October, 21 2009, 04:42pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Dan Beeton, 202-239-1460
Brazil, at Organization of American States, Accuses Honduran Coup Regime of "Torture"
WASHINGTON
The Brazilian
government's Ambassador to the Organization of American States, Ruy de
Lima Casaes e Silva, accused
the Honduran coup regime of "torture" in its ongoing attacks on
Brazil's embassy in Honduras.
Ambassador Lima Casaes described an elaborate series of measures taken
by the Honduran security forces surrounding the Embassy to cause sleep
deprivation among those inside. These included ultra-high-intensity
lights, high-decibel sound, and other measures.
He also mentioned other attacks including tear gas and attacks with
unidentified gases, and other forms of harassment and violations of
international law including restricting food deliveries.
All of these are serious violations of international law, and have
already been condemned
on September 25 by the Security Council of the United Nations. Today
OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza also condemned
the ongoing "harassment" of the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa.
"These ongoing violations indicate that the coup regime in Honduras has
no interest in dialogue or a mediated solution to the Honduran crisis,"
said Mark Weisbrot,
Co-Director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research. "The also
indicate an astounding lack of regard for international law, unusual
even in the history of military coups over the last century."
The Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) was established in 1999 to promote democratic debate on the most important economic and social issues that affect people's lives. In order for citizens to effectively exercise their voices in a democracy, they should be informed about the problems and choices that they face. CEPR is committed to presenting issues in an accurate and understandable manner, so that the public is better prepared to choose among the various policy options.
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