Update: Espinal appeal denied

Simcoe County Honduras Rights Monitor and the Spring family of Elmvale have a message for Canada and Honduras on this billboard (donated by Datamax) in support of release of family member and human rights defender Edwin Espinal. The billboard is located on County Road 90.

Appeal denied in Honduras – while in Simcoe County, billboard donated to advocate for release of Edwin Espinal 

By Janet Spring Springwater News September 5 2018

The Simcoe County Honduras Rights Monitor and the Spring family thank Datamax Outdoor Advertising for its very generous donation of a billboard to bring awareness of the case of Edwin Espinal in Honduras. Edwin is a member of the Spring family of Elmvale, partner of 8 years of their daughter Karen Spring.

The billboard has been erected on County Rd 90, Barrie. It brings attention to the importance to ‘STAND FOR HUMAN RIGHTS’ and to ‘FREE ELMVALE’S EDWIN ESPINAL’, to support Edwin and the Spring family from Elmvale as they advocate for Edwin’s release from a maximum-security military prison.

Recently an appeal that was put forward over 5 months ago was finally sent to the Court of Appeal. During my trip to Honduras on August 10, I was granted five minutes to speak to the judges ruling on Edwin’s case and bring forth arguments regarding his lack of due process. On August 23, the judges ruled; the appeal was denied without Edwin’s attorneys in attendance during the ruling process to hear any reasons as to why all motions were denied or to view the ‘evidence’ they were basing the judgement on.

Edwin was arrested for his human rights work in Honduras over 7 months ago. Edwin is a Honduran national who has been a target of the Honduran coup government for his work in his community as he advocates for human rights. Karen is a Canadian human rights defender, who has been working for the Honduras Solidarity Network in Honduras since the US and Canadian backed military coup of 2009.

The Spring family have asked the Canadian Government through Minister Freeland’s office to make a public statement, directed at the Honduras government, advocating for Edwin’s release. To date, this has not been made.

Edwin continues to await up to 2.5 years in pre-trial detention and has been charged with a list of trumped up charges. His case has been fraught with irregularities; he has been denied due legal process. To date, Edwin’s lawyers still have been denied access to his legal file. They have been denied access to view any documents or video tapes that are supposed ‘evidence’ in his case.

In Honduras, it is impossible to be granted a fair and just trial. Human rights defenders like Edwin, do not stand a chance; they are often arrested, tortured, disappeared or like Edwin, incarcerated due to speaking against the illegal government of Juan Orlando Hernandez. There is a lack of rule of law; no person is afforded a fair and just hearing or trial unless they are members of the ruling oligarchy families or high officials in the Hernandez regime.

The Spring family and Simcoe County Honduras Rights Monitor thank the local Elmvale and Barrie community and beyond for their ongoing support. Further updates on Edwin’s case may be found at: bit.ly/CanHon, or www.freeedwinespinal@blogspot.com.

Elmvale family reminds Canadian leaders Saudi Arabia isn’t the only place with political prisoners

Elmvale woman believes a strong stance from Canada could save her son-in-law, who’s imprisoned in Honduras for protesting against civil and human rights abuses

by Erika Engel Barrie Today August 16 2018

It was a tweet heard ’round the world.

Canada took on Saudi Arabia and now Canada’s leaders are boasting about standing up for human rights.

But an Elmvale family is calling their bluff.

Janet Spring and her daughter, Karen, as well as several family and friends from Elmvale have been calling on those in power in Canada to demand the release of Karen’s partner, Edwin Espinal, who was arrested and imprisoned in January following mass protests related to the Honduran election.

“If Canada makes a statement regarding the release of a political prisoner in Saudi Arabia, it must do so for Edwin Espinal in Honduras, who is a very loved member of the Spring family of Elmvale, Ont.,” said Janet Spring.

Recently, a tweet by Foreign Policy CAN, “urged” Saudi Arabian authorities to “immediately release” civil society and women’s rights activists, including Samar Badawi, and all other “peaceful human rights activists.”

Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s minister for foreign affairs, told national news reporters Canada “was always going to speak up for human rights.”

But it’s been six months since the Springs and others who have formed the Simcoe County Honduras Rights Monitor first appealed to Freeland and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to help Espinal and the other political prisoners who were arrested while they peacefully protested against human and civil rights abuses in Honduras.

Trudeau told a group of reporters in Montreal on Aug. 8 that Canada “will continue to stand up for Canadian values and indeed for universal values and human rights at any occasion.

“Canadians have always expected our government to speak strongly, firmly, clearly and politely about the need to respect human rights at home and around the world,” added the prime minister.

“We consider it hypocrisy for Canada to ignore the desperate pleas coming from our family and from our rural community,” Janet Spring said from Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Spring is in Honduras for Espinal’s appeal, which was to be heard by a judge late last week or early this week.

“It’s time for Mr. Trudeau and Ms. Freeland to make clear that Canada will cease political and financial support for the corrupt Hernandez government, until prisoners are allowed basic human rights in the legal process and their treatment meets basic civilized norms,” said Spring.

Espinal and Raúl Eduardo Alvarez Ordoñez are political prisoners incarcerated in a maximum-security prison.

The conditions in the prison are dismal, with insect infestations, lack of sanitary toilet facilities and lack of fresh air being some of the factors of poor sanitation, according to a Canadian ambassador who visited Espinal at La Tolva prison in July.

Espinal and Alvarez have lost approximately 35 pounds each due to poor nutrition, according to the Simcoe County Honduras Rights Monitor.

Spring has made two visits to Honduras since Espinal was arrested, and has spoken with embassy staff and ambassadors and been in the prison to see Espinal.

She said a word from Canada’s leaders would be the difference for Espinal and Alvarez.

“I am confident Espinal would be released if Canada took a firm stand and demanded his freedom,” said Spring.

Recently, both Espinal and Alvarez wrote letters from their prison cells to those still fighting for their rights and others whose civil and human rights are being abused in Honduras.

“Comrades, Thank you for all of your solidarity. These actions are what give us the strength to survive in this hole, where we’re constantly harassed as a form of psychological and emotional torture,” writes Espinal. “But that’s not enough to silence us or make us desist from our struggle. Now more than ever we want to continue struggling by your side.”

Alvarez started his letter with greetings from prison and asked his comrades to stay strong in their struggle.

“Don’t tire or falter,” he writes. “Our country needs brave people for it to progress. Soon we’ll be in the city with you to achieve the long-awaited victory that was stolen from us by the corrupt and sell-out politicians that we’ve had. May God bless Honduras and our comrades who struggle, the defenders of our homeland. I have lost my freedom but not my will to keep going for my country, Honduras.”

For more on the Simcoe County Honduras Rights Monitor and ways to take action on behalf of Espinal and other Honduran political prisoners, click here.

Other media

CTV Barrie: Elmvale family’s efforts to free Honduran prisoner