NOTE: This summary is being posted two weeks later and therefore, is longer than previous summaries. That means November-December round-up will be shorter. This summary includes news up until November 25th).
Honduran legislative crisis
Recap from previous months: For several months, the National Congress has been unable to reach a consensus about the election of the Attorney General (AG) and Assistant AG. By September 1st, the Congress was expected to elect a new AG based on the 5 candidates chosen by the Proposing Board, but none of the proposals of two of the five candidates put forward by any of the political parties and allies were successful at achieving the 86 required votes. Largely, the lack of consensus rests on interests to politically control the AG and the Public Prosecutor’s Offices’ actions throughout the duration of the new AG’s term. Of particular concern to the National and Liberal Parties, is the potential for the new AG to investigate corruption cases and legal complaints that have been shelved for years, drug trafficking, money laundering, and other crimes linked to both governments after the 2009 coup. When a consensus was not reached by the end of August 2023 when the new AG is supposed to be appointed, the Congress did not session, causing national controversy with blame coming from all sides and sectors: the Congressional President for his lack of leadership; the illegitimacy of the Leadership Board of Congress (bringing back the legislative crisis that took place in Jan 2021 when Congress was split); the unwillingness of politicians biding for control of the public institution; and elected or accused Congressional representatives wanting to prevent the election of an independent AG with the will and power to investigate criminal acts that have remained in impunity for so many years.
Under Honduran law, the annual regular legislative session takes place from approximately January 25 to November 1st with October 31st being the final day. When the annual Congressional session was set to end on October 31st and still without any consensus on the AG election (or in any other matters), a series of activities occurred on the evening of October 31st. These include:
- The President of Congress, Luis Redondo convened the Congressional Leadership Board (Junta Directiva) for a meeting at 8 pm. https://x.com/Congreso_HND/status/1719519571495797132?s=20
- Plotting for several days to convene an extraordinary Congressional session without the Leadership Board and accusing the Board of trying to dissolve Congress that evening, several members of the opposition largely formed the BOC (Citizen Opposition Block) including the PSH, Liberal, and National Parties totally allegedly 72 representatives, arrived to Congress demanding that a legislative session be held. With the convergence of the opposition, Congressional buildings were reported to have been shut down or closed by Redondo. Inside Congress (or those that were able to enter the building), the opposition, without the Board, convened an ordinary assembly in the basement or parking lot (unclear) and voted to extend the legislative session until January 2024. https://www.laprensa.hn/honduras/honduras-crisis-congreso-diputados-agresion-colectivo-libre-nacionalistas-luis-redondo-ED16043070
- Shortly after or during this session as reported by the press, alleged “LIBRE collectives” arrived and began to confront the National Party leadership attempting to enter Congress. With police, one (extremely corrupt) National Party leader, Antonio “Toño” Rivera appeared to have been injured and was later taken to the hospital. https://www.elheraldo.hn/honduras/herido-antonio-rivera-callejas-tono-rivera-congreso-honduras-turba-libre-CD16042550#image-1
- As the media attacked LIBRE and several organizations condemned the violence caused by alleged LIBRE collectives against National Party reps, a video appeared of (also very corrupt) National Party rep and leader, Mario Pérez, pulled a gun on and threatening a Congressional security guard at one of the main entrances to Congress. https://www.laprensa.hn/honduras/honduras-diputado-mario-perez-video-amenaza-arma-guardia-seguridad-congreso-JD16044368
