Sunday, March 2, 2014

STATEMENT BY THE LENCA COMMUNITIES, on Feb 15th day of action



We and Us, Lenca, seeds of this SACRED MOUNTAINS Opalaca Puca, managers ancient, proud and proud histories composturas celebrate Mother Earth and the spirits, Guancascos, recovery of live land; gathered and gathered and n Monte Verde, San Francisco Opalaca today February 15, 2014, we have undertaken various struggles in order to achieve a decent life with respect for the State of Honduras and societies in general, where our former and future world views is understood that are ways and ways of life to humanity confronting the anti-human capitalism, anti-ecological, unethical, racist and patriarchal; Proposed Pueblo Lenca continue giving fundamental contributions to the development from our own visions and NOT from the trickster concept of tax; WE HAVE CREATED AND FOUNDED IN 1994 THIS HISTORIC TOWN OF OUR PRODUCT SWEAT OF INDIAN PILGRIMAGE AND BASE HAVE ACHIEVE THE CONVENTION 169, SCREENED OUR TERRITORIES AND SECURITIES COMMUNITY, LIFE PROJECTS, GOODS DEMOCRATIzATION NATURE AND DECLARE THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AS FOLLOWS:

That nothing we have obtained gift, we do not want or have asked crumbs, nor hurt, nor charity, we are actors and actresses and actors of this community and indigenous construction, and within it we have been working to achieve better living standards to the historical marginalization, to achieve democracy, transparency, exercise the power of choice directly and options for the management and control of our town and territories.

That before domination, racism and oppression, we remain a people in Rebellion as historically taught our ancestors and ancestras.


We have established as Mayor Legitima, which he has been sworn by sacred and historic mandate of our elders, legitimate authority of the Lenca Pueblo, this legitimizes Mayor shall not prejudice any other ancestral structure and rather we complement assuming everyone their special functions while we integrate, respecting our highest authority is the Lenca people and their communities.

That he bet on the Construction of indigenous autonomy based on Convention 169 and the UN Declaration on Indigenous Peoples, in defense of our lands, territories and culture through the reaffirmation, revitalization, guarding as gatekeepers and guardians of our goods common.

We demand respect for the rights and sovereign mandate to elect and depose our own authorities.

We condemn the electoral fraud perpetrated and pledge to continue fighting for the respect for political decisions of this village, not partisan political, sectarian or authoritarian power.We reject the imposition of Socorro Sanchez Manuels as Lord Mayor.

From our Lenca that tradition, older and elderly are ancestral Authorities are our guides, our educators who guide us, give us strength, are our historical memory, wisdom, deep knowledge keepers, therefore we are committed to strengthening this way of life, we ask forgiveness for the faults our older lineages. Advice strengthen our Elders and our Elders and Assistant Mayor Rod Alta.

That this county, his life, achievements and proud history can not ignore the presence, belligerence, the historical contribution, strength, voice, thought and rebellion of the Lenca women, and as a priority we decided to build and strengthen a culture that will mean dismantling the patriarchy that violence and oppression against women and to men themselves, building equity, equality and say life for women. 
The legitimate authorities, we are responsible in the actions that we develop have the obligation to respect the people of Opalaca also operate with transparency, fairness, and ensuring the equitable distribution of resources, community property, democratization and the performance of the audit social and comprehensive.

What Our Community Titles, in the domain protected by the Convention 169 are sacred, we will protect and defend to the end, and that in our territories and we decided we. Reject projects that threaten our goods of nature, such as privatization of rivers, forests through REDD projects or forestry, mining, hydroelectric development for the powerful and usurpers of this country. 
We assume from a collective effort by all involved structures and Lenca communities in working to improve living conditions in the areas of housing, health and culturally appropriate public education, transportation, infrastructure, roads, food sovereignty, agroecology, mutual care militarization in communities without taking into account the specific conditions of women, youth and children. 
On energy is a human right, which should be a public good, based on the real needs and priorities of human beings and not an item to be placed in the hands of the exploiters and thieves who privatized the same, only to usury and concentrate power and wealth. Enter into the discussion of forms of alternative, green energy, and low public and indigenous control without harming our land, biodiversity, culture and lives.

