Events In Honduras

[Magda Hassan]

Wayne Madsen is saying that there were U.S. troops stationed at air bases in Honduras during coup. Also that it has US fingerprints all over it.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/f...o-cano.htm

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FROM REUTERS: HONDURAN ARMY SMOTHERS MEDIA AFTER COUP

TEGUCIGALPA, June 29 (Reuters) - Honduras has shut down television and radio stations since an army coup over the weekend, in a media blackout than has drawn condemnation from an international press freedom group.

Shortly after the Honduran military seized President Manuel Zelaya and flew him to Costa Rica on Sunday, soldiers stormed a popular radio station and cut off local broadcasts of international television networks CNN en Espanol and Venezuelan-based Telesur, which is sponsored by leftist governments in South America.

A pro-Zelaya channel also was shut down.

The few television and radio stations still operating on Monday played tropical music or aired soap operas and cooking shows.

They made little reference to the demonstrations or international condemnation of the coup even as hundreds of protesters rallied at the presidential palace in the capital to demand Zelaya's return and an end to the blackout.

"The spurious government is violating our right to information, blocking the signals of channels like CNN," Juan Varaona, a protest leader at a barricade, said as burning tires sent plumes of black smoke into the sky.

CNN en Espanol is the Spanish-language channel of the U.S.-based 24-hour news network CNN.

Others blasted the two main Honduran newspapers and said they were still online because they supported the coup.

"El Heraldo and El Tribuno are two papers that were part of the coup plot, them and some television channels controlled by the opposition," said 27-year-old Erin Matute, a government health worker.

"This morning, they were the only ones with signals, the others were shut down," Matute said at a barricade on a side street in the capital.

El Heraldo's website ran one headline saying "Semblance of normality across Honduras."

Some Hondurans used Internet social networking site Twitter to urge on demonstrators and spread news about the protests.

"Down with the coup! Brothers of Honduras break the information blackout and watch the repression on Telesur on the Internet," one message said.

Some protesters burned and smashed El Heraldo newspaper stands and others used them as barricades to block streets around the presidential palace.

PRESSURE ON OAS, WEST

Paris-based press freedom group Reporters Without Borders criticized the media shutdown.

"The suspension or closure of local and international broadcast media indicates that the coup leaders want to hide what is happening," the group said in a statement.

"The Organization of American States and the international community must insist that this news blackout is lifted."
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URGENT UPDATE 5:53PM TELESUR JOURNALISTS DETAINED BY COUP FORCES IN HONDURAS

Telesur, which has been the ONLY media outlet to provide non-stop coverage on the coup in Honduras since yesterday, has just been the victim of violent repression in Honduras. During the beginning of the meetings taking place this afternoon in Nicaragua with all heads of state from Latin America, Telesur abruptly interrupted coverage to broadcast the words and cries of Adriana Sivori, Telesur correspondent in Tegucigalpa, denouncing she was being detained, along with her cameraman, by military forces in Honduras under orders by the coup dictatorship. There is massive repression underway in Honduras right now. The Telesur team has been detained by armed forces and placed under arrest in clear violation of international law. Their identification documents have been confiscated by the military and they have been kidnapped.

Roberto Micheletti is the name of the dictator in Honduras, who illegally took over yesterday after the military coup kidnapped and forced into exile the democratically elected president Manuel Zelaya. Remember his name for he should be tried for human rights violations.

SECRETARY OF STATE CLINTON TODAY STATED THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT WAS NOT READY TO LEGALLY CALL THE DEVELOPMENTS IN HONDURAS A COUP D'ETAT, BECAUSE DOING SO WOULD REQUIRE WASHINGTON TO CUT OF ECONOMIC AID TO THE CENTRAL AMERICAN NATION AND BREAK RELATIONS, WHICH THEY ARE STILL HESITANT TO DO BECAUSE THOSE THAT ILLEGALLY TOOK POWER YESTERDAY IN HONDURAS ARE GROUPS AND POLITICAL PARTIES THAT RECEIVE US GOVERNMENT FUNDING FROM USAID, NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR DEMOCRACY, INTERNATIONAL REPUBLICAN INSTITUTE AND NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS. ADDITIONALLY THE HONDURAN MILITARY IS HEAVILY FUNDED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND PENTAGON.

