Hi, All:
For those of you interested in my Human Rights travels, I went to El Salvador March 19-27 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero on March 24, 1980.
A year ago Salvadorans elected Mauricio Funes, a member of FMLN (the former guerillas), as President. That election has made a
considerable difference in official attitudes in that country.
President Funes officially apologized on behalf of the government for the violence against the people. He declared March 24th a National holiday. He dedicated a special mural, "Homage to Monseñor Oscar Arnolfo Romero," by Rafael Varela, at the San Salvador airport on the anniversary. He is moving to take civilian control over police and the military (aware of the possibility of a Honduras-type coup if he moves too fast). Things are looking better.
Despite that, there are still major problems in El Salvador. Crime is still rampant (the Chargé at the U.S. Embassy, with whom we met, said there is no safe place in El Salvador). The latest wrinkle is private extortion, where petty criminals threaten to harm members of a person's family unless regular payments are made. Because of impunity (less than 5% of all crimes are even prosecuted), people have essentially only the choices of paying or moving, and many people cannot move all their family members.
A second problem is the continuing contentions of conservatives that Romero was a Marxist Communist who threatened to turn El Salvador into another Cuba or Venezuela. In Cinquera in the North, where the guerillas were active, a new conservative Priest insulted people at Good Friday processions last year by calling the banners containing photos and statements of Archbishop Romero "garbage." He subsequently closed the Church. On December 23, the local Bishop (who is also conservative) came to "purify" the Church. He ordered a group of nuns who had accompanied him to literally tear the photos of victims of the violence from the Church walls and burn them, which they did. The Bishop then excommunicated the congregation and again closed the Church. At a later date, the Priest showed up with 140 people from other communities to tear down the Church. Church members put their bodies in front of the Church ("If you want to put that pickaxe into the Church, you will have to put it through me first," said one woman), and after hearing from community members, the others left without harming the Church.
Even though the Bishop has now been replaced, the Catholics of Cinquera are still unable to attend and worship at the Church in their own community.
The theme of the delegation was "Romero vive! (Romero lives). In El Salvador, I witnessed that in the people.
Frank Schneider
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Honduras
Hi, All:
To bring you up to date on the deplorable, sad and disgraceful situation in Honduras, government encouraged killings of activists continues to take place in that country. There have been six killings in February and March alone. Since the coup last June, there have been dozens of killings of union activists and of members of the Honduran National Resistance Front (FNRP), which has called for a Constitutional convention and a peaceful change in the political system.
A textbook case occurred on March 23, when hooded gunmen invaded the high school where FNRP member Jose Manuel Flores was teaching and killed him in front of his students. It is unknown whether the gunmen were police or paramilitaries, because the Minister of Government has instituted and maintained the practice of having hooded police participate in raids. It is also known that landowners have imported right wing paramilitaries from Colombia to do their "clensing" of union and other leaders and activists.
On March 27, two investigating journalists were ambushed and murdered.
If you want to protest the situation in Honduras, or call for our government to investigate and speak out against these gross violations of human rights, the Honduras desk at the State Department can be reached at 202-647-3482. I have gone to voice mail each time, but I think it is important that they hear from as many people as possible.
And pray for the people of Honduras, that they may be delivered from this terrible time.
Frank Schneider
To bring you up to date on the deplorable, sad and disgraceful situation in Honduras, government encouraged killings of activists continues to take place in that country. There have been six killings in February and March alone. Since the coup last June, there have been dozens of killings of union activists and of members of the Honduran National Resistance Front (FNRP), which has called for a Constitutional convention and a peaceful change in the political system.
A textbook case occurred on March 23, when hooded gunmen invaded the high school where FNRP member Jose Manuel Flores was teaching and killed him in front of his students. It is unknown whether the gunmen were police or paramilitaries, because the Minister of Government has instituted and maintained the practice of having hooded police participate in raids. It is also known that landowners have imported right wing paramilitaries from Colombia to do their "clensing" of union and other leaders and activists.
On March 27, two investigating journalists were ambushed and murdered.
If you want to protest the situation in Honduras, or call for our government to investigate and speak out against these gross violations of human rights, the Honduras desk at the State Department can be reached at 202-647-3482. I have gone to voice mail each time, but I think it is important that they hear from as many people as possible.
And pray for the people of Honduras, that they may be delivered from this terrible time.