We commit to strengthen and develop our processes asamblearios Indigenous and other spaces necessary for the exercise of decision-making and make feel our voices.

We are from Mother Earth and these sacred as Gualcarque, the Exchange, the Zarco, Pacayal and Black rivers, we live with our spirits and nahuales, sacred forests and living land, we are community, hope, solidarity, historical resistance, we are spirituality and culture alive, are worthy men and women, are the great past and we lifted and the future of humanity, paid with blood and decolonizing LEMPIRA heroics, Lord de la Sierra. We are Pueblo Lenca. 
CALL TO THE COMMUNITIES OF SAN FRANCISCO Opalaca: 
A Unit and fight for life, to resist various threats, we do grow to solidarity and hope in all times.

To organize, reorganize and strengthen Lencas structures at all levels: Council of Elders and Elders, AUXILIARY of Vara Alta, Indigenous Councils, Boards and others.

To contribute to support this process and operation undertaken the Legitima Hall, which will feature their own spaces and proposed Indian Government and its mechanisms, along with other structures and municipal authorities Lencas, installing them today in their own council functions and councilors.

The construction of the Indian Power from below, with wisdom, always remembering who we are, where we come from, where we go, because we are here while we desenyugándonos of greed, lust for power which subjects and deforms the dignity of human.

BEFORE THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT 
DECLARE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE OUR FIGHT MILENARIA. 
We demand respect and recognize this legitimizes Mayor. We remind you, we did not ask our permission to further legitimacy and legality, because those have them for centuries, is in force and is sacred, that is given by the Lenca people. 
We reiterate our call for an administrative audit of assets and resources, legal and integral to the outgoing municipal administration, that it is transparent, impartial, without dirty hands of politicians and run without manipulation.

A BLACK AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, THE SOCIAL MOVEMENT, PEOPLE, HUMAN RIGHTS AND MEDIA: 
We call for solidarity, to be dynamic accompanying this process is all the Honduran town, to be observant of the human rights situation in our town, to fight for justice, dignity, sovereignty and freedom. 
We salute each and everyone for their presence and participation, we deeply appreciate all forms of struggle and solidarity. 

Viva el Pueblo Lenca! Viva la Resistance Historic San Francisco Opalaca! Live the dignity of all Indigenous Peoples! Long live solidarity! 

For our autonomy, culture, democratization and the Rights of the Lenca People of Opalaca!

We remain ready to fight! 
Given in Monte Verde, at 15 days of February 2014.

Charges against Bertha have been dismissed

Civic Council of popular and indigenous organizations of Honduras COPINH announced Feb 10th, that Bertha Carceres's charges have been dismissed! 





Consejo Cívico de Organizaciones Populares e Indígenas de Honduras  COPINH
Bo. Las Delicias, Intibucá, Intibucá; copinh@copinh.orgcopinhonduras.blogspot.com
Tel. (504) 2783-0817http://copinh.orgFB: Copinh Intibucá; twitter: @copinhhonduras

¡Victoria para la  lucha del COPINH, la tenacidad y la solidaridad! ¡Dictan Sobreseimiento Definitivo a Bertha Cáceres  en el caso que se ventilaba en el  Juzgado Primero de Letras de Santa Barbará!

Mediante acuerdo conciliatorio, que fue homologado por el Juzgado Primero de Letras el día de hoy, se ha logrado el  Sobreseimiento Definitivo en el caso que se le imputaba desde el 24 de mayo del 2013 contra  la compañera Bertha Cáceres, por el supuesto delito de “Posesión Ilegal de Armas de Fuego en Perjuicio de la Seguridad Interior del Estado de Honduras”, por consiguiente queda extinguida la acción penal y revocada las medidas cautelares que consistían en que la Coordinadora General del COPINH estaba obligada a firmar control cada semana en el Juzgado de Paz de la Esperanza y prohibición de salir del país. 