CALL ON THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO IMMEDIATELY DEMAND THE RELEASE OF THE TELESUR CORRESPONDENTS IN HONDURAS AND TO SUSPEND ALL ECONOMIC AID TO HONDURAS UNTIL DEMOCRATIC ORDER IS RESTORED, THE REPRESSION CEASES AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL PRESIDENT, MANUEL ZELAYA, IS RETURNED TO POWER:

State Department: 202-647-4000 or 1-800-877-8339
White House: Comments: 202-456-1111, Switchboard: 202-456-1414

[Magda Hassan]

Reports: Two Military Battalions Turn Against Honduras Coup Regime


Posted by Al Giordano - June 29, 2009 at 4:38 pm By Al Giordano

Community Radio “Es Lo de Menos” was the first to report that the Fourth Infantry Battalion has rebelled from the military coup regime in Honduras. The radio station adds that “it seems” (“al parecer,” in the original Spanish) that the Tenth Infantry Battalion has also broken from the coup.
Rafael Alegria, leader of Via Campesina, the country’s largest social organization, one that has successfully blockaded the nation’s highways before to force government concessions, tells Alba TV:

“The popular resistance is rising up throughout the country. All the highways in the country are blockaded…. The Fourth Infantry Battallion… is no longer following the orders of Roberto Micheletti.”

Angel Alvarado of Honduras’ Popular Union Bloc tells Radio Mundial:

"Two infantry battalions of the Honduran Army have risen up against the illegitimate government of Roberto Micheletti in Honduras. They are the Fourth Infantry Battalion in the city of Tela and the Tenth Infantry Battalion in La Ceiba (the second largest city in Honduras), both located in the state of Atlántida."

(You can see Tela and La Ceiba on the map, above, along the country's northern coast.)
Meanwhile, defenders of the violent coup d’Etat now have to eat the fact that their favored regime has extended its wave of terror to the press corps, censoring all independent media in the country, including CNN and Telesur. Reuters reports:

TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Honduras has shut down television and radio stations since an army coup over the weekend, in a media blackout than has drawn condemnation from an international press freedom group.
Shortly after the Honduran military seized President Manuel Zelaya and flew him to Costa Rica on Sunday, soldiers stormed a popular radio station and cut off local broadcasts of international television networks CNN en Espanol and Venezuelan-based Telesur, which is sponsored by leftist governments in South America.
A pro-Zelaya channel also was shut down.
The few television and radio stations still operating on Monday played tropical music or aired soap operas and cooking shows.

At the White House this afternoon, US President Obama reiterated his government’s non-recognition of the coup regime. According to the White House pool report by David Jackson of USA Today (obtained by Narco News via email):

Obama criticized the Honduras coup as "not legal," and said it would set a "terrible precedent" for the region. "We do not want to go back to a dark past," he said. "We always want to stand with democracy."

If Rafael Alegría - a serious man who gets serious results - says that the highways of the country are successfully blockaded, I tend to believe him. He likewise is not one to spread rumors about the Fourth Infantry Battalion without having solid information.
It seemed inevitable that once the cat is got of the bag regarding the total international rejection of the coup d'etat that military divisions would revolt and point their tanks in the opposite direction: toward the coup plotters above them. We may be witnessing the beginning of the end of a short-lived coup in Honduras.
Keep refreshing the front page of Narco News for more updates, sure to shortly come.
Update: TeleSur TV is reporting that its correspondents in Honduras, as well as those of Associated Press, have been arrested by the coup regime.
Update II: Here is a fuller text of US President Obama's statement at the aforementioned press conference:

President Zelaya was democratically elected. He had not yet completed his term. We believe that the coup was not legal and that President Zelaya remains the president of Honduras, the democratically elected president there. In that, we have joined all the countries in the region, including Colombia and the Organization of American States.

