Crisis in HONDURAS
SPECIAL FORUM
Tuesday, October 27, 6 p.m.
777 U.N. Plaza
44th St. & 1st Ave., Manhattan
Take 4, 5, 6 to 42nd St.
October 28 marks the four-month anniversary of the military coup in Honduras. The illegal and criminal coup on June 28th deposed democratically elected President Manuel Zelaya, installed Roberto Micheletti as de facto president and ushered in a wave of repression against the Honduran people.
With each passing day, the political situation in Honduras becomes ever more critical. Despite international condemnation, the Organization of American States discussions with the illegal golpistas are going nowhere. The U.S. government has done nothing to resolve the crisis, inadvertently aiding the fraud government. The golpistas are desperately buying time for elections in November.
It is urgent that the solidarity and anti-war movement escalate its opposition to the coup in order to help prevent more bloodshed. Already hundreds of Hondurans have been jailed, beaten and killed. News outlets that report on the resistance and oppose the coup have been shut down.
A national solidarity movement is urgently needed to support the Honduran people, the National Front in Resistance Against the Coup, and to support their demands of the restoration of President Zelaya and a Constitutional Assembly.
Much is at stake in Honduras today. A defeat of the people’s movement in Honduras would be a setback for the entire continent. It would have ramifications for the progressive and revolutionary movements in Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador. It would mean a victory for the U.S. neoliberal policies that have brought extreme hardship for millions.
From October 7 to October 11, the U.S. Labor, Community and Religious Fact-Finding Delegation traveled to Honduras. The delegation met with students and youth, women, religious and labor representatives as well as with the National Front in Resistance Against the Coup. Representatives of the delegation spoke numerous times with President Zelaya. It participated in street protests, including one in front of the Brazilian Embassy in which, as military troops amassed, it was forced to run with the Honduran people.
SPEAKERS WILL INCLUDE:
- Hon. Jorge Arturo Reina–Ambassador of Honduras to the United Nations
- Ramsey Clark–former U.S. Attorney General
- Lucy Pagoada–Honduras U.S.A. Resistencia and member of the fact finding delegation
- Roberto Quesada–noted Honduran journalist & author; Director of Honduras U.S.A. Resistencia
- Teresa Gutierrez–lead organizer of the fact-finding delegation
- Berta Joubert-Ceci–videographer & Director of Philadelphia International Action Center
- Danilo LaChapel–Director Community Relations, Evangelical Church of the Bronx
Refreshments provided
$5.00 Donation (no one turned away for lack of funds)
The U.N. forum will include eyewitness accounts from the delegation. The delegation included:
- Michael Gimbel–AFSCME Local 375, Delegate NYC Central Labor Council
- Heather Cottin–Freeport Workplace Project, Professor, LaGuardia Community College
- LeiLani Dowell–Nat’l Co-Coordinator, FIST youth group; Managing Editor, Workers World Newspaper
- Michael Kramer–Veterans for Peace
- Dave Welsh–Delegate, San Francisco Labor Council
- Rev. Rigoberto Avila–Episcopal Church, NYC
VIDEO PREMIER ‘Honduras: A People in Resistance’
A video report from the delegation which includes interviews with National Front leader Juan Barahona; Berta Oliva from COFADEH; Carlos Reyes, frmr. Pres. Candidate for Nat’l Front, and most importantly, from the common people who are in the struggle, on the streets.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 212-633-6646
Delegation Report – Day 5
Tonight, our last night in Honduras, a World Cup qualifying game is taking place here between Honduras and the U.S. Another alert has been raised; we’ve received reports that while the eyes of a large part of the country are focused on the game, more scaffolding has been put up around the embassy tonight, with more snipers.
In the news today, the Micheletti regime has imposed a decree stating that “the frequencies of radio or television stations may be canceled if they transmit messages that incite national hate and the destruction of public property.” It allows officials to monitor and control broadcasts that “attack national security.” (Associated Press, Oct. 10)
The two main resistance stations, Channel 36 and Radio Globo, were shut down by the Micheletti regime when President Zelaya returned to the country on Sept. 21; this new decree is yet another attempt to silence the resistance movement.
We had a number of informative and inspiring meetings today with feminists and other women in the resistance movement; young students at a school for revolutionary theory; and Juan Barahona, the representative from the National Resistance Front at the OAS negotiations.