- Meanwhile, the Leadership Board meeting inside a closed room, voted to create a Permanent Congressional Commission permitted under Article 207 of the Honduran Constitution although the legality of the Commission (and later its actions) is being widely debated in the country. The Commission is led by Luis Redondo, Carlos Zelaya (President Castro’s brother-in-law), economist Hugo Noé Pino but includes mostly LIBRE Congressional representatives, a few from the PSH and the Liberal Parties for a total of 9 permanent members and 9 substitutes: https://criterio.hn/cuales-son-las-atribuciones-de-la-comision-permanente-del-congreso-nacional/
- In that same meeting, the Leadership Board nominated an INTERIM leadership in the Public Prosecutor’s Office including, Attorney General Johel Zelaya and Assistant AG Mario Morazán. Interim AG Zelaya is a current town council member for the Liberal Party (he had to resign before becoming AG) in the municipality of Reitoca, Francisco Morazán, but known to be a LIBRE party sympathizer. https://contracorriente.red/2023/11/01/fiscal-general-y-fiscal-adjunto-interinos-son-juramentados-por-comision-permanente-en-medio-de-conflicto-politico/; https://x.com/Congreso_HND/status/1719557953941074388?s=20
- In response to the appointment of the interim leadership, President of Congress Redondo, the Permanent Commission, and the LIBRE party began facing immediate attack, particularly from the U.S., U.S.-funded NGO the Anti-Corruption Council, and other forces in favor of the JOH regime. Many of which remained quiet during the illegal re-election of the two-term AG and JOH ally, Oscar Chinchilla (see below, who fled Honduras as soon as his term ended at the end of August 2023). https://x.com/cnahonduras/status/1719868797979406725?s=20; https://x.com/AbogadaEspinoza/status/1719802547991412934?s=20
- Protests by the BOC ensured outside of the Public Prosecutor’s Office the day that the interim AG and Assistant AG started in their new positions. https://www.laprensa.hn/honduras/fiscales-interinos-ingresan-ministerio-publico-resguardo-policias-MB16063438
- Meanwhile, in the days following the nomination of the new interim AG, BOC and the opposition continue to convene extraordinary legislative sessions led in part by former Presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla’s spouse Iroska Elvir, and the Permanent Commission also meet regularly. This is generating what some are calling two parallel Congress and on-going debates about legality and the Honduran Constitution. https://www.latribuna.hn/2023/11/21/oposicion-y-oficialismo-realizan-sesiones-paralelas-en-el-congreso-nacional/ and https://contracorriente.red/2023/11/23/salida-de-la-crisis-un-mediador-internacional-propone-diputada-del-partido-nacional/
- In efforts to address the divisions in the legislative body and the increasing polarization in Congress as a result, the Permanent Commission calls individual parties to a dialogue: https://www.prensa-latina.cu/2023/11/16/convocan-por-segunda-vez-a-dialogo-legislativo-en-honduras
U.S. Comments on the crisis
In response to the legislative crisis and the appointment of an interim AG, the U.S. Embassy and State Department weigh in on the side of the opposition and BOC. The U.S. makes no mention of their previous support for the illegal re-election of the previous Attorney General Oscar Chinchilla who left Honduras as soon as he finished his mandate (see August-September news round-up).
In response, the Foreign Affairs Minister Enrique Reina posted on X and gave declarations to the press demanding that the US respect Honduran sovereignty: “there will be issues on which we agree, there will be issues on which we do not agree, and we will express this and demand respect for our sovereignty, for our actions as a State”.
Analysis and opinions from other sectors about legislative crisis.
The Coalition Against Impunity representing 55 organizations, publishes a communique reminding Hondurans and the sectors now criticizing the Permanent Commission that remained silent in 2018, of the illegal second re-election of Oscar Chinchilla and Assistant AG Daniel Sabrián. The Coalition regrets the inability of legislative branch and Congress representatives to reach a consensus about the AG’s election, the violence that occurred in the Congress on October 31st, warns against extending the legislative crisis to the AG’s office, and calls for a dialogue.
Academic Leticia Salomón writes an article titled “What is at play is not democracy, it is the impunity of corruption and drug trafficking” providing some important context surrounding the legislative crisis and describes what is at stake.
