Message-ID: <9603120726.AD21358@sol.racsa.co.cr> Date: Tue, 12 Mar 1996 13:26:54 +0600 From: Casa Alianza - Regional Office <mailto:casalnza@SOL.RACSA.CO.CR> Subject: MURDER OF ILLEGALLY JAILED MINOR IN HONDURAS To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
The following is an URGENT Child Concern issued by the Geneva based SOS Torture organisation:******************************************* CHILD CONCERN Case HDN 120396 . CC The International Secretariat of OMCT/SOS-Torture requests your URGENT intervention the following situation in HONDURAS.
Brief description of the situation.
OMCT has been informed by reliable organisations - as yet not full members of the SOS-Torture network - of their grave concern for the situation of minors detained in Honduras.
According to information from Casa Alianza, the following minors: Carlos Efra_n PINEDA MORENO, aged 16, Mariano RODRIGUEZ LEIVA and Ramon IZAGUIRRE GUZMAN, are being detained in the penal centre of Ciudad de Gracias, Lempira (an adult penal institution), by order of the "Juez de Letras departamental". A Habeas Corpus petition was presented on 18th February 1996 on behalf of PINEDA MORENO and on 1st March the executing judge ordered that he should be transferred to a juvenile centre. However, on March 7th 1996 the relevant authorities had still not complied with the order of transfer and he remained in detention with adults.
The detention of minor with adults represents a serious threat to the safety of the detained children. This has been borne out by various cases recorded in the past as well as by the recent murder of Carlos Enrique JAKO (or Joco) aged 17, when on March 5th 1996 as a result of injuries inflicted by an adult fellow detainee identified as Alfredo Medina, (alias "Chino machete").Carlos Enrique and his brother Geovanny Francisco JAKO born on 10/7/1977) were detained and imprisoned in 1994 on a charge of theft.
On July 3rd 1995 Casa Alianza presented a petition of Habeas Corpus on behalf of Carlos Enrique JOKO without result. Moreover, although Casa Alianza repeatedly applied for a certificate confirming the actions of the executing judge, the judge in question failed to respond.
Action requested :
Urge the Honduran authorities to: i. order the immediate compliance with the order to transfer Carlos Efrain PINEDA MOFRENO to a juvenile centre and ensure the transfer or separation of other detained minors;
ii. carry out a thorough and impartial investigation into the death of Carlos Enrique JAKO in order that the guilty person may be severely punished and in addition determine the responsibility of the various authorities in order to impose upon them the penal, civil and/or administrative sanction s provided by law;
iii. prevent any act or failure to act on the part of judicial, police or other authorities liable to affect the safety or physical and psychological integrity of minors subjected to any form of detention or imprisonment;
iv. ensure the full respect of human rights and fundamental liberties in accordance with national legislation and international standards.
Addresses : S.E. Dr. Carlos Roberto Reina, Presidente de la Republica, Casa Presidencial, Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Fax : + 504 - 34 49 47 _/or 34 19 66 Telex : 1129 MMRR HO/1429 HO
Lic. Edmundo Orellana Mercado, Fiscal General, Fiscalia General de la Republica, Ministerio Publico, 4 Avda, Colonia Palmira, dificio Castillo Poujol contiguo del Colegio de Enfermeras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Fax : + 504 - 39 36 97 _/or 39 36 98
Lic. Leo Valladares Lanza, Comisionado Nacional para la Proteccion de los Derechos Humanos, Edificio Las Cumbres, Quinto Piso, Ave. Cervantes, Apdo. 2986, Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Fax : + 504 - 38 75 38 E-mail : mailto:lvl@ns.hondunet.net
Geneva 12th March 1996
Kindly in form us of any action undertraken quoting the code number of this appeal in your reply.