Frank Schneider
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Spring Here
I walked past a barren patch of city dirt - darkened by the winter's grim. Layers and layers of winter build-up which reflected the layers upon layers of snow, when melted formed a single compacted crust of grim. I wondered when spring would come and cover the winter's mess. Then I saw it - a small white flower emerging - breaking through the grim. Hopes of spring pushed through - and a smile broke across my face and a stood there for a moment body defiant against the chill.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Lenten Reflection
As Congress debates the health care reform bill - it is clear there are differences in philosophical ideologies crashing into each other on Capital Hill. These crashes, while complex are not unlike all philosophical crashes over human history where one group's ideas of how to resolve social issues clashes with others. Lent is the time to particularly spend pondering our ideas, social commitments and how those commitments stand up against the alternative views of Jesus.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Christian Peacemaker Teams delegation
For those of you interested in my Human Rights work, I spent two weeks this month in the Israeli Occupied Territory (West Bank/Palestine) on a Christian Peacemaker Teams delegation. I went there in 2002, and I was interested in learning what, if anything, has changed in the past eight year.
My first reactions in Israel/Palestine was that it was, to use Yogi Berra's immortal words, "deja vu all over again." Palestinians are still being dehumanized, humiliated, abused and discriminated against, as they were eight years ago. Israeli settlers are still stealing even more land to build settlements and outposts and beating and harassing Palestinians who dare to interfere. The government continues to refuse building requests, then demolishes homes, electrical lines, cisterns and other things which Palestinians require and build anyway. The police continue to enforce two laws, one for Israelis and the other (not) for the Palestinians. The Army continues to act arbitrarily in humiliating and abusing Palestinians at the ever-present checkpoints, and it continues to raid homes with impunity to demonstrate their arbitrary power over civilians.
One particular item to mention is that settlers in the South Hebron Hills (around At-Tawani) have taken to attacking school children on their way to school. The humanity of people who attack six and eight year olds just because they want to go to school is beyond me. But that is happening. When it began a couple of years ago, CPT accompanied the children, but they too were attacked and beaten (sustaining substantial injuries). As a result, the Army has agreed to accompany children past the dangerous places in the road, which it has done on an erratic basis. Indeed, CPT and Operation Dove (an Italian human rights group also operating there) have frequently called the Army when it did not show up, or it did not wait for the children, or it left them at a place where they were still in danger. This is an ongoing effort.
Despite all of the above, I did detect some slight movement toward recognizing the humanity of Palestinians. B'Tselom, an Israeli human rights group, has supplied video cameras to record events (they jokingly call it "shooting back"), and it publicizes abuses. The Parents' Circle has formed to pair Israeli and Palestinian parents of the victims of violence, to share their mutual grief and see each other as human parents experiencing a mutual tragedy. Breaking the Silence is a group of more than 700 former military who have publicly described their abusive actions as a way to urge the end of Israeli occupation of the West Bank. But even so, there is very little progress. I described that whereas maybe 1% of the Israelis were concerned eight years ago, the percentage is now up to 1.8%.
There is a new Human Rights initiative which is taking place: the BDS Movement. That stands for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions. For example, people are boycotting L'Oreal and Ahava Dead Sea cosmetics, and other Israeli goods, especially those made in the settlements (which sometimes say they are made in Palestine). Divestment would include Caterpillar, which makes the armored tanks used to demolish Palestinian homes, and Motorola, which manufactures military hardware for the Israeli Army. Sanctions include the fact that high Israeli officials can no longer go to Europe, because arrest warrants are outstanding, charging war crimes in connection with the Occupation and the invasion of Gaza. This is a way for ordinary people to express their displeasure over Israel's policies and practices toward the Palestinians in their midst. For those interested in more information, the website is: http://www.bdsmovement.net or www.bdsmovement.net
I hope you will think about and pray for the people of Israel and Palestine, who are trapped in the stereotypes of the other side, that they might somehow recognize a way to live together without the dehumanizing conditions which now exist in that part of the world. I will be talking to my Church about this, and if you wish, I would be happy to come to your Church to talk about it, or to you and your friends, or to you. I feel that this tragedy must be addressed somehow.
Frank Schneider
My first reactions in Israel/Palestine was that it was, to use Yogi Berra's immortal words, "deja vu all over again." Palestinians are still being dehumanized, humiliated, abused and discriminated against, as they were eight years ago. Israeli settlers are still stealing even more land to build settlements and outposts and beating and harassing Palestinians who dare to interfere. The government continues to refuse building requests, then demolishes homes, electrical lines, cisterns and other things which Palestinians require and build anyway. The police continue to enforce two laws, one for Israelis and the other (not) for the Palestinians. The Army continues to act arbitrarily in humiliating and abusing Palestinians at the ever-present checkpoints, and it continues to raid homes with impunity to demonstrate their arbitrary power over civilians.