Legislative crisis & the ZEDEs
As the legislative crisis brewed throughout 2023 and with little hope of reaching any consensus on a number of issues, the National Congress failed to ratify Decree 32-2022 in the 2023 legislative session that overturned the constitutional changes that permitted the creation of the ZEDEs. In early November, debates ensued nation-wide about whether the Congress had missed its opportunity to entirely rid Honduran law of the ZEDEs. Human rights intellectual Joaquin Mejía provides an analysis, concluding that the procedural legislation needed to form and run a ZEDE is eliminated thus making it difficult for the ZEDEs to operate. On the other hand, ZEDE Próspera celebrates the end of the 2023 legislative session (Note which side they are opportunistically taking in regarding the crisis) describing hope that they can proceed in the country. The Honduran government ZEDE Commissioner Fernando Garcia publishes a video describing how ZEDEs no longer exist.
Government-led ZEDE Event & Constitutional Challenge
In mid-November, Progressive International and the LIBRE party/government organized a 3-day event in Tegucigalpa to resist the ZEDEs. “The international delegation of diplomats, parliamentarians, analysts, and experts traveled to Tegucigalpa, and following three days of dialogue with citizens, communities, Members of Congress and representatives from across the government of Honduras on the permanent resistance against the Zones of Employment and Economic Development (ZEDEs) that attempt to privatise national sovereignty – have constituted the International Movement for Honduras in Resistance.”
Watch one of the discussion forums with international visitors here: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid079VkQvibwHEVggqqkEPA6JhNdcEwDw5RJrUYhPCvwMDnUuKbB4brSjZGfrAwLmQsl&id=100001438779870&sfnsn=wa&mibextid=2JQ9oc
With debates about the status of the ZEDEs given that the legislative branch did not ratify the constitutional changes that gave birth to the ZEDEs (see above), and the new authorities in the Supreme Court and AG’s office, Presidential ZEDE Commissioner Fernando García presented a constitutional challenge of the ZEDEs before the Supreme Court.
https://tiempo.hn/comisionado-presenta-recurso-de-inconstitucionalidad-contra-las-zede/
Statements from U.S. officials related to Honduras
On October 25th, the House Foreign Affairs Sub-Committee on the Western Hemisphere held a briefing with Eric Jacobstein, the Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, State Department, and Mileydi Guilarte, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Latin America/Caribbean, USAID. It’s hard to summarize this hearing except point out that Rep. Salazar kept demonstrating her concern that President Castro was increasingly behaving like Castro (Cuba) and Chavez (Venezuela) and using McCarthyism-style rhetoric. One thing that the State Department representative did say is that State will not weigh in on ZEDE Prospera’s almost $11 billion claim against Honduras.
In the audience at the House Foreign Affair’s briefing were several members of Honduras’ opposition including National Party Congressional representatives Antonio “Toño” Rivera and David Chávez. Also in attendance was Pedro Barquero, the former Minister of Economic Development in the Castro government.
The U.S. hearing caused a stir in Honduras. The opposition and golpista (coup-supporting media) used it while manipulating both Rep Salazar’s statements and position to claim that the President Castro government is ruining its relationship with the U.S. The opposition continues to claim that Castro is a communist government and hopes to turn Honduras into a Cuba or Venezuela. Foreign Affairs Minister stated to the press that Rep. Salazar was being used by the opposition to attack the government.
On October 26, four U.S. Senators (Kaine, Merkley, Welch and Padilla) wrote a public letter to Blinken expressing their concern about the slow progress of the formation of the International Commission against Impunity and Corruption (CICIH).
On November 6th, Senator Marco Rubio and Senator Risch condemned President Castro’s “continued crackdown on the separation of powers in Honduras”
Indictments for Corruption-related Charges and legislative crisis
On approximately November 14th, the AG’s office presented an indictment against ex-Minister of Finances Rocío Tabora and ex-Minister of Health Alba Consuelo Flores for the fraudulent purchase of the infamous mobile hospitals. The purchases were made during the Covid-19 pandemic and were completely inadequate, poorly equipped, not compatible with Honduran technology, etc. and exacerbated the covid crisis in Honduras.
