Interim Report - Report No 90, 1966

Case No 381 (Honduras) - Complaint date: 18-MAR-64 - Closed

1. 208. The Committee examined this case previously at its meeting in February 1965, when it submitted an interim report appearing in paragraphs 76 to 81 of its 82nd Report, approved by the Governing Body at its 162nd Session (May 1965).
2. 209. Honduras has ratified the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87), and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98).

A. A. The complainants' allegations

1. 210. In its complaint dated 18 March 1964 the Latin American Federation of Christian Trade Unionists alleged that the trade union leader Humberto Portillo had been murdered. In its reply dated 20 May 1964, which is summarised in paragraph 79 of the 82nd Report, the Government mentioned the existence and activities of an organisation (the Integrated Liberation Movement) devoted to terrorism and sabotage, which had gone so far as to attack persons with the purpose of embarrassing the trade unions and workers. These acts of violence had made three victims-two officials murdered on the north-coast banana plantations and a trade union leader, Mr. Humberto Portillo, shot dead in the streets of Tegucigalpa in December 1963. As the Government had stated that investigations were going on with the purpose of throwing light on the death of Mr. Portillo, the Committee recommended the Governing Body in paragraph 81 of the above-mentioned report to request the Government to furnish all possible information on the results of the investigations. This recommendation was approved by the Governing Body and communicated to the Government by a letter dated 9 June 1965.
2. 211. In a letter dated 18 January 1966 the Government states that it has not so far been possible to throw light on the crime but that investigations continue. From a report of the National Investigation Department, enclosed with the letter, it appears that, although various suspects were taken into custody and questioned, they were released because their complicity in the crime could not be proved.
3. 212. The Government states that no responsibility in the matter can be attributed to it. It adds that since the motives of the crime are unknown, there is no proof that it was necessarily connected with the trade union activities of Mr. Portillo. In any case the matter comes within the competence of the courts of justice, whose responsibility it is to establish the truth. Lastly, the Government states that it reaffirms its intention of complying to the full with its international obligations, especially with respect to the preservation of freedom of association.

B. B. The Committee's conclusions

1. 213. The Committee takes note of these statements by the Government, which appear to modify those contained in the latter's communication of 20 May 1964, since the earlier statements seemed to be based on the assumption that Mr. Portillo had been murdered because he was a trade union leader, by members of an organisation devoted to embarrassing the trade unions and workers by this and other acts.

The Committee's recommendations

1. 214. In these circumstances the Committee recommends the Governing Body:
   • (a) to take note of the statement by the Government that it has not yet been possible to throw light on the circumstances relating to the murder of the trade union leader Mr. Humberto Portillo;
   • (b) to take note that the competent authorities are continuing to investigate the case;
   • (c) to express the hope that the Government will take all the necessary steps to establish the truth concerning this grave matter;
   • (d) to request the Government to be good enough to inform the Governing Body of everything new arising in connection with the case;
   • (e) to take note of this interim report, on the understanding that the Committee will submit a new report when the Government has supplied the information referred to in subparagraph (d).