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We did it! Edwin Espinal released on own recognizance

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In Council Watch
Aug 9th, 2019
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Celebration by Highway 92 in front of the political prisoners sign. -AWARE Simcoe photo

Celebration the day after the release by the side of Highway 92 in front of the political prisoners sign. Among those attending were Simcoe North MP Bruce Stanton (next to Janet Spring, at left) and Vicki Monague (not shown).  -AWARE Simcoe photo

CTV News report

Family in Simcoe County rejoices

The Star’s Salutin on Honduras and Simcoe County

Wednesday September 18: Simcoe Honduras group sponsors meeting in Freeland’s riding

AWARE News Network

Friday August 9 2019 in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, political prisoners Edwin Espinal and Raul Alvarez were ordered released on their own recognizance. No bail funds were required. 

“Edwin just called me in a car coming home,” said Edwin’s mother-in-law Janet Spring of Elmvale. “He’s so excited!”

Edwin and RaulEdwin is spending his first day in more than 18 months outside La Tolva, a prison where horrific conditions have taken their toll of his health and Raul’s. He is married to human rights defender Karen Spring.

Her farm family formed the Simcoe County Honduras Rights Monitor shortly after Edwin’s arrest on trumped up charges, to campaign for his release. Two large meetings were held in Elmvale and the fight for justice in Honduras has engaged politicians of all parties and individuals and groups across Canada.

Recently, carrying sacred water from Site 41, Anishinaabe Kweag Vicki Monague visited Honduras with Janet Spring and other members of a Cross Border Network delegation.

The court case against Espinal and Alvarez will be heard next week. Here’s hoping for a fair and impartial trial. 

Here’s what Janet just posted on Facebook: 

We received great news from Honduras this afternoon. Edwin and Raul had a bail hearing today in Tegucigalpa. The court ordered that Edwin and Raul be freed on their own recognizance. This is amazing as Edwin has just been released from La Tolva Prison. It has been a very difficult eighteen and a half months, living in horrific and dangerous conditions. Edwin and Raul’s court case will begin next week. We demand an impartial and fair trial.

Thank you to all who have been supporting Edwin and Karen through this long ordeal. Edwin and Karen just called me from the car heading to their home from the prison. Accompanying Karen to the prison to finally bring Edwin home was Prisila Alvaredo, Adrienne Pine, and Edwin’s sister Delmi.

Welcome home Edwin! This is the best news ever!

August 5 2019 communique from Edwin Robelo Espinal, Rommel Baldemar Herrera Portillo and Raúl Eduardo Alvarez Ordoñez explaining their hunger strike

 

 

One Response to “We did it! Edwin Espinal released on own recognizance”

  1. Ann says:

    This is fantastic news!
    I’m so happy for Janet and her family to receive the good news.
    Hopefully Edwin will be back home in Elmvale soon.

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