A military coup in Honduras has resulted in the kidnapping of the president and the assassination of a leftist political candidate.
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Murder of two members of the Honduran resistance condemned
TEGUCIGALPA, October 4.—The Honduran resistance and human rights organizations have condemned the murder of teacher Mario Contreras, vice principal of the Abelardo Fortín Institute, and Lenca leader Antonio Leiva, two members of the resistance allegedly killed by hired assassins.
According to a preliminary report from the Committee of Relatives of Disappeared Detainees in Honduras (COFADEH), Contreras was shot twice in the face 100m from his home by two unknown men on a motorcycle. He was taken to hospital but died shortly after arriving, Telesur reports.
The Center for the Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture and their Families (CPTRT) affirmed that "according to witness statements provided by relatives, it is presumed that the attacks were perpetrated by hired killers, given that none of the victim’s belongings were missing, ruling out the possibility of robbery."
Another member of the resistance front, Lenca leader Antonio Leiva, was also found dead in Santa Bárbara, in the west of the country. According to sources close to the victim, he was kidnapped in the morning and his body was discovered in the afternoon in a village in the area.
COFADEH President Berta Oliva informed the international media that several opposition leaders have received anonymous death threats and her organization fears for their safety.
Among those threatened, she mentioned presidential candidate Carlos Reyes, agricultural leader Rafael Alegría, labor leader Juan Barahona, left-wing Deputy Silvia Ayala and human rights activist Andrés Pavón.
Translated by Granma International
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