The Independent News Source
Twitter - Facebook - Email Alerts - RSS
Delegation asks for decisive U.S. action in Honduras
Aug. 07, 2009
Printer-friendly version
Send to friend
PDF version
Police in San Pedro Sula, Honduras remain vigilent
Printer-friendly versionSend to friendPDF versionDavid Murillo sat in a police station in Juticalpa, Honduras. He was presented with a blank piece of paper, and told to sign it. The gun on the same table told him his fate if he refused. He signed, and then a woman in a ski mask came in and typed his supposed “confession” above his signature. It included murder and rape, and it was published everywhere to discredit him.
Such is life for many who dare to protest the coup d’etat that took place in Honduras on June 28th in the wee hours of the morning. At 5 a.m., members of the Honduran military ousted the elected President, Manuel Zelaya, from bed and flew him out of the country to Costa Rica, literally in his pajamas.
The OAS, the European Union, and President Obama immediately condemned the coup. But many analysts close to the situation say the United States – which has overwhelming influence in Honduras – has not taken effective actions which can literally end the coup. Even U.S. rhetoric has moved away from the word “coup” since the initial condemnation, since that would trigger several required actions, like suspension of aid.
In light of all these developments, the Quixote Center, a faith-based justice center headquartered in Brentwood, MD, launched an emergency U.S. Delegation of Solidarity, Accompaniment and Witness to coup-ravaged Honduras. It included Tom Loudon, one of the Center’s co-Directors. One of the people the delegation visited was the imprisoned David Murillo.
Why the coup?
Conservative analysts lay all the blame for the coup on President Zelaya. They say he had violated the constitution of Honduras by calling for a non-binding vote in June, asking the people of Honduras if there was need to include on the November ballot a question about establishing a Constitutional Assembly to reform the Honduran Constitution. That, they say, violated the law and the Constitutional, and Zelaya “had to be” ousted.
The social movements of Honduras maintain this is a surface analysis and a sham. They note that the Honduran Constitution was written in 1982, when John Negroponte was the U.S. Ambassador in Honduras, trying to find ways to overthrow the Sandinistas in Nicaragua next door. These movements have long said that their constitution was written – essentially by the United States – during that period to shore up U.S. economic interests and thus the wealthy elite of Honduras. And that Honduran Constitution contains provisions that are permanent, and may not be changed! Can you imagine our having no ability to amend our Constitution? That’s the equivalent.
Articles that may not be changed include some that enshrine current economic arrangements, which have long favored the wealthy interests of Honduras, the so-called “ten families,” over the interests of the poor. Not surprisingly, the social movements of Honduras regard constitutional change as key to any meaningful change in the status of the poor.
In the face of this, President Zelaya – who set out to try to raise up the poor – did raise the minimum wage, but he found that the Constitution was a barrier to other basic economic reforms, and he called for this non-binding poll on the need for Constitutional reform.
That’s what precipitated the coup. On the surface, it’s constitutional; but in its deepest roots, it’s economic. To put it bluntly: the poor were getting uppity and challenging the established order. And they had a president who supported them. It’s not surprising that the imprisoned David Murillo said about President Zelaya, “I have never seen a president like this. He has broken the walls behind which the people were held.”
Bishops Speak in Different Voices
The Catholic church in Honduras is split. Catholic Bishop Luis Santos Villeda of Santa Rosa de Copan said bluntly that the wealthy elite are behind the coup. He told Catholic News Service, "Some say Manuel Zelaya threatened democracy by proposing a constitutional assembly. But the poor of Honduras know that Zelaya raised the minimum salary. That's what they understand. They know he defended the poor by sharing money with mayors and small towns. That's why they are out in the streets closing highways and protesting (to demand Zelaya's return)." He called for dialogue between the elite and Honduras' poor and working-class citizens.
His views are markedly different from those of Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. He has publicly urged President Zelaya not to return. He claims to have the support of the Bishops’ Conference, but many Honduran bishops are foreigners, and have not expressed a view on the coup.
The Popular Movements
Meanwhile, the popular movements have been in the streets by the thousands, calling for the restoration of Zelaya as President. According to the Quixote Center delegation, they have been met by beatings, arrests, and general repression.
COFADEH, the Committee of Families of Detained and Disappeared in Honduras, reports that in addition to the militarization of public utilities and agencies, members of the [Battalion] 3-16 death squads responsible for the disappearances of the 1980's are being placed in public positions. But the movements appear undaunted.
At the moment, they are calling for seven days of protests, focusing on the capital, Tegucigalpa, and San Pedro Sula, the country’s second largest city. Thousands of campesinos and campesinas are reportedly already headed for those cities on foot. The action is set to culminate in a massive protest on August 11th. In fact, they have called for a Global Day of Action in Solidarity with the people of Honduras, and many actions are planned in the United States, including Washington, DC.
