Honduras

Padre Tamayo is one of the leaders of the Environmental Movement of Olancho (MAO) in Honduras. MAO wants to prevent the illegal stripping of the forests which results in the drying up of the rivers and the impoverishment of the land. Because they challenge powerful economic interests the members of MAO are regularly targeted. In 2007 Heraldo Zuñiga and Roger Ivan Cartagena were assassinated. Rene Gradis Coordinator of Mao has survived two attempts on his life while Padre Tamayo who is Advisor to the group has a contract of $40,000 on his head.  

Front Line is deeply concerned by information received concerning the surveillance of human rights defenders who are members of the Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Universidad Nacional de Honduras – SITRAUNAH (Trade Union of Workers of the National University of Honduras), including its president René Andino, and the existence of a list containing the names of 136 human rights defenders, including trade unionists and members of religious orders.  

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports that the premises of the Committee of Families of Disappeared-Detainees in Honduras (Comité de Familiares Detenidos-Desaparecidos de Honduras – COFADEH) have been broken into on two occasions and that Bertha Oliva de Nativí, General Coordinator of COFADEH has been followed. COFADEH is a non-governmental organisation which works in defence of the rights of the disappeared and prisoners and also on the issue of land rights in Honduras.