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Walter Trochez 'had been very active in documenting and publicizing homophobic killings and crimes committed by the forces behind the coup'
Walter Trochez
Honduran LGBT rights activist assassinated
Amnesty International has called for an investigation into the murder of LGBT activist Walter Trochez, who was killed in a drive-by shooting on Sunday night in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras.
Trochez had reportedly been active in documenting the human rights violations that occurred during the protests that followed the June 28 military coup that deposed President Jose Manuel Zelaya, but he was already well known for his work with the LGBT community.
Two weeks before his death, while he was monitoring the treatment of transgender prostitutes working in the
Comayaguela district, Trochez was kidnapped by masked police, according to the Spanish-language alternative news source Kaoslenlared.net. After being repeatedly beaten in the face with a pistol butt, he was interrogated about individuals opposed to the military coup and told that "even if you give us the information we're going to kill you, we have orders to kill you".
After managing to escape from the kidnappers' van, Trochez lodged a complaint against them at City Hall, where he was mocked for his homosexuality. His complaint was registered but no action was taken.
Journalist Doug Ireland reported that Trochez "had been very active recently in documenting and publicizing homophobic killings and crimes committed by the forces behind the coup, which is believed to have been the motive for his murder. He had been trailed for weeks before his murder by thugs believed to be members of the state security forces."
Kerrie Howard, Americas deputy director at Amnesty International, said: "It is essential that human rights defenders and opposition activists are able to exercise freedom of expression without fearing threats or attacks.
"Amnesty International fears that Walter's killing may be a sign of worse abuses to come in the atmosphere of political instability and fear that has prevailed since the coup d'etat in June. Walter's killers must be brought to justice, and the de facto authorities must ensure all reports of reprisals against protestors and campaigners are fully investigated and subject to the full weight of the law."