El Estado de Honduras ha reconocido su error, ha depuesto su persecución judicial  en este caso, acepta, incluso, el respeto que merece la labor de defensa de los derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas que desarrolla la compañera y el COPINH mismo, y la obligación del Estado de Honduras en respetar los tratados internacionales que protegen esa actividad y el derecho a la cultura y defensa de los territorios Indígenas. Fue muy contundente cuando la compañera Bertha, expresa en esa acta y acuerdo, que siendo que no se vulnera su estado de inocencia acepta la misma, sin perder dignidad y coherencia, y claro es que esa decisión de las partes acusadoras y de ese Juzgado ha sido producto de todo un proceso de lucha política y jurídica nacional e internacional.

Sin duda, la esperanza y la  tenacidad de la lucha de las comunidades del COPINH, de la compañera y la solidaridad  militante a nivel nacional e internacional han hecho posible que esta fuerza se extendiera en el escenario de las batallas  judiciales que ha sido  acompañado y librada en este caso  por los compañeros Abogados Víctor Fernández, Marcelino Martínez  y Fredyn Fúnez, con un equipo solidario muy amplio.

Recordamos que aun esta pendiente el proceso judicial impuesto por la empresa DESA/Ministerio Publico  contra la compañera Bertha Cáceres,  Aureliano Molina y Tomas Gómez Membreño,  por los supuestos delitos de coacción, usurpación y daños continuados, mismo  que continuará mediante recurso de amparo, luego de que la Corte de Apelaciones de Comayagua dictara la Revocatoria de la resolución impuesta por el Juzgado Primero de Letras de Intibucá consistente en medidas sustitutivas contra Aureliano Molina y Tomas Gómez y orden de prisión contra la Coordinadora General del COPINH.

Dado en la Esperanza, Intibucá, a los 10 días del mes de febrero del 2014.
        
(Anexamos audio de entrevista realizada por Radio Actualidad a Bertha Cáceres, Víctor Fernández y Aureliano Molina, el día de hoy al medio día en Santa Barbará)

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

UPDATE on Honduran Elections, more repression and corruption



With the recent fraudulent elections and the continued repression of Honduran People, the Rio Blanco Lenca Community continue to live in danger of violence, and the theft of their land/resources.
Please visit TAKE ACTION pages to the right to email and contact your reps. if you live in the USA or to donate to COPINH a Liberation and Justice Organization in Honduras working directly with the Rio Blanco Community and other indigenous groups in Honduras.



Please visit links below for more in depth information


SOA watch:
http://upsidedownworld.org/main/news-briefs-archives-68/4582-soa-watch-2013-honduran-presidential-elections-analysis

Popular resistance:
http://www.popularresistance.org/photo-essay-why-the-world-should-care-about-honduras-recent-election/

AlJazeera, overlook on repression in Honduras:
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/11/voting-against-violence-honduras-20131122101058553770.html

Friday, September 20, 2013

ALERT: COPINH member, Berta Caceres sentenced to prison to await trial






As of 11am Friday Sep 20th, Judge Reyes Lissien Knight Lisseth ordered Berta be sent to prison while she awaits trial.  Berta must present herself, or an arrest warrant will be issued. Please read below for details.
It is imperative we keep raising our voices!

Look at "take action" pages to the right to support Berta Caceres who puts her freedom and life on the line everyday, to defend others.
To read Berta's declaration, please look at  "Berta's Declaration" to the right

The judge's resolution of last week's initial hearing against Berta Caceres, Tomas Gomez, and Aureliano Molina for the charges of coercion, usurpation, and damages of over $3 million, was issued today and includes the following:

- That the charges against Berta, Tomas, and Aureliano by hydroelectric dam company DESA and the Honduran state have merit and the case will proceed to trial.  It is notable that the judge resolved basically everything exactly as DESA and the Fiscal (goverment prosecutors) asked for.  Given that there was no real evidence presented nor logic to the charges, it could not be more clear that the justice system is completely serving the economic interests of corporations.


The judge dictated prison for Berta Caceres and alternative measures to imprisonment for Tomas and Aureliano while the case proceeds to trial.  For Tomas and Aureliano, the alternative measures include having to present themselves to sign in every 15 days, a prohibition to going to the supposed "scene of the crime," and their lawyer is responsible for them and has to give reports to ensure they will be present for the trial.  Part of the legal rationale for dictating prison for Berta is that she already has alternative measures to imprisonment for the fabricated gun charges when she was detained by 15-20 soldiers waiting for her on an isolated road en route to Rio Blanco on May 24th.  Those charges were dismissed by a judge for lack of evidence but then re-instated in a totally sketchy situation by an Appeals court, in part perhaps to contribute to this outcome, as that case has not advanced recently.