But by far the highlight of the day was the protest we attended in one of the barrios, a community just outside of Tegucigalpa. The protest was smaller than the ones we’ve attended in Tegucigalpa but no less militant. Once again, the police showed up in massive numbers, lining the sides of the streets with their large shields, gas masks and batons. At this protest, however, the ultimate form of defiance to the police occurred when the music was cranked up and, singing and laughing, people started dancing in the streets. When we gave our hugs goodbye this time, it was with love and sadness that we had to leave our new comrades in the struggle.
There’s so much more to tell about this fact-finding solidarity mission that hasn’t been said in these late-night, exhausted posts. We plan to give report-backs and hope that everyone can attend to get the bigger picture about the situation in Honduras, and provide their solidarity to the struggle there.
What seems clearer than clear is that the resistance movement is highly organized, politically nuanced and united. We have been told time and time again that the struggle in Honduras is for more than the restitution of President Zelaya; it’s for a new society, one that provides for all and not just the few.
While nobody was willing to predict which way the struggle will go, the confidence that they would succeed was overwhelming. In a situation that many described as a laboratory, a practice ground for the U.S. and the corporations to commit coups against other left-leaning Latin America governments, the price of failure is far too great.
The Honduran people need and deserve the support of people in the U.S. and around the world. ¡Viva la resistencia hondurena!
HONDURAS DELEGATION DAY FOUR
We’re back at the hotel after a very long day of meetings. We met today with students and youth and the international committee of the National Resistance Front. We also had the opportunity to connect with a delegation that is here from Los Angeles, and discussed coordinating future efforts. While some of us were busy sending out the emergency email this morning, others were able to get into the U.S. embassy and meet with a representative to present our evidence and demands.
The police and military have resumed their repressive tactics against protesters. People returning to the bottler’s union today from the demonstrations showed us the injuries they had sustained at the hands of these forces—one man with a large bruise across his upper arm, 
where he had been hit with a baton; another who suffered an allergic reaction from the gas, with a rash all over his back. A member of our delegation was shown dozens of tear gas canisters and rubber bullets that one protester had collected just that day.
Meeting with the youth and students, we learned that there was a kidnapping attempt on a leader of one of the student organizations today. The kidnapper attempted to drag the young woman into a car; with the help of a friend she was able to escape but fractured her hand in the process.
We have not heard any further reports about shooting at the Brazilian embassy, or of any injuries. On an exciting note, members of our delegation were able to speak by phone to Xiomara Zelaya, spouse of President Manuel Zelaya who is also seeking refuge at the Brazilian embassy.
Things remain tense; however the movement remains strong, organized and dedicated. In fact, as the repression intensifies, it even seems that the movement becomes more sophisticated and organized. Students and workers are all talking about how to take the struggle forward. Everybody talks about how class consciousness has been raised since the day Zelaya was kidnapped—a qualitative shift in the minds of the people. Something big is happening in Honduras.
Photos of Snipers Ouside of Brazilian Embassy
Sniper platform outside of Brazilian Embassy in Honduras
Photos of Sniper Platforms Outside of Brazilian Embassy in Honduras
Platforms with highly armed sharpshooters installed outside the embassy, using telescopic and infrared targeting systems, just meters away from the windows of the building where the president, his family, and many others are held hostage by the regime. (from http://quotha.net/node/449)
Platforms with highly armed sharpshooters installed outside the embassy, using telescopic and infrared targeting systems, just meters away from the windows of the building where the president, his family, and many others are held hostage by the regime.
Urgent – Radio Globo reports: Snipers fire on Zelaya
Urgent – Take Action Now!
Call Now – demand and end to the attacks on Zelaya and a restoration of civil liberties.
- Honduras Desk, U.S. State Department 202-647-3482
- State Department Main Switchboard 202-647-4000
- White House 202-456-1111
- OAS Washington Office 202-458-3000
The situation is grave in Tegucigalpa. According to a message from the organization, Pastors for Peace, Radio Globo from Honduras is reporting that snipers are shooting into the Brazilian Embassy where President Zelaya and hundreds of supporters have taken refuge. There is no word yet on injuries.
Also, according to an Oct. 9 AP report, paramilitaries from Colombia are arriving in Honduras now. Many of these paramilitaries were trained in torture and repression at the infamous School of the Americas in the U.S.
Support the people of Honduras in their heroic struggle against the brutal coup regime! Thousands of courageous working people are taking to the streets, in spite of the growing brutality of the criminal right wing forces, who are armed and trained by the U.S.
