Front Line is deeply concerned following reports that the premises of the Committee of Families of Disappeared-Detainees in Honduras (Comité de Familiares Detenidos-Desaparecidos de Honduras – COFADEH) have been broken into on two occasions and that Bertha Oliva de Nativí, General Coordinator of COFADEH has been followed. COFADEH is a non-governmental organisation which works in defence of the rights of the disappeared and prisoners and also on the issue of land rights in Honduras.

Further Information

Posted 21/08/2008 On the night of 3 July 2008, unknown individuals entered the offices of COFADEH and proceeded to vandalise the office, empty filing-cabinets and urinate in one of the corridors. The burglars then took two laptop computers, two video-cameras, three cameras and three USB devices, all of which contained information related to the work of the organisation. The break-in was reported to the police, who reportedly arrived at the scene five hours later to begin preliminary investigations.

On 5 August 2008, unknown individuals again entered the offices of COFADEH at night. On that occasion, they removed sensitive information concerning cases which COFADEH brings before the national judicial system as well as the Inter-American human rights system. They also took information from the General Coordination and Legal Assistance computers, as well as two valuable sculptures. The police reportedly arrived to begin the investigation six hours after the break-in was first reported.

On the night of 6 July 2008, unknown individuals driving a green Toyota pick-up followed the vehicle in which Bertha Oliva and her daughter were travelling home. When Ms Oliva's car approached the car-park of the housing development where they live, the vehicle following them pulled back upon seeing the car-park security guard. Before leaving, the vehicle briefly stopped half a block away, in what was believed to be an effort to ensure that Bertha Oliva had seen them.

Front Line believes that the break-ins at the offices of COFADEH and the intimidation and surveillance of Bertha Oliva form part of an attempt to intimidate the members of COFADEH and curtail the work of the organisation. In view of these incidents, Front Line expresses its serious concern for the physical and psychological integrity of all those affiliated with COFADEH and their families.