- Berta can present herself to go to jail or if she doesn't, an arrest warrant will be issued for her and she will presumably then be captured and taken to jail.  She was not at the courthouse today (nor did she need to be as today was for the lawyers to pick up the resolution of last week's initial hearing) so is not yet in jail at the moment, but all things indicate that she will be very, very soon and could be for quite a long time as the case drags out.

- The judge ordered an eviction of the action in Rio Blanco.  However, something important to note about this is that according to the lawyers, this eviction can't be carried out until the resolution is "firm," which can't happen until their appeal is resolved.  So technically, the police and military can't use this resolution as an eviction order right now, or if they do so, that is illegal.  This is important because the police occupation of Rio Blanco continues to intensify.  They are trying to build a police station and the police routinely now search people as they come into town on the bus.  The military is also still there.

- The police were armed with riot gear, including shields, helmits, batons, guns, etc, both outside and even inside the courthouse today.  There was a peaceful protest outside with people from many different Honduran social movement organizations demanding an end to the criminalization of COPINH and the struggle in Rio Blanco.

- Before today's resolution was even officially issued, there were reliable indications that the company (DESA) already knew the outcome of it, indicating just how partialized the case and the judicial system is.  

Monday, September 16, 2013

SOLIDARITY ACTION FOR COPINH THURSDAY SEP 19th and EASY ONLINE PETITION

There will be an action this Thursday Sep 19th in solidarity with COPINH members Berta Cáceres, Aureliano Molina and Tomas Gómez who face another trial day on Friday Sep 20th (action info below). The government and private prosecutors are asking Berta Caceres to be imprisoned and that Tomas Gomez and Aureliano Molina be given substitutive measures to imprisonment, including prohibited access to Rio Blanco and routine check-ins at the court house. If charged the community of Rio Blanco will be left more vulnerable, silenced and invisible. 
Please sign the online petition below, quick and easy. 

How you can help:
-contact leilafli@yahoo.com if you would like to help organize for the San Francisco action on Thurs Sep 19th or if you would like to organize an action in your area (very important!). 
-send this story to the press or write an article yourself 
-promote solidarity day, blogspot and online petition

ONLINE PETITION LINK:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/SUPPORT_INDIGENOUS_DEFENSE_OF_LANDS_AND_RIVERS_IN_HONDURAS_END_LEGAL_PERSECUTION_OF_LENCA_LEADERS/?copy


San Francisco Action:
Date: Thurs, September 19th In coordination with trial date for COPINH members on Friday Sep 20th
Time: 12pm-2p
Location: Honduras Consulate
870 Market St #875, San Francisco, CA 94102
Make signs, bring statements and sign the petition to Judge Reyes Lissien Knight Lisseth and President Porfirio Lobo!







Sunday, September 15, 2013

NEW NEWS on trial. More pressure from the International community is NEEDED NOW!



The results of last Thursday and Friday’s hearing against Tomás Gomez, Berta Cáceres, and Aureliano Molina, and related developments, are:
·  No decision has been given as of yet. The judge will render her verdict after the third hearing, which will be held Friday, Sept. 20 at 3:00 PM (mountain time). Please note that there are four total charges against the three, not all of which are being heard at this time;
·  The government is requesting that Tomás, Berta, and Aureliano be imprisoned;
·  Meanwhile, the police presence in the north of the department of Intibucá, including the village of Rio Blanco, has increased. So have government threats and harassment of those resisting invasion of their lands;
·  Another COPINH member was arrested last week on charges of being a danger to the well-being of the nation;
·  More international pressure will be required from all of us. Please stay tunned for actions in your area, and ways you can voice your opinion and defend COPINH and Rio Blanco

