ARSN has signed on to the following letter from Canadian civil society organizations expressing concern over the Canada-Honduras Free Trade Agreement - you can express your concern by finding your Member of Parliament and writing to her/him.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 13 February 2014
Canada-Honduras FTA will deepen conflict
Civil society organizations from Canada and Quebec are concerned that
the Canada-Honduras Free Trade Agreement (FTA) currently being debated
in the House of Commons will further undermine human rights and
democracy in Honduras. The debate began days after the inauguration of
Juan Orlando Hernandez following highly contested presidential
elections. The elections were fraught with irregularities as well as
violence, and deemed fraudulent by most independent international
observers. The proposed legislation sends the message that Canada
rewards illegitimate governments as long as they serve Canadian economic
interests.
The bilateral trade deal was signed on November 5th, 2013, in the
lead up to the presidential election, despite wide-spread opposition and
mounting evidence to suggest that the deal will exacerbate the social
and human rights crisis. Since the 2009 military coup against
democratically-elected President Manuel Zelaya, violence and repression
have reached an all-time high. Human rights defenders, women’s rights
activists, members of the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, trans and queer)
community, the Garifuna, Indigenous people, union leaders, farmers and
journalists are being systematically threatened or killed.
Police corruption and militarization of the state:
Police corruption is rampant with high ranking members implicated in
criminal activity, contributing to widespread impunity as well as a
judicial and law-enforcement system that perpetuates the problem. Just
recently, Constantino Zavala the police chief in the western province of
Lempira was suspended for allegedly being involved in drug trafficking.
The return of the military security state has been a major focus of
President Hernandez who spearheaded the legislative effort that created
the Law of Public Order Military Police (PMOP). To fund this new
military police, the government was able to draw 24.5 million lempiras
($1.2 million), from a new “security tax” paid for by large
corporations. These new units will take over neighbourhoods, residential
developments, or public spaces in order to crack down on supposed
illegal activities. Human rights defenders in Honduras have testified
that they are witnessing the reactivation of the death squads of the 80s
with a pattern of assassinations of women, youth and political
opponents.
During presidential elections on November 24, 2013, many Hondurans
were hopeful that a new political landscape would ensure a break from
traditional two party politics in Honduras and lead to improved
conditions. However, the situation has taken a turn for the worst with
Hernandez’ questionable election. International and local human rights
observers reported wide-spread vote buying, irregularities in the voter
registry, selling of electoral credentials, militarization, intimidation
and even assassinations. Nonetheless, Hernandez was declared the winner
and the country has been driven further into crisis.
Canada contributes to social conflict:
Although the FTA has not yet been implemented, Canadian investments
are already contributing to social conflict in Honduras, particularly in
the mining, export manufacturing and tourism sectors.
The Canadian government provided technical assistance and support for
the General Mining and Hydrocarbons Law, passed in January 2013.
Notably, the new mining law lifts a seven-year moratorium on new mining
projects and earmarks 2% of the royalties paid by extractive companies
for a Security Tax to help fund Honduran state security. The law paves
the way for new mining projects which have given rise to increased
conflict and militarization in affected communities where mining
projects operate. According to the Honduras Documentation Centre, 52% of
all conflict in Honduras is rooted in natural resource management.
The
most notorious case is that of Vancouver-based Goldcorp which operated
the San Martin gold and silver mine in Valle de Siria. The project’s
legacy is one of water contamination, dried up streams, and reports of
serious public health problems in surrounding communities which have yet
to be fully addressed.
In the garment and textile export sector, the factories of
Montreal-based Gildan Activewear in northwestern Honduras are noted for
the debilitating work-related injuries suffered by workers due to
excessively long work shifts and high production targets and for firing
workers for attempting to unionize. Finally, in the tourism sector,
Canadian investments are displacing Indigenous and Afro-Honduran peoples
from their territories with no respect whatsoever for their cultural
and land rights.
It is misleading to argue that the FTA will improve the situation in
Honduras. FTAs severely weaken the ability of government to legislate
for the public good and undermine community, human, labour and
environmental rights. Meanwhile, investor rights provisions are
substantive, allowing corporations to sue governments if they make
decisions companies disagree with. The environmental and labour side
agreements are mere window dressing devoid of any enforcement
mechanisms. As such, the FTA favours narrow economic interests, and is
bound to lead to greater conflict as well as further violence in
Honduras.
We call on Canadian parliament to refrain from passing legislation to
implement the Canada-Honduras FTA and for the Conservative government
to reconsider its priorities around Honduras, putting priority on the
wellbeing of communities, human and labour rights.
Alternatives
Americas Policy Group (APG)
Atlantic Regional Solidarity Network (ARSN)
Breaking The Silence (BTS)
British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF)
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
Climate Justice Saskatoon
Comité pour les droits humains en Amérique latine (CDHAL)
Common Frontiers
Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN)
Council of Canadians
Council of Canadians – Saskatoon Chapter
Council of Canadians – London Chapter
CUPE Ontario International Solidarity Committee
Latin American-Canadian Solidarity Association (LACASA)
Latin American and Caribbean Solidarity Network (LACSN)
Mining Injustice Solidarity Network (MISN)
Rights Action
SalvAide
For more information: Raul Burbano, Common Frontiers 416 522 8615
