Amnesty International Says Forced Exile of Honduran President Zelaya Cannot be Allowed...

Amnesty International Says Forced Exile of Honduran President Zelaya Cannot be
Allowed to Stand

Organization Expresses Concern that His Supporters May be Detained

NEW YORK, June 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Amnesty International said today
that Honduran President Manuel Zelaya must be able to return to Honduras
immediately, safely and without conditions.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081014/AILOGO)

"The forced removal of President Zelaya places human rights and the rule of
law in serious danger," said Kerrie Howard, deputy director for the Americas
program at Amnesty International.

The organization expressed concerns for the safety of human rights and
political activists who support -- or are seen to support -- President Zelaya,
saying they may be arbitrarily detained in the political turmoil.

"We would consider those detained because of their criticism of the forced
removal and forced exile of President Zelaya as prisoners of conscience," said
Howard.

Amnesty International is also concerned at reports suggesting that television
channels have been closed and restrictions placed on mass media, preventing
people from learning about developments in their country.

Amnesty International urged the Honduran authorities to fully respect human
rights and fundamental freedoms; to immediately release any government
officials and political activists who may be currently detained; to refrain
from further arbitrary detentions; and to guarantee that political opponents
and human rights defenders are able to carry out their legitimate activities
without fear of reprisal.

Background
Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was detained by Honduran military personnel
and forced into exile. Several government ministers are also reported to have
been detained. Roberto Micheletti, Congress speaker, has been sworn in as
"Interim President." Micheletti has imposed a curfew.

Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist
organization with more than 2.2 million supporters, activists and volunteers
in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The
organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the
public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and
dignity are denied.

Please visit www.amnestyusa.org for more information.

SOURCE Amnesty International

Suzanne Trimel of Amnesty International, +1-212-633-4150, strimel@aiusa.org