Teachers killed in violent repression in Honduras

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Education International

2009-08-04
Teachers killed in violent repression in Honduras
Escalating violence in Honduras against those protesting the military coup of 28 June has left two teachers dead: Roger Abraham Vallejo and Martín Florencio Rivera.

Education International condemns the increasingly violent response of the de facto government and its infringement of civil liberties, while calling again for a restoration of democratic order. Since 28 June, teacher unions in Honduras have been voicing for a return to democratic governance.

Reports from EI’s member organisations in the country, who together form the Federation of Teacher Organisations of Honduras (FOMH) and represent 52,000 teachers, outlines the details of ongoing repression by the army and the police.

Primary school teacher Roger Abraham Vallejo, a 38-year-old member of the union COPEMH, was shot in the head on 30 July during a demonstration. Another teacher, also member of the COPEMH, Martín Florencio Rivera, died after being stabbed 27 times when he left Vallejo’s wake. Saturnino Sanchez, president of another EI member organisation in the country, COLPROSUMAH, was severely beaten.

Rosario Avila, co-ordinator of the FOHM National Committee for Prevention of HIV and AIDS in Honduras, denounced the recent surge in violence:

“The repression is increasing. They have suppressed constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression, and freedom of movement.”



Read more: http://www.ei-ie.org/en/news/show.php?id=1079&theme=rights&country=honduras

[fascisthunter]

1. where is the anti-dictator crowd

oh that's right, they only use to the term to marginalize leftists.

[bemildred]

2. "Free speech" is only good when the speakers agree with you.

If someone you don't like takes back your broadcast spectrum, that is a violation of your human rights and a restriction of your "free speech". If someone you approve of kills protestors and threatens the press and broadcast stations with jail and fines, that's just "restoring order".

[formercia]

3. Death Squads are how Reactionaries take care of social issues.

Political Dinosaurs.

[IndianaGreen]

4. DU's coup defenders will get a hard on just thinking about death squads

That's the only thing their ilk has brought to Latin America: death, destruction, and exploitation.