have lived on and farmed for decades to giant plantations that are growing mono-crops for the creation of agro-fuels.

These peasants play a crucial role in the food system of Honduras by growing approximately 76 percent of staple foods like beans, rice, corn and other vegetables. Loss of these vital communities will only lead to increased poverty and hunger in Honduras.

Peasants have been intimated, injured, and even killed by private security forces employed by the plantations and the situation has further deteriorated in recent months with the arrival of 600-1,000 military troops (who have received aid and training from the U.S. military). Since the arrival of the troops, two leaders have been murdered: Pedro Delgado, vice president of the Unified Campesino Movement of Aguan (MUCA), and his wife Reina Meija were killed a few days after the murder of Secundino Ruiz Vallecillo, president of the Authentic Vindicator Campesino Movement of Aguan (MARCA).

I ask that you:
1)	Support and encourage the immediate passage of comprehensive agrarian reform that will end the suffering and persecution of peasants, create justice in access to land and other natural resources, and ensure that communities have control over what they grow and access to healthy, nutritious food;
2)	Demand the immediate release of Jose Isabel Morales Lopez of the Peasant Movement of Aguan (MCA) and other peasants and activists being held in connection to the land struggle in the Lower Aguan; 
3)	Regulate private security forces and withdraw immediately all troops from the Lower Aguan;
4)	Investigate and prosecute the murders of peasants and ensure the safety of those working to maintain control of their land; and
5)	Support the creation of a permanent office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Honduras to monitor human rights violations.

Thank you for your time.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
To:
Señor Embajador Craig Kelly,
Señor Presidente Hondureño Porfirio Lobo Sosa,

CC:
Maria Otero, Secretaria Adjunta para Democracia y Asuntos Globales del Gobierno EEUU; 
Benjamin Gedan, Oficial del Bureau para Honduras del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos; 
Stephen Moody, Bureau de Democracia, Derechos Humanos, y Trabajo; 
Jorge Alberto Rubi, Presidente de la Suprema Corte de Honduras; 
Ana Pineda, Ministro de Derechos Humanos del Gobierno Hondureño; 
Cesar Pena David Ham, Ministro del Instituto Nacional Agrario; 
Oscar Alvarez, Ministro de Seguridad del Gobierno de Honduras;

Le escribo para solicitar que protejan los derechos económicos, sociales y culturales de los campesinos y campesinas en la región de Bajo Aguán de Honduras. En el último año, más de 40 campesinos de la Bajo Aguán han muerto porque se niegan a abandonar la tierra que han vivido y cultivado durante décadas a grandes plantaciones que están creciendo los monocultivos para la creación de agro-combustibles.

Estos campesinos juegan un papel crucial en el sistema alimentario de Honduras por el crecimiento de aproximadamente el 76% de los alimentos básicos como frijoles, verduras arroz, maíz y otros. La pérdida de estas comunidades vitales sólo conducirá a una mayor pobreza y el hambre en Honduras.

Los campesinos han sido intimidados, heridos e incluso muertos por las fuerzas de seguridad privada contratados por las plantaciones y la situación se ha deteriorado en los últimos meses con la llegada de las tropas militares 600-1000 (que han recibido la ayuda y la formación de los militares de EE.UU.). Desde la llegada de las tropas, dos líderes han sido asesinados: Pedro Delgado, vicepresidente del Movimiento Unificado Campesino del Aguán (MUCA), y su esposa Reina Mejía fueron asesinados pocos días después de la muerte de Secundino Ruiz Vallecillo, presidente del Movimiento Autentico Reivindicador Campesino del Aguan (MARCA).

Les pido que: 
1)	Apoyen y promuevan la aprobación inmediata de la reforma agraria integral que ponga fin al sufrimiento y la persecución de los campesinos, crear justicia en el acceso a la tierra y otros recursos naturales, y asegurar que las comunidades tienen el control sobre lo que cultivan y el acceso a alimentos sanos y nutritivos;
2)	La inmediata liberación de Jose Isabel Morales Lopez, del Movimento Campesino de Aguan (MCA)  y otros campesinos y activistas detenidos en relación a la lucha por la tierra en el Bajo Aguan; 
3)	Regulen las fuerzas de seguridad privada y demanden la salida inmediata de todas las tropas militares del Bajo Aguán; 
4)	Investiguen los asesinatos de campesinos y garantan la seguridad de las personas que trabajan para mantener el control de sus tierras; y 
5)	Apoyen la instalación de una oficina permanente del Alto Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos en Honduras para vigilar violaciones de los derechos humanos.

Gracias por su tiempo.

Craig Kelly

U.S. Ambassador, Western Office of Hemisphere Affairs

Maria Otero

U.S. Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs

Benjamin Gedan

Honduras Desk Officer, U.S. State Department

Stephen Moody

Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. State Departme

Porfirio Lobo Sosa

President of the Republic of Honduras

Jorge Alberto Rubi

President of the Supreme Court, Honduras

Ana Pineda

Minister for Human Rights in Honduras

Cesar Pena Davod Ham

Minister of National Agrarian Institute, Honduras

Oscar Alvarez

Minister of Security of Honduras

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