The following is a report from the delegation of U.S. activists in Honduras, who will be holding a news conference today, October 9, at 5pm EST at the offices of the Bottlers’ Union, a center in Tegucigalpa of the National Front for Resistance Against the Coup:
In the last 24 hours, the situation in Honduras has reached a profound level of urgency. The illegal, de facto Micheletti regime is clearly reaching a point of desperation—and there is a serious danger in this, as the rightwing can and will do anything when they are desperate.
Last night, we received word that at the Brazilian embassy, where President Manuel Zelaya has been seeking refuge, two scaffolds had been erected and two snipers placed on them—one from the Honduran police and one from the Honduran army. Heavy military activity was also occurring on the ground around the embassy, with military convoys placed at strategic places all around the windows and doors of the embassy. The fear is that an assassination attempt on Zelaya’s life may be carried out soon.
Another alarming report relayed to us today from Honduran human rights leaders is of the presence of 120 paramilitaries—experts in killing—from other Latin American countries in Honduras. Many of these paramilitaries have been trained at the School of the Americas based in Georgia.
Today while we were in a meeting, the human rights leader we were meeting with received a phone call that police at the pedagogical university had given protesters there 10 minutes to disperse or face dire consequences. Military convoys had been brought in to surround the protesters.
As this email is being written, members of the U.S. Delegation in Solidarity with the Honduras Resistance are at the U.S. embassy, attempting to meet with representatives there to alert them of the situation and demand the discontinuation of U.S. aid to the de facto regime, a freeze on the assets of the golpista government members, and the abandonment of any electoral process that doesn’t first involve the restitution of President Zelaya, as is the will of the Honduran people.
The delegation also reports that despite the coup government’s announcement that it had lifted the ban on civil liberties, the country still remains under martial law. The coup government is telling the world that it has lifted martial law, but they haven’t told anyone in the police or military, from the top commanders to the troops in the streets. There is still a massive armed presence, and protesters and dissidents are still being brutally attacked and arrested.
That’s why it is so important for us to support the Delegation in Solidarity with the Honduran Resistance. The corporate media is echoing the coup government’s press releases claiming that martial law has been lifted and civil liberties restored, and ignoring the fact that repression is intensifying. We need you to help get the word out.
What you can do now:
Call – Honduras Desk, U.S. State Department 202-647-3482
State Department Main Switchboard 202-647-4000
White House 202-456-1111
OAS Washington Office 202-458-3000
Demand an end to the attacks on Zelaya and Honduran activists. Demand a restoration of civil liberties in Honduras.
Sign the Petition – Demand safe passage for the U.S. delegation – http://www.iacenter.org/honduras/honduras_delegation100609/
Make an emergency donation to help with the expenses of the delegation and to help us spread the word – http://www.iacenter.org/donate/
Escucha aquí la transmisión en vivo Resistencia continua firme:
Escucha aquí la transmisión en vivo Resistencia continua firme:
Radio Liberada
Radio Globo
Radio Progreso
Urgent message from the delegation
In the last 24 hours, the situation in Honduras has reached a profound level of urgency. The illegal, de facto Micheletti regime is clearly reaching a point of desperation—and there is a serious danger in this, as the right-wing can and will do anything when they are desperate.
Last night, we received word that at the Brazilian embassy, where President Manuel Zelaya has been seeking refuge, two scaffolds had been erected and two snipers placed on them—one from the Honduran police and one from the Honduran army. Heavy military activity was also occurring on the ground around the embassy, with military convoys placed at strategic places all around the windows and doors of the embassy. The fear is that an assassination attempt on Zelaya’s life may be carried out soon.
Another alarming report relayed to us today from Honduran human rights leaders is of the presence of 120 paramilitaries—experts in killing—from other Latin American countries in Honduras. Many of these paramilitaries have been trained at the School of the Americas based in Georgia.
Today while we were in a meeting, the human rights leader we were meeting with received a phone call that police at the pedagogical university had given protesters there 10 minutes to disperse or face dire consequences. Military convoys had been brought in to surround the protesters.
As this email is being written, members of the U.S. Delegation in Solidarity with the Honduras Resistance are at the U.S. embassy, attempting to meet with representatives there to alert them of the situation and demand the discontinuation of U.S. aid to the de facto regime, a freeze on the assets of the golpista government members, and the abandonment of any electoral process that doesn’t first involve the restitution of President Zelaya, as is the will of the Honduran people.
