Take Action Online | Amnesty International USA

Online Action Center

Help end repression and violence in Honduras

Beatings and mass arrests are being used by the de facto government of Honduras as a way of punishing people for voicing their opposition to the military-backed coup d'etat in June. Scores of interviews by an Amnesty International delegation on the ground told the same story of beatings and mass arrests by the police, of media workers and human rights defenders being targeted and female protesters suffering gender based violence. Read the full report

Urge Secretary Clinton to push for the restoration of democracy in Honduras and for accountability for the abuses committed by the de facto government.

Take Action

Message Recipients

Hillary Rodham Clinton (Democrat)

Review the Message

Please help us increase the pressure by forwarding this link to your friends: http://bit.ly/Qwaw7

Subject:*

Dear (recipient name),

Thank you for your efforts to push for human rights in Honduras. I am deeply concerned that the forced removal of President Manuel Zelaya from office and from the country by the military has unleashed widespread unrest and a deepening human rights crisis. Your recent decision to halt additional military assistance is an important step in sending a signal that the crackdown in Honduras must end. But more has to be done.

In your upcoming meetings with President Manuel Zelaya and other officials, I urge you to follow through on the following points:

• Make a concerted effort to prevent the human rights crisis from deteriorating any further. Efforts to seek a peaceful solution to this crisis should be intensified as Honduran citizens are suffering every day

• Demand accountability for the abuses committed by the de facto government, including the death of two peaceful protesters

• Push for El pacto de San José, initiated by Nobel Peace laureate President Oscar Arias, that calls for the restoration of democracy to Honduras

Amnesty International has documented a range of serious human rights concerns in Honduras since the forced removal of President Zelaya.  According to their researchers, protestors have been killed, injured and arrested in clashes with police and military forces. Also, human rights defenders, journalists and female activists have been targeted and are particularly vulnerable to violence.

The U.S. can send a strong message to the international community by insisting that human rights come first in all discussions on Honduras. Therefore, I also ask that you press the international community to do the following:

1) Allow President Zelaya's prompt and safe return to Honduras without conditions, as is his right

2) Take effective steps to immediately stop human rights violations and restore human rights protection to all Hondurans

3) Immediately release any government officials and political activists who may be currently detained and refrain from further arbitrary detentions

4) Guarantee that political opponents and human rights defenders are able to carry out their legitimate activities without fear of reprisal

5) Guarantee the right to freedom of expression and allow journalists to carry out their legitimate work without fear of reprisal

The U.S. has a chance to help restore democracy to Honduras and to improve the U.S. image in the region by standing firmly for human rights.

Thank you for your time.

You will receive an email confirming that your message was sent. Check the box if you would also like to receive a copy of this letter.

Taken action before? Just enter your email address and click 'GO'. If not, please fill in the registration form below.

Your email address:
Click Submit Button:

Your Information

*Required Fields

First Name*
Last Name*
Address Line 1*
Address Line 2
City*
State*
ZIP/Postal Code*
Country*
Email*

Click Submit Button: