Honduras Election Update - 3pm Sat. 28 November
Honduras Update - 3pm Saturday 28 November
From Julie Webb-Pullman, in Tegucigalpa
Saturday 28 November, 1500hrs
There has been some good news today. Merlin Aguigure, feminist leader, was released from detention last night, after spending almost 24 hours incarcerated in a men’s facility.
Also today, in an expression of solidarity, El Salvadorean social movements, including many religious organisations, have blocked the border crossings of El Poiy and El Matillo to prevent Hondurans living in El Salvador from entering Honduras to vote. Several priests have indicated they will be joining the blockade tomorrow, election day.
The bad news is that the country continues in a state of enormous military and police presence. 15 minutes ago in barrio Guamilito in Tegucigalpa, a bomb exploded in a number 2 bus as national police and a truck load of soldiers was passing in front of the Centre for Women’s Rights. In Barrio Paramateo soldiers in full camouflage have been spotted...perhaps because being draped in leaves in the middle of a city is a bit of an eye-catcher....and there are ‘retenes’ or checkpoints in several locations.
Angel Salgado Hernandez remains in a coma in Escuela Hospital, and his family is currently at the Human Rights Centre making a formal complaint about the circumstances of his shooting, an army colonel being identified by witnesses as responsible.
Regular updates on the situation will be posted every few hours, but there is no doubt the situation is becoming more dangerous for Hondurans by the minute.
ENDS