Activists in Honduras are urging supporters to call the following numbers and demand an end to the violence and repression and the restoration of civil liberties:
- Honduras Desk, U.S. State Department 202-647-3482
- State Department Main Switchboard 202-647-4000
- White House 202-456-1111
- OAS Washington Office 202-458-3000
Pictures Day 3
The pictures on the placards are photos of people murdered by the coup regime.
Korean Progressive Organizations support delegation
The Korea Alliance of Progressive Movements, a national alliance of organizations and movements in various sectors and regions of Korea has signed the petition in support of the U.S. delegation in Honduras. (http://www.iacenter.org/honduras/honduras_delegation100609/)
Below is list of names of the various organizations that comprise Korea Alliance of Progressive Movements:
- Korea Alliance For Progressive Movement
- Democratic Labor Party
- Korean Peasants League
- Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
- The South Headquarters of Pan-Korean Alliance for Reunification
- Corea Youth Movement Council
- Korean Women’s Alliance
- Korean Women Peasant Association
- Korean Unions of the Urban Poor(KUUP)
- Alliance of Student’s Association of Koean Universities
- Chrisitian Assembly for Social Mission
- Center for Labor and Human Right
- Minkahyup, Families of Political Prisoners
- Central Council for National Independency and Reunification
- Institute for Research in Collaborationist Activities
- Movement Unions for National Harmonization
- Buddist Peace Alliance
- Silchun Yundae for 615 Joint Declaration
- A Bereaved Council for Korean Democratization
- Korea Association Of Bereaved Famillies For Democreacy
- National Assembly of Democratic Labors
- Chumo Yundae for patriots and victims of national democracy
- Center for Reunification
- Korean Veterans for Peace
- Korean Catholic Farmer’s Movement
- Korean Institute for Lobor Society
- Youth and Strudent’s Alliance for 615 Joint Declaration
- Kyunggi Alliance For Progressive Movement
- Gwangju & Jeollanam Alliance For Progressive Movement
- Daegu & Gyeongsangbuk Alliance For Progressive Movement
- Junbuk Alliance For Progressive Movement
- GyeongNam Alliance For Progressive
- People’s Alliance in Pusan, KoreaMovement
- Journalists Association Of Korea , The Broadcasting Producer Association Of Korea, National Union Of Mediaworkers, Korea Internet Journalists Association
- Busan Branch, South Korean Committee of the June 15th Joint Declaration
- Kyung-gi Branch, South Korean Committee of the June 15th Joint Declaration
- Gwangju & Jeollanam, South Korean Committee of the June 15th Joint Declaration
- Journalists Association Of Korea
- The Broadcasting Producer Association Of Korea
- Korea Internet Journalists Association
- Farmer’s Pharmacy
Report from Day 2: “The resistance here is amazing, and inspiring, and most of all, unstoppable.”
HONDURAS TRIP, DAY TWO
URGENT: We just heard there is an emergency occurring at the Brazilian embassy. Tonight they have erected two scaffold and placed two snipers on it—one a member of the police, the other of the army. They have also set up speakers and are sending out commands and making animal sounds, terrifying the people. The National Resistance Front has sent out an emergency email notice.
*****
Day two of the U.S. Delegation in Solidarity with the Honduras Resistance began early. At 7 am, we traveled to the offices of the bottler’s union, which has become somewhat of a headquarters for the resistance movement here in Honduras. This morning, members of the many varied, yet unified, sectors of the resistance—Indigenous, campesinos, labor unions, women, religious figures, artists, writers, doctors, engineers, youth, and more—were meeting to be debriefed about the political situation and to plan next steps.
The level of organization was impressive and exciting, with representatives giving reportbacks on pertinent information. A representative reported on the negotiations with the Organization of American States—negotiations in which the resistance movement has a seat at the table. Others reported on the numbers of people injured at the hands of the state at various places throughout the country.
Next was another day of protest—this time, a march from the pedagogical university to the Clarion Hotel, where the OAS delegation was staying. The situation quickly became tense, with truck after truck of heavily armed, face-masked police and army forces arriving to surround protesters. We once again attended the march, carrying our banner identifying us as being from the U.S. This time, protestors stopped and clapped for us as we arrived; one woman directed as many members of the press as she could find to us.
