Thursday, July 2, 2009

DAY 5: MASS PROTESTS IN HONDURAS AGAINST COUP; TENS OF THOUSANDS MARCHING ON THE CAPITAL TO AWAIT PRESIDENT ZELAYA'S RETURN

Despite the suspension of constitutional rights in place as of yesterday, per a decree by the Honduran congress in support of the coup government, tens of thousands of Hondurans are mobilizing throughout the country and participating in nationwide marches in route to the capital, Tegucigalpa. Demonstrators are protesting the illegal coup d'etat that ousted the democratically elected president, Manuel Zelaya, on Sunday, after kidnapping him from his bedroom and forcing him into exile. Hondurans in support of President Zelaya are marching on the capital to await President Zelaya's return, scheduled as of now for Saturday, July 4th, after the Organization of American States (OAS) 72-hour ultimatum, that was issued to the coup government on Wednesday, calling on them to step down or face severe sanctions, has expired.

Hondurans are still denouncing the media blackout in place in their country, preventing the majority of people in the country from receiving news from independent and international sources. The only media permitted to broadcast or publish since Sunday's coup are those supporting the illegal takeover of the state.

Hondurans are also reporting food and medicine shortages in the country, resulting from the border closings imposed by neighboring nations Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador, in reaction to the coup. Central American nations have adamantly condemned the coup and refused to recognize the illegal government in place, led by Roberto Micheletti, former head of congress. Nations around the world have expressed they only recognize Manuel Zelaya as the legitimate and constitutional president of Honduras.

It is still unsure how things will play out over the next few days, since the coup government is defiantly holding its power in Tegucigalpa and still has the military on its side. If they refuse to step down by Saturday, further sanctions could be imposed that would severely harm the already third poorest nation in Latin America's economy and infrastructure. As it stands today, the coup government appears ready to bear the consequences of months of isolation from the world community. The US may determine next Monday that sanctions should be in place against Honduras, resulting from the military coup, but it is unlikely that substantial aid will be cut, which will allow the illegal government to ride out the next 6 months until elections are held in November.

Governments in Latin America have stated they will not recognize any government elected during the November elections if the coup government remains in place until then, since such a process would not be considered legitimate or constitutional.

5 comments:

NuestraAmericaNews said...

I don't understand why countries don't send in military war plans and hit the presidential palace. Or send in war planes to hit the military infustructure. This can not be left like this and we would need a unified military front to attack Honduras strategically.

Deep Politics Forum said...

No no no...Only left wing presidents get their presidential palaces bombed. Right wing 'presidents' are to be negotiated with.

Anonymous said...

Yo le tengo un odio a la gente de Globovision por terroristas, fascistas y peligrosos para la humanidad.

Globovision es el canal mas terrorista de este planeta

Estimados amigos: solo les queria recordar que no se pueden olvidar de que la cadena Globovision esta mintiendo abiertamente sobre el golpe de estado en Honduras. Ellos (Globovision) alegan que nunca hubo golpe de estado en Honduras. Cuando todo el mundo en este planeta incluyendo a EE.UU estan a favor de Zelaya. Los unicos que estan en contra de Zelaya son Micheletti y Globovision.

Deep Politics Forum said...

Globovision are probably in breach of their license which can be withdrawn later and given to a group who will broadcast responsibly.

Mr. Stone said...

Think about it, guys --

If Obama or the US sends in planes to bomb the palaces, then the next time a fascist like Bush comes to power, then all that will be needed is for a group of Latin American conservatives to provoke a constitutional crisis and claim that a "coup" has taken place.

These claims have been made about Chavez, Morales, Cprrea and Ortega, all of whom were democratically elected by overwhelming majorities.

Do you want the US to get in the habit of simply bombing whatever government it doesn't like?

I'm an American, and i don't like th situation any more than y'all do. I think Obama's dragging his feet on this, and i don't know why. I want -- very much -- to see Zelaya reinstated.

But i definitely do NOT want to see the US bomb the Honduran government in order to force a regime change.

The precedent would be irreversible.