I think it's -- it would be a terrible precedent if we start moving backwards into the era in which we are seeing military coups as a means of political transition, rather than democratic elections.
The region has made enormous progress over the last 20 years in establishing democratic traditions in Central America and Latin America.
We don't want to go back to a dark past. The United States has not always stood as it should with some of these fledgling democracies. But over the last several years, I think both Republicans and Democrats in the United States have recognized that we always want to stand with democracy, even if the results don't always mean that the leaders of those countries are favorable toward the United States. And that is a tradition that we want to continue.
So we are very clear about the fact that President Zelaya is the democratically elected president. And we will work with the regional organizations, like OAS, and with other international institutions to see if we can resolve this in a peaceful way.

[Magda Hassan]

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl...kl%3D53100

TeleSUR 29/06/09

El presidente legítimo de Honduras, Manuel Zelaya, anunció este lunes que regresará el jueves a su país para terminar su mandato luego de realizar el viaje a Estados Unidos atendiendo la invitación del presidente de la Asamblea General de Naciones Unidas, Miguel D'Escoto.

The legitimate president of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya, announced Monday it will return to his country on Thursday to end its mandate after the journey to United States at the invitation of the President of the United Nations General Assembly, Miguel D'Escoto.

Viajará acompañado del secretario de la Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA), José Miguel Insulza y una comisión de retorno.

Travel together with the secretary of the Organization of American States (OAS) Jose Miguel Insulza and a committee of return.

"Voy a cumplir mi mandato de cuatro años, estén ustedes -los golpistas- de acuerdo o no", precisó Zelaya.

"I will fulfill my term of four years, you are the coup-de-agree or not," said Zelaya.

El presidente de Honduras viajará este martes a Estados Unidos por invitación de Miguel D'Escoto.

The president of Honduras on Tuesday will travel to United States at the invitation of Miguel D'Escoto.

"Regresaré por voluntad propia con la protección de Cristo y el pueblo. Regresaré a mi pais, y le pediré a la OEA que me acompañe y acepto el ofrecimiento de quienes me quieran acompañar, es por invitación del Jefe de Estado y no por injerencia de asuntos" internos, afirmó.

"I'll come back voluntarily to the protection of Christ and the people. I'll be back to my country, and will ask the OAS to accompany me and accept the offer of those who wish to accompany me, is at the invitation of the Head of State and not by interference "internal, he said.

Zelaya manifestó que el golpe de Estado del cual fue objeto el pasado domingo representa un " retroceso a la época en que se gobernaba bajo la fuerza en América Latina y representa un desconocimiento a las luchas por las conquistas de los valores sociales de la región".

Zelaya said that the coup d'etat which was last Sunday is a throwback to the time they ruled on the strength in Latin America and represents a disregard to the struggles for the conquest of the social values of the region. "

Agregó que los sectores que los secuestraron y sacaron a la fuerza del poder " pretenden negar el acceso a la grandes mayorías de la población a un futuro mejor".

He added that the sectors that abducted and forcibly removed from power "seek to deny access to the vast majority of people to a better future."

Zelaya afirmó que existen sectores que se niegan a aceptar el concepto de participación ciudadana para mantener sus cuotas de poder.

Zelaya said that there are sectors who refuse to accept the concept of citizen participation in maintaining their share of power.

"No podemos permitir que la fuerza bruta vuelva a imperar sobre la razón. Tenemos que volver a empezar o simplemente nos volvemos a humillar y sucumbir ante la fuerza", dijo.

"We can not allow again the brute force to prevail over reason. We have to start over again or just humiliate us and succumb to the force," he said.

Zelaya informó que el presidente de Brasil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, lo telefoneó este lunes para transmitirle su apoyo contra el golpe militar que lo sacó del poder en Tegucigalpa.

Zelaya said that Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and telephoned on Monday to convey their support against the military coup that took him out of power in Tegucigalpa.

El mandatario brasileño transmitió al gobernante su convencimiento de que la intensa actividad diplomática puesta en marcha en el continente podrá restituirlo en el cargo.

The Brazilian government sent to its belief that the intensive diplomatic activity starting on the continent may be restored in the post.

Esta mañana Lula había defendido ante los medios de comunicación "el aislamiento de Honduras, mientras no tenga un presidente democráticamente electo".

Lula has argued this morning before the media "the isolation of Honduras, while not having a democratically elected president."

"No podemos permitir que en pleno siglo XXI tengamos un golpe militar en América Latina. Es inaceptable. No podemos reconocer al nuevo Gobierno. Tenemos que exigir el regreso del Gobierno democráticamente elegido", afirmó.