Once again, we saw women on the frontlines of the struggle; one diminutive but clearly fierce woman was brought over to the delegation and introduced as “la abuela de la resistencia”—the grandmother of the resistance.
With the presence of international media, a U.S. delegation, and the OAS representatives, the government’s armed forces once again held off from attacking the crowd. However whether or not the attacks occur, it is clear that the resistance here has no intention of backing off. One of the chants often heard is “tienen miedos porque no tenemos miedos”–they are afraid because we are not afraid.
Later we returned to the bottler’s union for a meeting with religious leaders, who have organized themselves to resist the coup. The large churches, and particularly the Catholic church, has been supportive and even offered their blessings to the illegal, repressive Micheletti regime. But smaller churches have taken up the mantle of liberation theology and dedicated themselves, as one sister said, not just to theory, but to practice–in the streets with the people.
Lastly, the delegation met with Carlos H. Reyes, who was an independent candidate for president before the coup d’etat. He explained the nuances of the struggle in the streets to us—how the struggle is increasingly a struggle between the classes; how the masses are rapidly becoming politicized in the midst of this situation; and more.
We have decided that tomorrow we will pay a visit to the U.S. embassy and tell them our observations from this delegation. We are going even though they dodged our calls all day, transferring our call to voicemail over and over.
The resistance here is amazing, and inspiring, and most of all, unstoppable. We will keep you all posted with developments as soon as we can; and we will continue to stand in solidarity with them while we are here, and when we return.
Voices from the resistance to the coup in Honduras
Honduras Resiste – voices from the resistance to the coup in Honduras – http://hondurasresists.blogspot.com/
Images of the struggle in Honduras
Updates and photos available at Chiapas Indymedia
Honduras police break up protests at site of talks
By BEN FOX (AP) – 2 hours ago
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Police fired tear gas and a water cannon Friday at protesters outside a hotel where talks on behalf of rival claimants to the Honduran presidency showed little sign of progress.
Six negotiators — three each for ousted President Manuel Zelaya and interim President Roberto Micheletti — met for a second day after a diplomatic mission sponsored by the Organization of American States brought them together.
The talks were held in private. Pro-Zelaya protest leader Juan Barahona, one of the six negotiators, told The Associated Press on Friday that no progress had been made on the central issue — the return of Zelaya to office to serve out the remainder of his term, which ends in January. full story here
Report from Honduras – Day 1
Honduras, Day One
The U.S. Delegation in Solidarity with the Honduran Resistance had a very successful first day in Tegucigalpa, capital city of Honduras, culminating with a confrontation with police and military at the Brazilian embassy. Our delegation is exhausted from our 4 a.m. flight; however, our spirits are high from our ability to solidarize ourselves with the Honduran people today.
Tegucigalpa is one of the many areas where a large resistance movement is fighting back against an illegal, right-wing de facto government that installed itself after kidnapping democratically elected president Manuel Zelaya some three months ago.
Today, 12 activists from the U.S.–including teachers, youth, women, labor delegates, community leaders, Honduran immigrants and religious figures—were warmly greeted by members of the National Resistance Front [again, please check name] at the airport in Tegucigalpa.
We met with a representative of COFADEH, an organization originally formed to support families of the disappeared in the 1980s. COFADEH has recently, however, been working to bring justice against the atrocities being committed by the de facto regime of Micheletti. A report on our encounter with COFADEH will be forthcoming; we plan on returning to their office to get more time to talk with them this week.
Finally, we went to the Brazilian embassy, where President Zelaya has been in refuge since returning to the country on September 21. The area was surrounded by police; we were told that it would be impossible to get inside the embassy to meet with the president.
Upon arrival in Tegucigalpa, we had learned that a delegation from the Organization for American States had also arrived today in the country, and that the police and military forces had been scaled back in order to put a good face on the regime, which has been repressing the people through these same armed bodies. However, upon arrival at the hotel, a member of the resistance received a call that heavy repression was going on at the Brazilian embassy—so heavy that it was advised that we not go.
We also learned that Micheletti had supposedly lifted a ban on individual liberties that he had enacted in the past week. However, when we approached the police and asked them why we were not allowed to exercise our civil liberties, the police, laughing, told us that they weren’t recognizing the lifting of the ban.
