Honduran human rights leader to visit Salve Regina

Honduran human rights leader Father Ismael Moreno Coto, popularly known as Padre Melo, will visit Salve Regina Friday, Oct. 18 to discuss “The Price of Truth: Human Rights Since the Honduran Coup.”

Sponsored by the departments of English, Modern and Classical Languages and Social Work, the Pell Honors Program and the Mercy Center for Spiritual Life, Melo’s presentation will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Bazarsky Lecture Hall.

A Jesuit priest, Melo will discuss the human rights abuses occurring throughout Honduran society, and especially within his own journalistic world. He will offer in-depth analysis of the systemic reasons for the continuing violence, impunity and injustices, and will illuminate the various impacts of the drug war.

Melo is the director of Radio Progreso, a national leader in investigative reporting that was shut down by the new government after the 2009 coup and has suffered military occupations since. He is also director of the Center for Reflection, Research and Communication, a think tank that conducts research and reports on societal trends and public opinion in Honduras.

According to the U.S. State Department, nine journalists have been killed in Honduras and many more have been tortured, kidnapped or suffered death threats. As an outspoken critic of the 2009 coup d’etat and its aftermath, Melo has been a target of death threats and has a bounty on his head.