Interim Report - Report No 153, March 1976

1. 283. The complaints were submitted in two communications of 27 June 1975, one from the World Confederation of Labour and the other from the Latin American Federation of Peasants (FCL). The FCL submitted additional information in communications of 10 and 29 July 1975. The Government submitted its observations by communications of 4 and 5 August 1975.
2. 284. Honduras has ratified the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87), and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98).

A. A. The complainants' allegations

1. 285. The WCL states that the Honduras army attacked the institute of the trade union federations in the Department of Olancho, killing five persons and injuring several. It also alleges that all officers of the General Confederation of Labour have been arrested and that the Government is endeavouring to destroy the National Peasants' Union (a body affiliated to the WCL and the Latin American Central of workers, 400 militant members of which are in prison. According to the complainant, 15,000 peasants marched on the capital to protest against the infringements of fundamental rights and freedom of association.
2. 286. The WCL claims that the Government has massacred peasants in the Department of Olancho and that the military forces have occupied all headquarters of the National Peasants' Union and the General Confederation of Labour, arresting all their leaders. In other communications, the WCL states that these events are the outcome of various problems which have been accumulating and which have remained unresolved over the years. It recalls the tragic events of 1972 and states that the persons responsible are the same as were responsible then (who maintain paramilitary organisations). The National Peasants' Union, adds the complainant, has always maintained a positive attitude to these questions, which have remained unsolved despite numerous agreements with the Government. The WCL appended to its letters a large volume of documents relating in particular to the agrarian reforms demanded by the National Peasants' Union, that body's meetings with the authorities and the results of the meetings, and on the dispute which has arisen. They include a partial list of the detainees.
3. 287. The Government states in its reply that the allegations do not accurately reflect the events. It states that a high level military commission has been instructed to inquire into the events of 25 June 1975. Certain persons (both civilian and military) who are suspected of being implicated in the events have been remanded in custody and held at the disposal of the competent courts. The Government states that the temporary occupation of the offices of the National Peasants' Union and the General Confederation of Labour was decided upon in order to avoid a worse situation. These offices were returned to the organisations and the leaders, arrested as a precaution, are now free. The Government adds that it will severely punish the persons responsible, without distinction.

B. B. The Committee's conclusions

1. 288. The Committee has to consider particularly serious events which occurred in the Department of Olancho. It does not have at its disposal sufficient information on which to reach a decision on these events at this stage, but notes that a military commission has been instructed to carry out an inquiry and that civilian and military suspects have been remanded in custody, at the disposal of the competent courts.