Holding our banner, which reads “U.S. Delegation in Solidarity with the Honduran Resistance – No to the Coup!”, we formed a line in front of the police, facing off with them. When, by slowly marching forward, they pushed us almost into the street, we turned our backs to them and faced the passing traffic, generating massive honking, thumbs up and fists in the air by cars passing by. Many delegation members were interviewed by the press, and we were able to get out our message of solidarity and demands for respect of Honduran self-determination.
After about an hour, our delegation was joined by a truck and car caravan of resistance fighters, including a large number of women. I met two self-identified resistance fighters, young women ages 8 and 16. Flags waved from the backs of trucks and militant chants could be heard everywhere.
After a while, people in the resistance saw our banner and came over to offer heartfelt thanks. The police stood off with us for hours, and it was believed by many protesters that had a delegation from the U.S. not been there, what would have ensued would have been another round of repression–a series of attacks with tear gas, beatings and more. In fact, as the crowd was dispersing a truck arrived filled with members of the army; they began to surround protesters, wielding huge batons.
Tomorrow is another day of protest—in fact, we are told that there will be protests all week. The OAS delegation is supposed to be here for another day; many are wondering whether the repression will increase once they have left. We will continue monitoring the situation and report back to this blog as often as communication methods allow.
Honduras, Day One
The U.S. Delegation in Solidarity with the Honduran Resistance had a very successful first day in Tegucigalpa, capital city of Honduras, culminating with a confrontation with police and military at the Brazilian embassy. Our delegation is exhausted from our 4 a.m. flight; however, our spirits are high from our ability to solidarize ourselves with the Honduran people today.
Tegucigalpa is one of the many areas where a large resistance movement is fighting back against an illegal, right-wing de facto government that installed itself after kidnapping democratically elected president Manuel Zelaya some three months ago.
Today, 12 activists from the U.S.–including teachers, youth, women, labor delegates, community leaders, Honduran immigrants and religious figures—were warmly greeted by members of the National Resistance Front [again, please check name] at the airport in Tegucigalpa.
We met with a representative of COFADEH, an organization originally formed to support families of the disappeared in the 1980s. COFADEH has recently, however, been working to bring justice against the atrocities being committed by the de facto regime of Micheletti. A report on our encounter with COFADEH will be forthcoming; we plan on returning to their office to get more time to talk with them this week.
Finally, we went to the Brazilian embassy, where President Zelaya has been in refuge since returning to the country on September 21. The area was surrounded by police; we were told that it would be impossible to get inside the embassy to meet with the president.
Upon arrival in Tegucigalpa, we had learned that a delegation from the Organization for American States had also arrived today in the country, and that the police and military forces had been scaled back in order to put a good face on the regime, which has been repressing the people through these same armed bodies. However, upon arrival at the hotel, a member of the resistance received a call that heavy repression was going on at the Brazilian embassy—so heavy that it was advised that we not go.
We also learned that Micheletti had supposedly lifted a ban on individual liberties that he had enacted in the past week. However, when we approached the police and asked them why we were not allowed to exercise our civil liberties, the police, laughing, told us that they weren’t recognizing the lifting of the ban.
Holding our banner, which reads “U.S. Delegation in Solidarity with the Honduran Resistance – No to the Coup!”, we formed a line in front of the police, facing off with them. When, by slowly marching forward, they pushed us almost into the street, we turned our backs to them and faced the passing traffic, generating massive honking, thumbs up and fists in the air by cars passing by. Many delegation members were interviewed by the press, and we were able to get out our message of solidarity and demands for respect of Honduran self-determination.
After about an hour, our delegation was joined by a truck and car caravan of resistance fighters, including a large number of women. I met two self-identified resistance fighters, young women ages 8 and 16. Flags waved from the backs of trucks and militant chants could be heard everywhere.
After a while, people in the resistance saw our banner and came over to offer heartfelt thanks. The police stood off with us for hours, and it was believed by many protesters that had a delegation from the U.S. not been there, what would have ensued would have been another round of repression–a series of attacks with tear gas, beatings and more. In fact, as the crowd was dispersing a truck arrived filled with members of the army; they began to surround protesters, wielding huge batons.
Tomorrow is another day of protest—in fact, we are told that there will be protests all week. The OAS delegation is supposed to be here for another day; many are wondering whether the repression will increase once they have left. We will continue monitoring the situation and report back to this blog as often as communication methods allow.