Tabora was detained at the Nicaraguan-Honduran border and claimed to have voluntarily turned herself over to Honduran authorities but was likely attempting to flee before being arrested. After her initial hearing, Tabora was sent to Tamara prison where she will remain in pre-trial detention pending trial. Ex-Minister Flores presented paperwork to coordinate her voluntary presentation to authorities. This case is connected to the corruption case against imprisoned former head of INVEST Honduras, Marco Bográn sentenced to 10 years and 11 months in prison for fraud and other charges.
On November 20th, an indictment was presented to Honduran courts against Congressional representative and National Party leader, Mario Pérez for threatening a security guard with a firearm on October 31, 2023 during the confrontation in the Congressional building. A judge is being assigned to hear the case.
The Pandora II corruption case is moving forward. Several former government officials including ex-Presidents Juan Orlando Hernández and Porfirio Lobo are being accused of misusing/stealing public money through fake companies to fund political campaigns. Pepe Lobo denies the accusations and JOH’s spouse, calling the charges ‘political persecution.’
https://www.tunota.com/honduras-hoy/articulo/defensores-pepe-lobo-joh-csj-caso-pandora-ii-2023-10-12
Shortly after the legislative crisis and just as audios of National Party leader and Congress representative were leaked about corruption-related acts, Antonio “Toño” Rivera announces that he will be leaving Honduras to attend to a family-related health issue.
There is a growing narrative in Honduras perpetuated by the BOC and opposition that indictments presented against former National and Liberal party representatives are political persecution.
Expanding Consular Services for Honduras in the US
Honduran officials together with the UN Development Programme announced an expansion of consular services for Honduran migrants in the United States.
Honduras response to events in Palestine.
In response to the genocide in Palestine, Honduras became the third country in Latin America to withdrawal their Ambassador from Israel. In addition, the Foreign Affairs Minister Enrique Reina announced that President Castro has called the Israeli Ambassador to Honduras for a meeting (a consulta) interpreted by some that Honduras would break diplomatic ties with Israel. Minister Reina clarified that this is not the case. Meanwhile, a debate about the bombing, displacement and killings of Palestinians occurred on national TV forum involving the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Gerardo Torres and the Israeli Ambassador to Honduras.
BOC Protests
BOC continues to call for protests against the government in Tegucigalpa and the southern city of Choluteca. Despite a long-standing opposition to corruption, former Presidential candidate and Vice President Salvador Nasralla joins the National party adding to BOC’s rhetoric/narrative that Honduras does not want communism or to turn into countries like Cuba and Venezuela.
Response to election outcome in Argentina.
Members of the National Party celebrate the victory of Javier Milei in Argentina.
Flooding
Throughout the month of November, several communities in El Progreso, La Lima, and Puerto Cortes suffered from terrible flooding forcing many to flee their homes.
https://tiempo.hn/inundaciones-en-puerto-cortes/
Father Fausto Milla passes away
On November 24th, Father Fausto Milla, an important leader particularly following the 2009 coup, passed away. Several organizations released statements discussing his contribution to the resistance and dedication to the people around him.
COPINH: David Castillo
COPINH announces that Honduran courts have denied David Castillo’s request to apply the amnesty to his case and call on the Sentencing Court hearing corruption cases to convene the court to sentence Castillo in the Fraud on the Gualcarque case.
https://criterio.hn/declaran-sin-lugar-recurso-que-buscaba-favorecer-con-amnistia-a-david-castillo/
Plataforma Agraria, COPA and the Aguan Valley: Evictions, violence and criminalization
On November 20th, campesinos led by the Agrarian Platform including the participation of communities from various parts of Honduras (Reitoca, Nacaome, El Progreso, etc), held a large protest in Tegucigalpa. The campesino groups visited the National Agrarian Institute (INA) to draw attention to the terrible role that the INA director is playing in the violent evictions of campesinos and demanding his resignation. They, along with the Law Firm of Dignity Studies (Bufete Estudios para la Dignidad) presented a constitutional challenge at the Supreme Court to demand that the land evictions stop. Outside the Presidential Palace, campesino leader Yoni Rivas demanded that the verbal ‘good will’ of the Castro government be put into action and that a true investigation be carried out about the history and basis of land claims and ownership that are at the centre of the land conflicts.
