98 CR-V Rear door lock problem/safety hazard

My '98 CR-V's rear door (driver side) won't unlock and therefore cannot
be opened at all.

There is only one lock/unlock switch inside the car located on the
driver's door - when you lift up, all doors unlock except for the one.
The results are the same when using the key fob.

If I try to lift up on the lock thin-a-ma-jig for that door it doesn't
budge - even when applying significant motivation with robo-grip
pliers. Makes me wonder why they even bother to put them on the doors
if you can't use them manually. It moves slightly when the other doors
unlock but not enough to unlock and you can feel actuation underneath.

I tried to remove the door panel to get a better look but it doesn't
appear that the door panel can be removed without having the door open
- at least without destroying it in the process.

I consider this a serious safety hazard. In the old days a door would
always open from the inside - locked or not.

Does anyone have any experience or suggestions as to what to do short
of taking it to the dealer? I'm a handy guy and would love to fix this
myself. If I could only open the door and/or get the door panel off!
Arrrrgggghhh! Shakes my faith in Hondas - slightly.

p.s. I don't think it has anything to do with the lockout switch. I
can get to it with a screw driver and move it back and forth - makes no
diff.