See COPINH’s declaration below





Consejo Cívico de Organizaciones Populares e Indígenas de Honduras  COPINH.
Bo. Las Delicias, Int., Int.; copinh@copinh.orgcopinhonduras.blogspot.com Tel. (504) 2783-0817http://copinh.orgFB: Copinh Intibucá; twitter: @copinhhonduras
 Decolonization, rivers and emancipation versus racism, arrogance and capitalism.
Communique on the Initial Hearing
Yesterday, after an intense campaign of struggle from the court houses of Intibuca against the criminalization of COPINH, we communicate the following:
1.- Once again it was clearly demonstrated that the intent of the DESA corporation and the Public Ministry of Intibucá,  in obedience to this corporation with its empty and manipulative accusations,  is a posture of economic power that seeks to criminalize the historical cause of COPINH and the Lenca People.   The demonstration of racism and belittlement of the Lenca People was a false witness of accusations full of lies, contradictions and even absurdity.   What was even more clear was the aggression, interventionism and abuse on the part of the institutions of the State against the Lenca People in general.
2.- The witnesses and defense lawyers, headed by the compañero Víctor Fernández,  played a fundamental role, making a declaration of defense that was conscious, bold, firm and demonstrated that the indigenous people of Río Blanco are in struggle, with their conviction of their legitimacy as a First People, defending their collective and individual Rights, and that there is no basis for the accusations against our compañeros for their deeds. 
3.- The Public Ministry and the private accusers, at the moment of presenting their petitions to the First Court of Letters, asked for a sentence of prison with substitute measures for Aureliano Molina and Tomas Gómez, which would consist of a prohibition of being present in the “scene of the crime”, to present themselves to the Justice every 15 days, and that the defense lawyer would be responsible for the behavior of both compañeros; in the case of  Berta Cáceres, General Coordinator of COPINH, the accusers asked for prison. 
4.-  The female Judge in the case, the lawyer Lissien Lisseth Knight Reyes, DID NOT make a judgment yesterday, putting the date for a subsequent hearing to take place next Friday September 20, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. with the First Court of Letters of Intibucá.
5.-  The company threatens to present more accusations against the three defendants, and also against Other members of the Indigenous Council, the Council of Elders, and the Neighborhood Council (Patronato) of Tejera in Río Blanco.
6.  In the meanwhile, more police forces have been deployed and more militarization and harassment in the communities to the north of Intibucá, including in Rio Blanco.  All this is a result of the signature of an Act of Government, the company, and indigenous and council imposters, with the participation of SEDINAFROH, and President Porfirio Lobo Sosa. 
7.-  We alert the communities organized by COPINH, to the social movements, to the Honduran resistance, to the progressive political and social forces, to those we call you to the cause of the defense of the goods of nature; to international solidarity and human rights organizations,  that what the accusers are proposing and pushing for is the violent eviction (of the blockade) in Rio Blanco, using the repressive forces of the State, an unacceptable and shameful threat, to evict the Lenca People who cannot be removed from their own territory, occupied for thousands of years, and thereby criminalizing their just and noble struggle even more. 
8.- We call for struggle and acts of strong solidarity among all those who undertake actions in the face of the Honduran government.  We ratify that COPINH, despite all the circumstances of attack and criminalization, will continue the development of this process of defense of the territories, the culture, the spirituality and the common goods of nature, of the Lenca People and for dignity. 
The Rivers are Not for Sale:  They are to Protect and Defend!
With the ancestral strength of Icelaca, Lempira, Mota and Etempica we raise our voices full of life, freedom, dignity and peace! 
 NO MORE CRIMINALIZATION OF COPINH’S STRUGGLE!

(Translation by Stephen Bartlett)
XXXXX
 La Esperanza, Intibucá,  September 14, 2013


Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Solidarity Action in SF Tues Sep, 10th was powerful and effective!

Thank you to all who came, made calls, and got involved. History is not decided for us, we make it! You are one more person fighting for justice and equality, changing the path that would otherwise be chosen for all us, by the few. You are brave and powerful.  Please stayed tuned for the full coverage of all US actions.




As the fight continues please tell others about Rio Blanco, write an article,  visit the pages to the right that say "Take Action," or email leilafli@yahoo.com to organize for an event or to get involved in outreach




Link to video of SF action, with thanks to Geoffrey D Harris
http://youtu.be/OVVPCvnXi10