Anti-corruption lawyer flees Honduras after receiving threats | Corruption Information

After the departure of Gabriela Castellanos, her group revealed a report accusing the federal government of nepotism.

A distinguished anti-corruption activist in Honduras has filed a criticism with the Honduran Human Rights Commissioner, claiming that threats compelled him and his household to flee the nation over the weekend.

Gabriela Castellanos, director of the Nationwide Anti-Corruption Council (CNA) non-profit group, left Honduras on the advice of her safety staff, after a “collection of alerts in latest days” indicated she was at risk. Council said.

He stated that we are going to proceed the combat towards corruption. Castellanos tweeted Monday morning. “This battle is everybody’s. They will not cease us.”

He additionally spoke to Honduran media concerning the menace, telling HCH tv on Monday that his departure got here “even sooner” than he anticipated. “I feel our job duty is to behave responsibly, in truth, regardless of the associated fee,” Castellanos stated.

His accusations stem from a CNA investigation revealed in Might concentrating on the administration of Honduran President Xiomara Castro.

The report, titled “Continuity of Energy”, finds proof of nepotism in authorities.

The spouse of ex-president Manuel Zelia, turned a leftist Castro First female president of Honduras Later she led a broad coalition to victory within the 2021 presidential elections. His victory ended the 12-year rule of Honduras Conservative National Party.

However the CNA has alleged that Castro has used his place to pay attention energy inside his household, inserting his husband and shut kinfolk in key authorities positions.

“Governmental energy has been held by a single household since Mrs. Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento was elected President of the Republic of Honduras,” the report stated, utilizing the president’s full identify.

The report identified that Zelia and the couple’s son, Jose Manuel Zelia Castro, was appointed as a presidential adviser. One other of their sons, Héctor Manuel Zélia Castro, was named a non-public presidential secretary.

Different members of Castro’s prolonged household served in ambassadorial and ministerial posts. A headline within the newspaper El Heraldo likened the Council of Ministers to a “household tree”.

In his interview with HCH tv on Monday, Castellanos — whose precise whereabouts weren’t instantly clear after leaving Honduras — stated his group continues to maneuver ahead with its work, regardless of the alleged threats.

“The place I’m, I’ll proceed to work, and as a civil society, we should say issues whether or not we like them or not,” he instructed the publication.

Castellanos additionally stated he submitted the threats he acquired to Honduras’ Nationwide Commissioner for Human Rights (CONADEH), an unbiased company created by congressional decree.

The company acknowledged its receipt of Castellanos’ criticism. “The criticism has been submitted for processing, and procedures which can be the duty of CONADEH shall be carried out to make sure the life and integrity of the applicant,” it stated in a single. statement on Twitter.

In recent times, a lot of Honduran activists have confronted threats and violence, particularly these concerned in environmental advocacy.

Final week, water protector Oqueli Dominguez – who Protest against local iron oxide mines – Killed in a taking pictures at his dwelling in Tokuwa.

Six months in the past, in January, his brother Ali Dominguez and fellow employee Jero Bonilla Shot and killed On the highway between La Concepcion and Guapinol. Mary Lawler, UN Particular Rapporteur on the state of affairs of human rights defenders, has made a requirement. Independent research of their loss of life.

J 2016 Murder Indigenous rights chief Berta Caceres It drew world consideration to the risks confronted by activists within the area. She gained the Goldman Environmental Prize – a global honor – only a 12 months in the past.