One particular item to mention is that settlers in the South Hebron Hills (around At-Tawani) have taken to attacking school children on their way to school. The humanity of people who attack six and eight year olds just because they want to go to school is beyond me. But that is happening. When it began a couple of years ago, CPT accompanied the children, but they too were attacked and beaten (sustaining substantial injuries). As a result, the Army has agreed to accompany children past the dangerous places in the road, which it has done on an erratic basis. Indeed, CPT and Operation Dove (an Italian human rights group also operating there) have frequently called the Army when it did not show up, or it did not wait for the children, or it left them at a place where they were still in danger. This is an ongoing effort.
Despite all of the above, I did detect some slight movement toward recognizing the humanity of Palestinians. B'Tselom, an Israeli human rights group, has supplied video cameras to record events (they jokingly call it "shooting back"), and it publicizes abuses. The Parents' Circle has formed to pair Israeli and Palestinian parents of the victims of violence, to share their mutual grief and see each other as human parents experiencing a mutual tragedy. Breaking the Silence is a group of more than 700 former military who have publicly described their abusive actions as a way to urge the end of Israeli occupation of the West Bank. But even so, there is very little progress. I described that whereas maybe 1% of the Israelis were concerned eight years ago, the percentage is now up to 1.8%.
There is a new Human Rights initiative which is taking place: the BDS Movement. That stands for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions. For example, people are boycotting L'Oreal and Ahava Dead Sea cosmetics, and other Israeli goods, especially those made in the settlements (which sometimes say they are made in Palestine). Divestment would include Caterpillar, which makes the armored tanks used to demolish Palestinian homes, and Motorola, which manufactures military hardware for the Israeli Army. Sanctions include the fact that high Israeli officials can no longer go to Europe, because arrest warrants are outstanding, charging war crimes in connection with the Occupation and the invasion of Gaza. This is a way for ordinary people to express their displeasure over Israel's policies and practices toward the Palestinians in their midst. For those interested in more information, the website is: http://www.bdsmovement.net or www.bdsmovement.net
I hope you will think about and pray for the people of Israel and Palestine, who are trapped in the stereotypes of the other side, that they might somehow recognize a way to live together without the dehumanizing conditions which now exist in that part of the world. I will be talking to my Church about this, and if you wish, I would be happy to come to your Church to talk about it, or to you and your friends, or to you. I feel that this tragedy must be addressed somehow.
Frank Schneider
Moving into 2010
We are entering a new decade. Some who are history sticklers say that actually the new decade does not begin until next year, but at any rate, we are into a new year. The decade began with us holding our breath as our computerized world clock rolled over to 2000. We breathed a sigh of relief when the world did not crash. Over the decade we have experienced the horror of September 11 and we have celebrated as we watched history being made with the election of the country's first African American president. As a nation we have entered two wars and continue to see thousands of Americans engaged in conflict – with over 3,400 Americans dead and thousands of Iraq soldiers and civilians the reality of war making haunts us. We have seen our consumer economy take a nose dive, watching helpless the impact of greed and profiteering. In this recession the exposure of the level of that greed was astounding and as a result many continue to suffer from under or unemployment. As a nation our reputation also took a nose dive as we tortured people in the name of "making America safe,” and which actually did the opposite. In the final days of 2009, we watched the Senate pass a health care reform bill that we hope will begin to address the complicated issues around the uninsured and escalating systemic cost. As we step into 2010, may our challenges be met with a new spirit of cooperation both nationally and internationally that will address the urgent issues that threaten our planet: global warming, a rise in religious fundamentalism, poverty, war and national arrogance. While enormous issues continue to face us as a people, we can hope that there will continue to be great advancements in scientific and technology discoveries and social collaboration that can lead us into a stronger global village. May the true meaning of peace (well being for all - plants and animals included) - edge us closer to our fuller selves in 2010.John Hobbs, pastor
Monday, August 31, 2009
"Coup" in Honduras
I write today about the "coup" that took place in Honduras on June 28, 2009. I place the word "coup" in quotes because many who support the present government claim that the government was properly protecting itself against a potential dictator, albeit in an irregular manner. For reasons that follow, I do not agree. Form matters, and what the government officials did was illegal and unconstitutional according to Honduran law and according to the Rule of Law.