With President Zelaya encircled by military U.S. activists embark on a fact-finding trip to Honduras
By John Catalinotto
New York
Oct. 6—Reports from Honduras alternated today between a possible opening of negotiations to resolve the crisis brought about by the June 28 coup and continued repression against the mass resistance movement. Meanwhile, a delegation of human rights activists from the United States was preparing to leave Oct. 7 for a fact-finding mission to Tegucigalpa, the Central American country’s capital.
President Manuel Zelaya, from his asylum in the besieged Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa, said that the coup regime of Roberto Micheletti must restore civil liberties in Honduras and agree on his return to the presidency before the negotiations could continue. “I am ready to sit down face-to-face with the dictator [Micheletti] when he decides to sign the Arias plan,” Zelaya said, referring to a plan proposed by President Oscar Arias of Costa Rica that the coup regime has so far rejected. (AFP, Oct. 5)
The coup regime, which represents the 13-family Honduran oligarchy and rests its power on the bayonets of the Pentagon-trained Honduran army, announced Oct. 5 that it would rescind its decree from a week earlier suspending the Constitution. However, the two local media outlets that broadcast stories reflecting the view of the majority of Hondurans who oppose the coup are still closed down.
Commenting on the cancellation of the state of siege, Rafael Alegría of the National Front for Resistance against the Coup called it “a triumph for the people and the popular resistance.” (EFE, Oct. 6)
Delegation from U.S. to Honduras
At the offices of the Center for Constitutional Rights in New York, an Oct. 5 news conference announced that a 12-person delegation would arrive Oct. 7 in Tegucigalpa for a fact-finding mission. The delegation includes political and religious activists, community organizers, labor unionists, students and youths.
The delegation had planned to attend the First International Conference Against the Coup and for the Constituent National Assembly in Honduras, which was scheduled to take place Oct. 8-10. However, given the tense political and social crisis in the country and the increased repression from the coup regime, the conference has been postponed.
The U.S. delegation, coordinated by the International Action Center, will, nevertheless, continue its trip to Honduras Oct. 7-11. The group plans to look into reports that the Micheletti coup government has consistently attacked the Brazilian embassy, dropping chemical gas, shutting off the water and electricity, and using Long-Range Acoustic Devices that can result in permanent hearing loss.
IAC co-director Teresa Gutiérrez told Workers World the group “also plans to meet with students, labor, women, youth, representatives of the National Front of Resistance against the Coup and others to find out the truth about the situation in Honduras and to bring it back to the United States.”
Vanessa Ramos, president of the American Association of Jurists and a member of the National Lawyers Guild, helped organize a delegation to Honduras in late August. Ramos told organizers that the presence of a delegation from the U.S. is critical at this time and that she supports the efforts of the Oct. 7-11 fact-finding delegation.
The report of the NLG trip—which was written by members of the AAJ, the NLG and the International Association of Democratic Lawyers as well as the International Association Against Torture—confirms that the June 28 events in Honduras constitute a genuine military coup. The report further states that the military overthrow “was a clear violation of Honduras’ 1982 Political Constitution.”
In light of the tense and fluid situation in Honduras, the Oct. 7-11 delegation has posted a petition calling on elected officials, members of Congress and representatives of the press to assure the success and safety of the U.S. delegation by aggressively declaring the illegitimacy of the Micheletti government, by condemning the repression of the Honduran people and by demanding the immediate restoration of Honduras’ democratically elected President Manuel Zelaya. The IAC has also begun a Twitter feed to enable instantaneous communication from Honduras during the trip. These links can be found at http://www.iacenter.org.
Solidarity with resistance
According to statements from delegation spokespeople, the group will not only gather facts from the resistance, but also express its solidarity with the people and resistance of Honduras. This resistance has persisted now for over 100 days since the June 28 coup and is set to go out into the streets again today, Oct. 6.
A leading spokesperson for the National Front, Juan Barahona, said in a Sept. 30 interview with Brazilian activist-journalist Pedro Fuentes that “The National Front of the Resistance has gathered in the majority of the people.” In the days of struggle since the coup, Barahona added, “Honduras changed completely, and a very positive result will remain from all this—an organization and a great experience. In these days of struggles the level of consciousness rose much more than in 100 forums discussing the class struggle.”
Barahona added that the National Front is “in favor of participating in the negotiations but at the same time we say to the golpistas [coup perpetrators] that we won’t stop fighting; we will be in the streets until the last day they are in power.”
YOUR SUPPORT for this human rights delegation is URGENTLY NEEDED – Sign Today!
