Crying Out for Justice for Dionisio Díaz García
Dionisio Díaz García, Honduran, Christian, known as the "lawyer of the poor" for his work defending the labor rights of impoverished workers, was assassinated on December 4, 2006. Justice has yet to be done. But your voice can make a difference.

12 Feb. 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Association for a More Just Society (AJS)
70 Divisadero, San Francisco, CA 94117
1-800-897-1135        
info@ajs-us.org
www.ajs-us.org

Trial Against Honduran Human-Rights Lawyers’ Alleged Assassins Begins February 18

The alleged hit-men accused of assassinating Dionisio Díaz García, known as “the lawyer of the poor” for his work on behalf of mistreated workers in Honduras, are being brought to trial starting Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009.

Tegucigalpa, Honduras – The trial against Ramón Eusebio Solís Zelaya and César Daniel Amador Estrada is set to begin exactly two years, two months, and two weeks after they allegedly shot beloved Christian lawyer Dionisio Díaz García to death in Honduras.

Mr. Díaz was shot to death by two men on a motorcycle on December 4, 2006, while he was driving to court to represent several impoverished security guards in a labor suit against their former employer. The alleged assassins’ trial is set to begin this coming Wednesday, February 18, and will continue in the following week. A verdict is expected to be reached by Friday, Feb. 27.

In anticipation of the trial, the Association for a More Just Society, a U.S.-based, Christian nonprofit organization that supported Mr. Díaz´s work, is encouraging supporters in North America and around the world to send letters, emails, and faxes to Honduran diplomats and justice officials, and to diplomats and legislators from their own countries, to ensure the trial of the alleged hit-men is run in a just manner, and to pressure the government of Honduras to also bring the “intellectual authors” of the murder (the people who hired the hit-men) to justice.

Specifically, AJS suggest that anyone interested in promoting justice in this case do the following:

• Pray: That God will give wisdom and courage to the judges and prosecutors participating in the trial against the alleged hit-men, and that he will continue to protect AJS-supported justice workers from harm.

• Speak Out: Contact diplomats, legislators, and other authorities. Visit www.ajs-us.org/dionisio/write_officials.htm for help doing so.

• Tell Others: Tell others about Dionisio and get them to start speaking out. A great place to start is by having them watch the Dionisio Video at: www.ajs-us.org/dionisio/dionisio_video.htm   

• Donate: Help AJS protect justice workers from harm, advocate for justice for Dionisio, provide for the education of Dionisio’s 8-year-old son, and more. Visit www.ajs-us.org/dionisio/donate.htm

Get help doing all of this and learn more at:

www.ajs-us.org/dionisio

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For more information, contact:

info@ajs-us.org

1-800-897-1135

www.ajs-us.org/dionisio

The Association for a More Just Society (AJS) is a U.S., Christian 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to promoting justice in Honduras and elsewhere and to helping North Americans follow God's call to Do Justice. AJS's activities include overseeing and funding justice initiatives carried out in Honduras by our sister organization la Asociación para una Sociedad más Justa (ASJ).

Previous Press Releases:

September 8, 2008 - Prosecution Scores Victory in Pre-Trial Evidentiary Hearing

February 8, 2008 - Alleged Hit-Men Held in Prison Without Bail

January 31, 2008 - Alleged Hit-Men Arrested

November 2007 - Corruption, Negligence, and Incompetence in Investigation of Dionisio's Assassination

December 2006 - Lawyer of the Poor Assassinated

Honduran News Media Coverage (in Spanish):

February 1, 2008 - Alleged Hit-Men Arrested (El Heraldo)

February 2, 2008 - Security Company Offices Searched (Diario El Tiempo)

February 6, 2008 - Hit-Men Held Without Bail

Timeline

4 December 2006

Two hit-men on a motorcycle assassinate Dionisio Díaz García.

5 February 2008

In the Initial Hearing, the court rules that the accused be held in custody for the duration of the trial. Ramón Eusebio Solís Zelaya is sent to the National Prison (several kilometers outside Tegucigalpa); César Daniel Amador Estrada, because he is a police agent, is held at a police station in downtown Tegucigalpa .

8 September 2008

At the pre-trial evidentiary hearing, the prosecutor presents an impressive battery of evidence against the alleged hit-men. All of this evidence is accepted for presentation at the upcoming trial.

18 February 2009

The trial proper against the accused assassins begins.

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