The facts, though somewhat muddled, are not in substantial dispute. Manuel "Mel" Zelaya was elected President in 2005. The Honduran Constitution is very explicit in requiring that the President serve only one term and cannot ever again be President. Indeed, according to Constitution Article 239, anyone proposing a change in the law, and those helping him, will immediately cease office and remain ineligible for ten years. Zelaya was a large landowner and conservative when elected and for about two years afterwards. However, at some point he turned away from the conservative elements that elected him and toward the trade unions and campesinos who had been previously excluded from the political processes. Among other actions, he raised the minimum wage in Honduras by approximately 60%. He also formed favorable relations with Hugo Chavez and other leftist leaders of Nicaragua, Equador and Bolivia. All of his actions infuriated the conservative and propertied interests in Honduras, which included military leaders and most members of the the National Assembly
In early 2009, Zelaya began to talk about a Constitutional Assembly to amend the Constitution. He proposed a referendum, but when objections were voiced, he said the vote would be a non-binding advisory "consultation" on whether there should be a vote in November (during regular elections) on whether to call a National Constituent Assembly to amend the Constitution. He scheduled the "consultation" for June 28th. In preparation, he ordered the distribution of ballot boxes and ballots. The Supreme Court declared the proposeed vote illegal. Zelaya ordered the military to distribute the ballot boxes anyway. When the military refused, citing the Supreme Court opinion, Zelaya fired the commander and the defense minister, and Zelaya and his supporters seized the ballot boxes and prepared to distribute them.
All of this led up to a warrant issued by the Supreme Court ordering the military to arrest Zelaya to face charges. The military arrested Zelaya (some said "in his pajamas")at 5 a.m. on June 28 (which was also the date of the "consultation"). Then, beyond the arrest warrant, the military placed Zelaya on a plane and expelled him to Costa Rica. The military then closed media outlets favorable to Zelaya. There are rumors that arrest warrants were issued for many of his supporters, and they have gone into hiding. There are also reports that demonstrators in favor of Zelaya have been tear-gassed and shot. The military is headed by Gen. Romeo Vasquez, a graduate of the notorious School of the Americas.
After Zelaya had been expelled, the military presented to the Assembly a resignation allegedly signed by Zelaya. The Assembly accepted the "resignation," then for good measure adopted a resolution removing him from office for his misdeeds. The Assembly then named the President of the Congress, Rigoberto Micheletti, as new President. According to at least one authority, if Zelaya's removal was proper, Micheletti was the proper one to succeed him. The new government has continued civilian rule; the military has expressed its subordination to civil authorities.
Later, the "resignation" was clearly shown to be a clumsy forgery and now is ignored as a reason for removal. The Assembly vote likewise is of dubious Constituional validity. Under the Honduran constitution, unlike the United States, the Assembly can only pass a resolution saying there are grounds to bring a case against the President (Art. 205(15)). But the Supreme Court must hold a trial and adjudicate that there are in fact grounds for removal (Art.319(2)) to oust the President. None of that was done here.
Zelaya's removal was unanimously condemned by the OAS (Organization of American States), including by the United States, the United Nations General Assembly and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Under prodding from the U.S. and other countries, President Oscar Arias of Costa Rica undertook to mediate the dispute. He proposed that Zelaya return to finish his term, with no sanctions against those who removed him. However, Micheletti and his followers will not agree to Zelaya's return. There is at least a suggestion that they intend to stall until November, when an election will result in a new President. (The new candidates were nominated before the coup.)
Meanwhile, economic sanctions have begun against the present government. The U.S. has suspended military and other aid. Under U.S. law, if the change in government is declared a "military coup," another $150 million in aid will be suspended. Other Latin American countries have likewise suspended their relations with the present government of Honduras. In the United States, Rep. Delahunt and others have introduced H.Res.630 condemning the coup.
It should be clear from the foregoing that I believe Zelaya's removal and expulsion from Honduras was contrary to Honduran law. Under Article 102, no Honduran may be expatriated or delivered to an authority of a foreign state. Further, the order of the Supreme Court is itself suspect, as noted above. At the very least, Zelaya should be permitted to return and resume his Constitutional functions. Until that happens, the country will exist under an illegal military and civil coup, and its government should be subject to the full array of sanctions available to the United States and other countries.
Those interested in more information, and a more scholarly treatment than mine, may consult Geoff Thale, "Behind the Honduran Coup," in Foreign Policy in Focus, July 1, 2009, available at <http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/6225>, and Doug Cassel, "Honduras: Coup d'Etat in Constitutional Clothing," published by American Society of International Law, v. 13, no. 9, July 29, 2009 available at <http://www.asil.org/search.cfm?displayPage=1258>. The text and co-sponsors of H.Res. 630 are available at <www.thomas.gov>.
