HONDURAS: Catholic Church Withdraws Support From Military

By Thelma Mejía Reprint | | Print |

Thelma Mejia

TEGUCIGALPA, Jan 29 1996 (IPS) - A surprise turnaround happened in Honduras when the Catholic Church withdrew its traditional support for the human rights violators withing the army, and the army leader promised to behave.

The Bishops of Honduras appealed to the officers to “repent” for their sins and admit their guilt, asking them to tell the public where the disappeared-detained people were.

According to the priests, this is a necessary step in the “reconciliation” process if the nation is to reach agreement and the damage done to the victim’s families is to be “repaired.”

Honduras suffered systematic human rights violations in the eighties, when the military, security and foreign secret services caused 184 people to disappear.

“In the name of God, we ask those who caused the disappearances to repent of their sins, and the families of the disappeared to forgive those who offended against them,” said the communique.

The press release caused wide-spread surprise in Honduras, as the Catholic Church had been party to amnesty for the human rights violators until three months ago.

This was a 180 degree about turn from what Archbishop of Tegucigalpa Monsignor Oscar Rodriguez, the national religious leader, had always said.

Rodriguez could not convince the bishops to support his policy of “forgive and forget,” sources within the church told IPS.

“It is very surprising, but it seems a highly positive move,” Milton Jimenez, a human rights lawyer and torture victim, told IPS.

“Although the bishops are talking of reconciliation, they are conscious that before this can be achieved, those responsible for the crimes must accept their guilt, reveal where the bodies are and face trial,” he added.

“The army, is undoubtedly more isolated, with one less ally,” concluded Jimenez.

Ramon Custodio, president of the non governmental Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, said the reconciliation the Church has called for will come if the army “commit themselves to telling the truth” rather than running from justice.

“We are not looking for vengence, but justice, because we do not want to torture the torturer or execute the executioner. We want to find the truth and fulfill the law,” he said.

Meanwhile, the new head of the Honduran Armed Forces, General Mario Hung, surprised everyone by his undertaking to encourage dialogue and military subordination to civil power.

Hung is a counterinsurgency expert and is considered a model career officer within the army – in 1993 he opposed plans by Honduran President Carlos Reina to dissolve the army.

“Today there is no tension between the civil power and the army,” said Hung.

“Under my leadership, I can promise Armed Forces prepared for dialogue with all sectors, respect for human rights and the supremacy of civil power,” he added.

A week before the Church declaration, the Supreme Court reached a historic verdict, when an appeals tribune passed an amnesty law proposed by the government five years ago, exonerating all military personnel.