By Brenda Lopez Romero
Impunity Watch reporter – North America desk

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras – On May 4, 2010, the independent Truth and Reconciliation Commission will begin its work to document an “objective and impartial” report of the events that lead to the June 28, 2009 political change of power and ouster of President Zelaya.

Former Guatemalan Vice President – Eduardo Stein, two international experts – Michael Kergin, former Assistant Deputy Minister for the Americas in the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Canada and Maria Amadilia, former Minister of Justice of Peru, and two national experts – Hondurans Julieta Castellanos, President of the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) and former UNAH President and jurist Jorge Omar Casco, and a support team, will coordinate the Commission in addition to technical and administrative assistance from the Organization of American States (OAS).

Mr. Stein pre-warned some facts may not be disclosed, because “there will be sensitive information that will be classified, especially confidential testimony provided by certain individuals during the investigation process.”  Mr. Stein did point out that within a 10 year period that information would be declassified, but his team is “going to be extremely scrupulous in [thier] work.”  Nevertheless, there is already dissatisfaction with the chosen experts.

Reina Rivera, a member of the Human Rights Platform Coalition stated, “We believe that the selection of the international members was made more on the basis of their nationalities than their competence and abilities. The representatives from Canada and Peru are not well looked upon in some sectors, which is why some reject the Commission, while others view it with reservations.”  The president of the National Association of Industrialists, Adolfo Facusse, said that the findings “will be geared to what the world wants to hear, and not to what really happened in Honduras. I don’t have very high expectations regarding this question. It won’t contribute to reconciliation; on the contrary, it will create greater division.”  Honduras’ first ever Human Rights Commissioner (from 1992 to 2002), Leo Valladares, opined that “it’s only natural that there is widespread distrust,” he said.

For more information see:

Honduras News – Truth Commission Faces Daunting Task – 19 April 2010

IPS News – Truth Commission Under Fire from All Sides – 19 April 2010

Upsidedown World – Disappearing Truth in Honduras: Commissions Cover Up Demands for New Constitution – 13 April 2010