May I Speak Freely Web Site Launch

(PRWEB) November 11, 2004

MAY I SPEAK FREELY MEDIA LAUNCHES WEB SITE ON HUMAN RIGHTS & LEGACY OF U.S. INVOLVEMENT IN HONDURAS

Twenty years after a Honduran military, trained and funded by the United States, committed brutal human rights abuses, its victims are still seeking justice. As part of a campaign to raise awareness, gain access to U.S. information on past abuses, help to achieve justice for victims, and prevent the repetition of past U.S. foreign policy mistakes, May I Speak Freely Media has launched http://www.mayispeakfreely.org.

To advance its “anticommunist” strategy in Central America, the United States used Honduras as a staging ground for military operations and covert warfare against the Sandinista government of Nicaragua and in support of the military dictatorship in El Salvador. With U.S. money and training, the 316th battalion of the Honduran Armed Forces “disappeared,” tortured and murdered at least 184 labor leaders, students, clergy, journalists and others in Honduras.

This issue gained international attention in the late 1980s through the 1990s as human rights organizations demanded justice, a Honduran human rights commissioner sought access to U.S information to aid in prosecuting perpetrators, and the U.S. congress and President Clinton pledged their help. Unfortunately, Honduran prosecutors have met with little success, U.S. officials have as yet failed in their support, and the international community has largely forgotten about Honduras. Meanwhile, Honduran human rights abusers live with impunity and U.S. officials who were involved in or knew about abuses have not been held accountable for their role.

MISF’s site, http:// www.mayispeakfreely.org, takes a hard look at the human rights impacts of U.S. involvement in Honduras and the policies and persons responsible for abuses. Just as important, the site analyzes how this history is still relevant to us in the present, from ongoing trials of Honduran military officers to the return of Reagan’s cold warriors in the administration of President George W. Bush, to similar human rights abuses revealed in Iraq. Offering journalism, historical records, and other educational material, the Web site will serve as a resource for students, journalists, scholars, activists and the general public. Please visit us online at http://www.mayispeakfreely.org and look for new streaming video interviews with torture survivors, human rights leaders, political analysts and others in the coming weeks.

May I Speak Freely Media works closely with international NGOs and grassroots organizations to document threats to human and civil rights, educate the public about global issues, and build awareness about how historical events are relevant to contemporary political issues. MISF works to stimulate public dialogue, civic participation and social change.

Please visit http://www.mayispeakfreely.org to subscribe to MISF’s newsletter today!

Contact:

Roz Dzelzitis, Director, May I Speak Freely Media

20 Greenleaf Avenue, Medford, MA 02155

phone: (781) 393-0906

e-mail: [email protected]

http://www.mayispeakfreely.org

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