Bishop Luis Santos Villeda of Santa Rosa de Copan may be right when he described the coup leaders in much the same words as those used by the protesting people, "They are gangsters, but their game is up. They plot together over dinner one night but the next day pretend to have disagreements in order to deceive the illiterate. They don't care that children are dying of hunger, or that people die in hospitals without medicine."
Maybe their game is up. But until then, David Murillo remains in prison, mourning his young son, who was shot at the airport the night that Zelaya tried to return to Honduras shortly after the coup. And much of Honduras awaits new developments, new word from the one capital of the world that could change their situation almost overnight: Washington, DC.
In the face of this, the Quixote Center delegation met with U.S. Ambassador Hugo Llorens in Tegucigalpa on August 7th, describing the situation as they found it, and demanding that the U.S. call a “coup” and “coup,” cut off aid as required by such a label, revoke all visas of the coup leaders, and cease training Honduran military officers at the School of the Americas. The group emphasized that the people are not going to be beaten back, that the resistance is growing, and that international accompaniment and witness will continue unbroken - documenting the repression and speaking out internationally.
They also delivered a letter to the Attorney General of Honduras, Luis Albert Rubi, on behalf of several human rights groups, demanding to know what is being done to investigate several murders, denial of freedom of movement and the press, instances of torture, death threats received on cell phones, and threats against university students.
Sister of Loretto Maureen Fiedler is the host of Interfaith Voices, a public radio show, heard on 62 radio stations in North America.
I am completely amazed to
I am completely amazed to think that anyone could write garbage such as this. I know the author will defend herself by saying she presented both sides in this article. The idea that these left leaning governments actually help poor people is absolutely absured. When people begin to help each other then we will have a solution to the problem. Government will never supply that solution. A government that allows people freedom and protection is the only answer. The answer is not giving them promises of monetary subsidies.(That is the Chavez and Ortega model) I am sure Mr. Zelaya is the same. My belief is that the good sister knows not of what she writes.
Thank you, Mother Maureen, a
Thank you, Mother Maureen, a Sister of Loretto like was, formerly, Mother Theresa.
The Honduran bishop is clearly speaking for Christ and the country's cardinal who is speaking for the devil should be ousted and overthrown.
You are right in writing that Obama is not following through on his original statements as he hasn't on his campaign promises to the LGBT communities.
May I remind people that secretary of State Hillary Clinton had initially accepted the putsch as a positive fait accompli before siding with the president by saying the situation had "evolved into a coup d'État". But since then she has called Manuel Zelaya, the democratically-elected president of Honduras, "reckless" for trying to return to his homeland!
I was working in Pastoral
I was working in Pastoral Care in Honduras, especially in rural areas of Santa Rosa de Copan Diocesis, during seven years. I agree and subcribe what Mother Moreen says in this article. Bishop Luis Santos Villeda is a blessing not only for the People of God of his Diocesis, but for all Hondurean poor people.
So let me get this
So let me get this straight:
> The bishop who agrees with the ousted president is purely speaking for the downtrodden; while the bishop who doesn't, his motives must be suspect;
> It's not a coup when the President acts in violation of the constitution--and the author of this article admits President Zelaya did violate the constitution--rather, the "coup" is when the Congress and Supreme Court act to enforce the constitution which was violated!
If the constitution needs changing, there are ways to do it.
My understanding, from various reports I've read, is that the reason the constitution was worded as it was--forbidding the president from even proposing certain changes--was precisely because the president, in his office, can wield a lot of power; and elected presidents who use their offices to get voted in for life are a real problem in Central and South America. So the constitution forbade the president from proposing changes.
Perhaps the author can come back and answer this question: did anything prevent President Zalaya, after his term of office ended, from advancing such change as a private citizen? If, as she says, he enjoyed so much support, he could have done so. What's the rush?
Finally, the author suggests the cardinal doesn't speak for the other bishops. But what prevents them from saying so themselves? Why should we assume the author speaks for anyone but herself?
Well, OK. My understanding
Well, OK. My understanding from the various reports I've read is that all Zalaya did was propose a non-binding referendum. That was the capital sin that so sorely violated the (from what I read) constitution which was heavily influenced by that bastion of democracy, John Negroponte. Ouster of a president seems a bit rash under the circumstances - unless you've been looking all the while for an excuse to get rid of the guy.
Funny, the bulk of democratic nations of the world have condemned this action - luckily they have you to show them how foolish they've all been.
Those who agree with the
Those who agree with the military ousting of a democratically-elected president working for the poor by greedy, oligarchic pustchists cannot possibly be Catholics, much less Christ followers, because they are nothing but fascist pigs.
They are the same as those who applauded the CIA-involved overthrow of the democratically-elected Chilean president Salvador Allende by bloody dictator Augusto Pinochet who was immediately blessed and embraced by Pope John Paul II, the Great-Pedophile-Protector, who shunned and even repudiated the martyred archbishop of San Salvador and friend of the poor Oscar Romero.
May Christ smite you all for usurping the church He founded.
