[IMC-NYC-Editorial] Human Rights and U.S. Legacy in Honduras

[carley at mayispeakfreely.org]

Dear Independent Media Center staff,

We hope that the IndyMedia site will consider linking to
http://www.mayispeakfreely.org, the new Web site of May I Speak Freely
Media, which examines human rights issues and the legacy of U.S.
involvement in Honduras in the 1980s.  Just as IndyMedia seeks to educate
the public on rights and justice issues, MISF provides information on past
human rights abuses, explores the connection with current cycles of
violence and human rights violations, and encourages readers to take
action.  We hope that you will add our site to your “links” page
(http://www.indymedia.org/or/static/links.shtml).

Twenty years after a Honduran military, trained and funded by the United
States, committed brutal human rights abuses, its victims are still
seeking justice. As part of a campaign to raise awareness, gain access to
U.S. information on past abuses, help to achieve justice for victims, and
prevent the repetition of past U.S. foreign policy mistakes, May I Speak
Freely Media has launched http://www.mayispeakfreely.org.

To advance its “anticommunist” strategy in Central America, the United
States used Honduras as a staging ground for military operations and
covert warfare against the Sandinista government of Nicaragua and in
support of the military dictatorship in El Salvador. With U.S. money and
training, the 316th battalion of the Honduran Armed Forces “disappeared,”
tortured and murdered at least 184 labor leaders, students, clergy,
journalists and others in Honduras.

This issue gained international attention in the late 1980s through the
1990s as human rights organizations demanded justice, a Honduran human
rights commissioner sought access to U.S information to aid in prosecuting
perpetrators, and the U.S. congress and President Clinton pledged their
help. Unfortunately, Honduran prosecutors have met with little success,
U.S. officials have as yet failed in their support, and the international
community has largely forgotten about Honduras. Meanwhile, Honduran human
rights abusers live with impunity and U.S. officials who were involved in
or knew about abuses have not been held accountable for their role.  Most
notably, John Negroponte, who served as U.S. Ambassador to Honduras in the
80’s, was appointed U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. and, later, U.S.
Ambassador to Iraq, despite widespread accusations of ignoring egregious
human rights violations in Honduras.

May I Speak Freely Media takes a hard look at the human rights impacts of
U.S. involvement in Honduras and the policies and persons responsible for
abuses. Just as important, the site analyzes how this history is still
relevant to us in the present, from ongoing trials of Honduran military
officers to the return of Reagan’s cold warriors in the administration of
President George W. Bush, to similar human rights abuses revealed in Iraq.
Offering journalism, historical records, and other educational material,
the Web site serves as a resource for students, journalists, scholars,
activists and the general public. Please visit us online at
http://www.mayispeakfreely.org and look for new streaming video interviews
with torture survivors, human rights leaders, political analysts and
others in the coming weeks.

May I Speak Freely Media works closely with international NGOs and
grassroots organizations to document threats to human and civil rights,
educate the public about global issues, and build awareness about how
historical events are relevant to contemporary political issues.  In this
way, MISF hopes to stimulate public dialogue, civic participation and
social change.

Again, we hope that you will link http://www.mayispeakfreely.org to your
Web site, and please don’t hesitate to contact us for additional
information about MISF and our work.

Best regards,

Carley Lovorn





-- 
Carley Lovorn
Writer & Researcher
May I Speak Freely?
http://www.mayispeakfreely.org/
415-235-8005