"We can not allow that in the twenty-first century have a military coup in Latin America. It is unacceptable. We can not recognize the new government. We need to demand the return of the democratically elected government," he said.

Durante la reunión se conoció que la presidenta de Chile, Michelle Bachelet, llamó a su embajador en Tegucigalpa, medida que también fue adoptada por los g obiernos de Brasil y de México.

During the meeting it was learned that the president of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, called its ambassador in Tegucigalpa, which was also adopted by OVERNMENTS g of Brazil and Mexico.

[Magda Hassan]

What a 'peaceful' coup looks like.

[Peter Lemkin]

What is upsetting me is the official 'silence' in the USA. Yes, Obama made a mumble about being 'upset' - or was it 'worried'; as did Ms. Clinton...but they have really said nothing and done less!! Believe me, if the US Govt. told the coup leaders to disappear and/or quit - they would without even any other threats or force - military or economic. Sadly, makes me think this has the support, if not the backing, of the USG and either Obama is being two-faced or is uninformed. Ditto Clinton.

[Magda Hassan]

More 'peaceful' coup shots (sic)

[Magda Hassan]

So much peace breaking out here I could just cry!

[Magda Hassan]

What is upsetting me is the official 'silence' in the USA. Yes, Obama made a mumble about being 'upset' - or was it 'worried'; as did Ms. Clinton...but they have really said nothing and done less!! Believe me, if the US Govt. told the coup leaders to disappear and/or quit - they would without even any other threats or force - military or economic. Sadly, makes me think this has the support, if not the backing, of the USG and either Obama is being two-faced or is uninformed. Ditto Clinton.

Yes. Some are saying that OB is showing that the US has really changed. But he could a) have stopped it in the first place since they knew about it by making it very clear that there would be consequences if they went ahead b) he could be demonstrating what those consequences are now given that they have gone and done it. Firstly they can come right out and say that the coup is illegal unambiguously. They could be cutting off all US government funding. Cutting off diplomatic ties. Not giving access to the 'joint' military facilities for the Honduran Air Force to remove their president and neighboring ambassadors and the foreign minister. It would be against their contracts to use the supplied military equipment against purposes agreed on. Freeze all US Honduran assets and bank accounts. There are plenty of options the US could take.

[Peter Lemkin]

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl...kl%3D53100

TeleSUR 29/06/09

El presidente legítimo de Honduras, Manuel Zelaya, anunció este lunes que regresará el jueves a su país para terminar su mandato luego de realizar el viaje a Estados Unidos atendiendo la invitación del presidente de la Asamblea General de Naciones Unidas, Miguel D'Escoto.

The legitimate president of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya, announced Monday it will return to his country on Thursday to end its mandate after the journey to United States at the invitation of the President of the United Nations General Assembly, Miguel D'Escoto.

Viajará acompañado del secretario de la Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA), José Miguel Insulza y una comisión de retorno.

Travel together with the secretary of the Organization of American States (OAS) Jose Miguel Insulza and a committee of return.

"Voy a cumplir mi mandato de cuatro años, estén ustedes -los golpistas- de acuerdo o no", precisó Zelaya.

"I will fulfill my term of four years, you are the coup-de-agree or not," said Zelaya.

El presidente de Honduras viajará este martes a Estados Unidos por invitación de Miguel D'Escoto.

The president of Honduras on Tuesday will travel to United States at the invitation of Miguel D'Escoto.

"Regresaré por voluntad propia con la protección de Cristo y el pueblo. Regresaré a mi pais, y le pediré a la OEA que me acompañe y acepto el ofrecimiento de quienes me quieran acompañar, es por invitación del Jefe de Estado y no por injerencia de asuntos" internos, afirmó.

"I'll come back voluntarily to the protection of Christ and the people. I'll be back to my country, and will ask the OAS to accompany me and accept the offer of those who wish to accompany me, is at the invitation of the Head of State and not by interference "internal, he said.

Zelaya manifestó que el golpe de Estado del cual fue objeto el pasado domingo representa un " retroceso a la época en que se gobernaba bajo la fuerza en América Latina y representa un desconocimiento a las luchas por las conquistas de los valores sociales de la región".