Here is the latest Associated
Here is the latest Associated Press article about the situation, which answers the comments made here
CERRO GRANDE, Honduras (AP) - Partidarios del presidente derrocado Manuel Zelaya que mantienen una tenaz oposición al presidente de facto Roberto Micheletti, afirmaron el lunes que las autoridades pospusieron intencionalmente la llegada de una misión de la OEA para evitar que presenciara manifestaciones masivas de rechazo popular.
Sobre la carretera de esta localidad en la periferia norte de Tegucigalpa, unas 1.500 personas se acercaban a la capital hondureña en donde convergerán el martes junto a otros partidarios de Zelaya que participan de caminatas provenientes de diversos puntos del interior y que comenzaron el miércoles pasado. Otro marcha simultánea culminará en San Pedro Sula.
"La caminata ha sido dura, físicamente uno se expone", dijo a la AP Virginio López quien se integró a la marcha hace tres días. "Lo que nos revitaliza es lo que sentimos porque está en juego el destino del país".
La caminata que había partido desde la provincia vecina de Comayagua, la encabezaba un grupo de motociclistas que ondeaban banderas hondureñas, los caminantes lanzaban consignas demandando el retorno del derrocado presidente Zelaya.
Antonio Sosa, una ama de casa de 44 años, con mochila al hombro caminaba junto a su esposo, dijo que lo hacía porque pedía justicia, la mujer se integró el lunes a la caminata. "Se ha cometido una injusticia y siempre me ha gustado luchar por la justicia".
"Esperamos que los países amigos sigan presionado al gobierno de facto de Micheletti recapacite y entregue el poder al pueblo", dijo el maestro Juan Rosas.
Juan Barahona, líder del Frente Nacional de Resistencia al Golpe de Estado, la organización que a diario desde el 28 de junio organiza y convoca protestas cotidianas contra el gobierno de Micheletti, afirmó que "los golpistas, para evitar que coincidieran las marchas de la resistencia con la presencia de la OEA, ha pospuesto la visita de la OEA".
La Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA) había programado llegar el martes a Tegucigalpa en un nuevo intento de mediación diplomática para lograr que el golpe de estado sea revertido y Zelaya quede reinstalado en el poder, conforme un plan presentado por el presidente de Costa Rica Oscar Arias que actuó como mediador.
Sin embargo, el gobierno de facto canceló el domingo la llegada de la misión en rechazo a que los cinco cancilleres designados estuvieran acompañados por el secretario general de la OEA, José Miguel Insulza, quien consideran ha actuado sin objetividad en la crisis hondureña. Más tarde, el canciller designado Carlos López Contreras anunció que aceptaban la presencia de Insulza solo como "observador", pero no definió la fecha en que los esperan.
"Nosotros, la resistencia contra el golpe de estado, demandamos de la OEA que vengan a Honduras, a Tegucigalpa, con la venia de los golpistas o sin la venia de los golpistas. La presencia de la OEA acá es indispensable", manifestó Barahona a la AP.
Según el activista político, las autoridades del gobierno de facto "lo que están buscando es que no coincida (la visita de la misión diplomática) para que la OEA no vea la resistencia en las calles", pues el martes esperan que dos caminatas de miles de hondureños que vienen desde diferentes partes del país confluyan en la capital.
La marchas partieron hace una semana de dos puntos principales, uno en el oeste y otro en el norte y han venido avanzando unos 15 kilómetros diarios, pasando por poblaciones en las que organizan mítines y reclutan más simpatizantes para acuerpar la manifestación de rechazo al golpe.
Los organizadores dicen que al menos 3.000 personas se han unido a cada uno de los dos grupos, pero debido a que la prensa local, en su mayoría favorable a Micheletti o autocensurada por temor a sufrir sanciones o una intervención militar, no ha mostrado imágenes ni informes que den idea del tamaño de las marchas que se aproximan.
En rueda de prensa, López Contreras dijo que en las próximas horas podría anunciarse la nueva fecha para el arribo de la misión, la cual consideró que robustecerá el proceso de mediación.
Sin embargo, hasta ahora el gobierno de Micheletti se ha mostrado inflexible en la condición primordial del Acuerdo de San José propuesto por Arias y que implica la restitución de Zelaya en el poder.
La OEA designó como emisarios a los cancilleres Jorge Taiana de Argentina, Peter Kent de Canadá, Bruno Stagno de Costa Rica, Kenneth Baugh de Jamaica, Patricia Espinosa de México y Carlos Morales Troncoso de la República Dominicana, así como el secretario de Asuntos Políticos del organismo, Víctor Rico, y el asesor especial John Biehl.
López Contreras cuestionó a la OEA por no haber intervenido en Honduras antes del golpe de estado, pues consideró que el gobierno de Zelaya daba señales de alarma y muestras de que el ejecutivo se estaba encaminando hacia una "concentración del poder" y "desmantelamiento del orden constitucional".
Post new comment