PBI-Honduras observes live broadcast of trial of campesina Nolvia Obando, highlights the right to a public hearing
On August 28, PBI-Honduras posted: “PBI observes the trial against defender Nolvia Obando through the live broadcast of the @PJdeHonduras [Judicial Branch of Honduras]. It is important that the public nature of the trial is respected. We applaud the work on behalf of #humanrights of the @RedDefensoras [the National Network of Women Human Rights Defenders in Honduras] and other organizations present.”
PBI-Honduras shared the post from the Justice for the Peoples Law Firm that says: “Police operation in the La Ceiba Courthouse at the start of the trial of a defender #NolviaObando denies entry to her colleagues and human rights organizations, denying the right to a public hearing. A tent will be set up to show solidarity and maintain the demand for a fair trial.”
Now, PBI-Honduras has posted: “Today we are following up on the conclusions of the trial against land defender Nolvia Obando, through the live broadcast of @PJdeHonduras. @RedDefensoras is asking that the Appeal for Protection filed by Nolvia’s defense be resolved.”
Front Line Defenders has also previously noted: “Nolvia Albertina Obando Turcios is a woman human rights defender, evangelical pastor and leader of the rural Red de Mujeres Campesinas Las Galileas. The Red de Mujeres Campesinas Las Galileas is a group that is part of the Central Nacional de Trabajadores del Campo (CNTC), who have dedicated themselves to the struggle for the recovery of land in Honduras. Due to their activities in defence of human rights, they have had to face acts of constant intimidation.”
And in June 2024, IM Defensoras highlighted: “In March of 2023, Nolvia Albertina Obando Turcios, was arrested and accused of land usurpation and indicted for this crime without the possibility of alternative measures. She was then taken to the Porvenir Prison in Atlántida, where she was held for five months.”
Now, Criterio.hn reports:
“In an act that has generated outrage among human rights organizations, the National Police and the security personnel of the Court of First Instance of La Ceiba have denied entry to defenders of the Las Galileas Peasant Women’s Movement to the oral and public trial of defender Nolvia Obando, which was rescheduled for this day, August 28. Obando faces accusations from the Public Ministry of usurpation, a charge classified as unfair and motivated by his work in defense of the land.
According to the complaint that was filed by the National Network of Women Human Rights Defenders in Honduras, the police argued that they could not remain at the entrance due to the number of people and that their presence in the stands could obstruct the passage.
In solidarity with Obando, the Las Galileas movement mobilized from their communities to accompany Obando in this process. However, when five colleagues tried to enter the courthouse as observers, they were forbidden to be outside the premises, arguing that there had been disturbances two weeks ago.
Since her arrest in March 2023, Nolvia Obando, a peasant woman accused of usurpation, has faced serious violations of her rights during the judicial process against her. The National Network of Women Human Rights Defenders in Honduras has denounced the improper use of the penal system to harass and criminalize Nolvia, who defends the right to land and food and who was captured and exposed to the media as a criminal.
The National Network of Women Human Rights Defenders demands the total release of Nolvia Obando, pointing out that she is innocent and has been the victim of an unfair judicial process plagued by violations of her human rights.
National and international organizations have shown their support for the peasant leader. Amnesty International has repeatedly denounced the criminalization of human rights defenders in Honduras, who face unfair and irregular judicial processes. The organization has demanded that the Honduran state guarantee fair trials and refrain from using the penal system to harass those who fight for the defense of human rights, common goods and territories.
Similarly, Peace Brigades International (PBI) in Honduras has emphasized the importance of respecting the public nature of the trial against Nolvia Obando, stressing that transparency is essential to guarantee a fair process.”
The full article in Criterio.hn can be read at Policía Nacional impide el acceso a defensoras en juicio de Nolvia Obando (Breidy Hernández; August 29, 2024).
We continue to follow this.
0 Comments