https://www.facebook.com/EstudiosparalaDignidad/videos/365158169410239?locale=es_LA
Throughout the last month (and previous months), the campesino families of the Associative Campesino Production Company of Isleta (EACI) have been under constant threat and violence by U.S. company, Dole/Standard Fruit, Honduran police, military, U.S. Embassy security personnel, members of the union SITRAEASISA (workers of the agricultural company, Santa Inés), the LIBRE mayor of Sonaguera Alirio Gary, and LIBRE council members that are siding with the U.S. company. From violent land evictions to active violence (bullet injuries of minor Kevin Meza),and blocking the road in and out of the lands claimed by EACI, campesino families are under tremendous pressure, threat, fear, and terror. Several times this month, the Agrarian Platform released communiques outlining EACI’s situation including attempts by the Attorney General’s office to charge seven land defenders from EACI for illegal possession of land. The Agraian Platform and COPA demanded that judge Marco Antonio Vallecillo Banegas recuse himself from the case, noting his lack of impartiality, including his involvement in ordering the previous eviction of the campesinos, clearing demonstrating his support for the U.S. company.
On November 24, the Agrarian Platform denounced that at least 900 state security forces carried out another eviction of EACI upon orders from judge Marco Antonio Vallecillo and U.S. banana company Dole. The judge is ignoring a civil claim in process in the courts that challenges Dole/ASISA (Honduran subsidiary) claim to land including Dole’s multiple acts of fraud to purchase 2,721 hectares of land that were designated to EACI via the Agrarian Reform.
https://www.facebook.com/PlataformaAgrariaHn/videos/1758606874621556/?locale=pt_BR
Shortly after the campesinos gathered in Tegucigalpa in a protest, the Agrarian Platform sent out an urgent alert that campesino José Santos Chavez, the brother of Gregorio Chavez killed years ago, was disappeared without signs of his whereabouts. He was last seen outside of INA on November 20th at 2 pm in Tegucigalpa. Chavez has protective measures from the InterAmerican Commission. 48 hours later, Chavez appeared with injuries and signs of torture on his head and face.
On October 19, Janier Alexander García, campesino leader and the Vice President of the Tranvio campesino cooperative, was arrested by Honduran investigative police (DPI). He is being accused of aggravated illegal possession of land. In his initial hearing, Janier was conditionally released pending trial.
After years of waiting, the InterAmerican Commission announced that it would pass the Aguan Valley case presented for all the violations against the campesino movements and families in the Aguan to the InterAmerican court.
Evictions in Agua Blanca Sur
On November 16, Honduran police evicted 41 campesinos families from Agua Blanca Sur from an area where they live and work. OACNUDH expresses concern about the eviction and the conditions of those that were evicted. Human rights lawyer Victor Fernandez of MADJ notes that the action of the “Eviction Commission” (referring to the special Agrarian commission created by the President) has made the “agro-industrial-large-land-owners-and-transnationals” very happy. Like in the Aguán Valley, campesinos are denouncing how the special commission continues to act in favor of large-land owners while ignoring the legitimate land claims of small farmers.
https://www.facebook.com/RadioProgresoPaginaOficial/videos/881025169870190/?locale=pt_BR
Land defender detained in Zacate Grande
ADEPZA denounces the illegal detention of land defender Ethel Verónica Corea in San Lorenzo, Valle. The detention is related to her land defense in Zacate Grande and involvement with the community radio station ‘La Voz de Zacate Grande’, southern Honduras.
Two Indigenous land defenders found guilty
In late November, two Indigenous land defenders Wilmer Alonzo and José Orlando Rodas were found guilty of ‘disturbance’ (pertubación de un derecho real), which as a crime, no longer exists in the Honduran criminal code. The lawyers representing the two defenders note that the conviction demonstrates on-going political persecution targeted at the men for defending the Grande river in Reitoca.
https://criterio.hn/tribunal-de-sentencias-condeno-a-defensores-de-reitoca-por-delito-inexistente/