Frank Schneider
The facts, though somewhat muddled, are not in substantial dispute. Manuel "Mel" Zelaya was elected President in 2005. The Honduran Constitution is very explicit in requiring that the President serve only one term and cannot ever again be President. Indeed, according to Constitution Article 239, anyone proposing a change in the law, and those helping him, will immediately cease office and remain ineligible for ten years. Zelaya was a large landowner and conservative when elected and for about two years afterwards. However, at some point he turned away from the conservative elements that elected him and toward the trade unions and campesinos who had been previously excluded from the political processes. Among other actions, he raised the minimum wage in Honduras by approximately 60%. He also formed favorable relations with Hugo Chavez and other leftist leaders of Nicaragua, Equador and Bolivia. All of his actions infuriated the conservative and propertied interests in Honduras, which included military leaders and most members of the the National Assembly
In early 2009, Zelaya began to talk about a Constitutional Assembly to amend the Constitution. He proposed a referendum, but when objections were voiced, he said the vote would be a non-binding advisory "consultation" on whether there should be a vote in November (during regular elections) on whether to call a National Constituent Assembly to amend the Constitution. He scheduled the "consultation" for June 28th. In preparation, he ordered the distribution of ballot boxes and ballots. The Supreme Court declared the proposeed vote illegal. Zelaya ordered the military to distribute the ballot boxes anyway. When the military refused, citing the Supreme Court opinion, Zelaya fired the commander and the defense minister, and Zelaya and his supporters seized the ballot boxes and prepared to distribute them.
All of this led up to a warrant issued by the Supreme Court ordering the military to arrest Zelaya to face charges. The military arrested Zelaya (some said "in his pajamas")at 5 a.m. on June 28 (which was also the date of the "consultation"). Then, beyond the arrest warrant, the military placed Zelaya on a plane and expelled him to Costa Rica. The military then closed media outlets favorable to Zelaya. There are rumors that arrest warrants were issued for many of his supporters, and they have gone into hiding. There are also reports that demonstrators in favor of Zelaya have been tear-gassed and shot. The military is headed by Gen. Romeo Vasquez, a graduate of the notorious School of the Americas.
After Zelaya had been expelled, the military presented to the Assembly a resignation allegedly signed by Zelaya. The Assembly accepted the "resignation," then for good measure adopted a resolution removing him from office for his misdeeds. The Assembly then named the President of the Congress, Rigoberto Micheletti, as new President. According to at least one authority, if Zelaya's removal was proper, Micheletti was the proper one to succeed him. The new government has continued civilian rule; the military has expressed its subordination to civil authorities.
Later, the "resignation" was clearly shown to be a clumsy forgery and now is ignored as a reason for removal. The Assembly vote likewise is of dubious Constituional validity. Under the Honduran constitution, unlike the United States, the Assembly can only pass a resolution saying there are grounds to bring a case against the President (Art. 205(15)). But the Supreme Court must hold a trial and adjudicate that there are in fact grounds for removal (Art.319(2)) to oust the President. None of that was done here.
Zelaya's removal was unanimously condemned by the OAS (Organization of American States), including by the United States, the United Nations General Assembly and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Under prodding from the U.S. and other countries, President Oscar Arias of Costa Rica undertook to mediate the dispute. He proposed that Zelaya return to finish his term, with no sanctions against those who removed him. However, Micheletti and his followers will not agree to Zelaya's return. There is at least a suggestion that they intend to stall until November, when an election will result in a new President. (The new candidates were nominated before the coup.)
Meanwhile, economic sanctions have begun against the present government. The U.S. has suspended military and other aid. Under U.S. law, if the change in government is declared a "military coup," another $150 million in aid will be suspended. Other Latin American countries have likewise suspended their relations with the present government of Honduras. In the United States, Rep. Delahunt and others have introduced H.Res.630 condemning the coup.
It should be clear from the foregoing that I believe Zelaya's removal and expulsion from Honduras was contrary to Honduran law. Under Article 102, no Honduran may be expatriated or delivered to an authority of a foreign state. Further, the order of the Supreme Court is itself suspect, as noted above. At the very least, Zelaya should be permitted to return and resume his Constitutional functions. Until that happens, the country will exist under an illegal military and civil coup, and its government should be subject to the full array of sanctions available to the United States and other countries.
Those interested in more information, and a more scholarly treatment than mine, may consult Geoff Thale, "Behind the Honduran Coup," in Foreign Policy in Focus, July 1, 2009, available at <http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/6225>, and Doug Cassel, "Honduras: Coup d'Etat in Constitutional Clothing," published by American Society of International Law, v. 13, no. 9, July 29, 2009 available at <http://www.asil.org/search.cfm?displayPage=1258>. The text and co-sponsors of H.Res. 630 are available at <www.thomas.gov>.
Frank Schneider
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