Coup protester gang-raped by Honduran police

The Organization of American States' commission on human rights reports that they have testimony from nonviolent protesters in Honduras alleging rape and other sexual violence by Honduran police who are repressing opposition to the coup regime. The group Feministas de Honduras en Resistencia says is has documented 19 instances of rape by police officers since the coup on June 28th that ousted President Manuel Zelaya. Gilda Rivera, the executive coordinator of the Honduran Center for Women's Rights says there have been many other cases of rape, but the women have not reported them out of fear of reprisals. The activists say that women taking part in the resistance to the coup are being targeted. Rivera said her group has obtained testimonials from women who've been sexually abused and beaten. One of the victims, Irma Villanueva, told her story to the Jesuit-run Radio Progreso. She says that as police were breaking up a recent protest march with tear gas, they abducted women. She said: "They took me to a very cloddy, gritty place, then took me down and told me: 'Now bitch, now you're gonna' see what happens to you for you being where you shouldn't be. I was raped by four police." The Organization of American States' commission on human rights has documented a pattern of serious violations under the coup government, including excessive use of force, thousands of arbitrary detention, sexual violence, and attacks on the media, as well as several confirmed deaths and possible "disappearances." The commission also documented an absence of effective legal protections from abuse.