EMERGENCY ALERT ON HONDURAS
U.S. DELEGATION TO GATHER EVIDENCE ON CIVIL RIGHTS CRISIS AND IMPACT OF COUP
YOUR SUPPORT for this human rights delegation is URGENTLY NEEDED
Send a message to the White House, Congress, Honduran officials and the media demanding they insure the safety and security of this U.S. delegation.
SIGN THE PETITION – http://www.iacenter.info/honduras/safeguardhondurasdelegation
FOLLOW THE DELEGATION FROM WED OCT 7 to 11 ON TWITTER- http://twitter.com/iacenter
On Wednesday, a 12-person delegation from the United States will be traveling to Honduras .
The purpose of the trip is to conduct a fact-finding investigation of the critical situation in the country.
The delegation must be permitted to enter Honduras . The continuing shut down of Honduras by the government that issued from the June 28 coup must be challenged.
The delegation calls on their elected officials, members of Congress and representatives of the media to take action to ensure the unrestricted entry and the success and safety of the U.S. delegation. With the long-term Soto Cano U.S. air base in Honduras (also called Palmerola base) and a history of training Honduran military officers, Washington plays a major role in any decision in that country.
Students, labor, clergy as well as peace activists are traveling to Honduras to learn about the critical situation in the country including a ban of constitutional rights. They aim to return and explain to the U.S. population all the facts about the current situation in Honduras , including the situation of those who have opposed the coup government.
The delegation will be in Honduras from October 7 through October 11, participating in a fact-finding delegation.
The delegation had planned to attend the “First International Conference Against the Coup D’Etat and for the Constituent National Assembly in Honduras ,” which was scheduled to take place Oct. 8-10. The conference is now postponed due to the political situation, which has grown tenser since President Manuel Zelaya returned to Tegucigalpa and found refuge in the Brazilian Embassy.
The U.S. Delegation is continuing its trip in order to meet with students, labor, women, youth, and representatives of the resistance to the coup and others to find the truth about the situation in Honduras .
On Saturday, Honduras will be the site of a major World Cup qualifying match soccer game, expected to attract 50,000 people in San Pedro Sula . If the existing coup government of Honduras can not guarantee the safety of this small human rights delegation how can they claim to be able to guarantee the safety of such a large crowd, including many international visitors?
The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) led a delegation to Honduras in late August. Organizers of the delegation told the October 7 – 11 delegates that U.S. human rights presence is critical at this time and they support the efforts of the current fact-finding delegation.
The report of the NLG trip, which was written by members of the American Association of Jurists, the NLG and the International Association of Democratic Lawyers as well as the International Association Against Torture confirm that the June 28 events in Honduras constitute a genuine military coup. The report further states that the military overthrow “was a clear violation of Honduras ’ 1982 Political constitution.”
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PETITION
Dear President Barack Obama,
Dear member of Congress,
We want to call your attention to a delegation from the United States that will be traveling to Honduras on Oct. 7. Ensuring the safety and security of this delegation requires your attention.
Students, labor, clergy as well as peace activists plan to visit Honduras from October 7 through October 11 to learn about the critical situation in the country including a ban of constitutional rights. The fact-finding investigation of the critical situation in the country can only be carried out if its freedom of movement and safety is guaranteed. The delegation must be permitted to enter Honduras and to speak with Hondurans.
With the long-term Soto Cano U.S. air base in Honduras (also called Palmerola base) and a history of training Honduran military officers, the attitude of the U.S. government is vital to any actions taken by the de-facto government in Honduras .
They aim to return and explain to the U.S. population all the facts about the current situation in Honduras , including the situation of those who have opposed the coup government.
On Saturday, Honduras will be the site of a major World Cup qualifying soccer match, expected to attract 50,000 people in San Pedro Sula . If the existing coup government of Honduras can not guarantee the safety of this small human rights delegation how can they claim to be able to guarantee the safety of such a large crowd, including many international visitors?
The American Association of Jurists, the National Lawyers Guild, the International Association of Democratic Lawyers and the International Association Against Torture have just released a report that confirm that the June 28 events in Honduras constitute a genuine military coup. The report further states that the military overthrow “was a clear violation of Honduras ’ 1982 Political constitution.”
FOLLOW THE DELEGATION FROM WED OCT 7 to 11 ON TWITTER – http://twitter.com/iacenter
Honduras Delegation Updates 
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