Zelaya said that the coup d'etat which was last Sunday is a throwback to the time they ruled on the strength in Latin America and represents a disregard to the struggles for the conquest of the social values of the region. "

Agregó que los sectores que los secuestraron y sacaron a la fuerza del poder " pretenden negar el acceso a la grandes mayorías de la población a un futuro mejor".

He added that the sectors that abducted and forcibly removed from power "seek to deny access to the vast majority of people to a better future."

Zelaya afirmó que existen sectores que se niegan a aceptar el concepto de participación ciudadana para mantener sus cuotas de poder.

Zelaya said that there are sectors who refuse to accept the concept of citizen participation in maintaining their share of power.

"No podemos permitir que la fuerza bruta vuelva a imperar sobre la razón. Tenemos que volver a empezar o simplemente nos volvemos a humillar y sucumbir ante la fuerza", dijo.

"We can not allow again the brute force to prevail over reason. We have to start over again or just humiliate us and succumb to the force," he said.

Zelaya informó que el presidente de Brasil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, lo telefoneó este lunes para transmitirle su apoyo contra el golpe militar que lo sacó del poder en Tegucigalpa.

Zelaya said that Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and telephoned on Monday to convey their support against the military coup that took him out of power in Tegucigalpa.

El mandatario brasileño transmitió al gobernante su convencimiento de que la intensa actividad diplomática puesta en marcha en el continente podrá restituirlo en el cargo.

The Brazilian government sent to its belief that the intensive diplomatic activity starting on the continent may be restored in the post.

Esta mañana Lula había defendido ante los medios de comunicación "el aislamiento de Honduras, mientras no tenga un presidente democráticamente electo".

Lula has argued this morning before the media "the isolation of Honduras, while not having a democratically elected president."

"No podemos permitir que en pleno siglo XXI tengamos un golpe militar en América Latina. Es inaceptable. No podemos reconocer al nuevo Gobierno. Tenemos que exigir el regreso del Gobierno democráticamente elegido", afirmó.

"We can not allow that in the twenty-first century have a military coup in Latin America. It is unacceptable. We can not recognize the new government. We need to demand the return of the democratically elected government," he said.

Durante la reunión se conoció que la presidenta de Chile, Michelle Bachelet, llamó a su embajador en Tegucigalpa, medida que también fue adoptada por los g obiernos de Brasil y de México.

During the meeting it was learned that the president of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, called its ambassador in Tegucigalpa, which was also adopted by OVERNMENTS g of Brazil and Mexico.

This is a very brave move, but without US support, it is a deathtrap for him and perhaps for some accompanying him.

[Magda Hassan]

Well some other nations have the cojones even if Hilary and Obama don't.


Latin American Nations Begin Economic and Political Blockade Against Coup Government


Posted by Kristin Bricker - June 29, 2009 at 10:48 pm Border Closings, Suspension of Aid, and Cutting of Diplomatic Relations Present a Non-Violent Response to a Violent Coup

Mexico and the countries of Central America have announced various political and economic sanctions against the coup government in Honduras as part of a non-violent and non-military strategy to return democratically elected President Manuel "Mel" Zelaya to power.

Member countries of the Central American Regional Integration adopted a resolution earlier today that requires taking "necessary measures in a staggered manner, including measures related to interregional commerce, against Honduras' de facto government until President Jose Manuel Zelaya is reinstated as president and institutional normalcy is reestablished." In the first direct action against the coup government, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala will close their borders with Honduras for 48 hours. The border closing means that all cross-border commerce will be shut down for 48 hours.

SICA countries also agreed to suspend all political, economic, financial, cultural, sports, tourist, and cooperation meetings with the de facto government. They will also instruct the board of directors of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (a regional development bank) to suspend all loans and grants to Honduras. SICA will also pressure the United Nations to take action.

Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras (represented by Zelaya), Panama, the Dominican Republic, Belize, and Nicaragua signed the SICA declaration, which is reprinted here:

1. Immediately call all ambassadors to Honduras from SICA countries for consultations.

2. Instruct the directors from SICA countries in the Central American Bank for Economic Integration to immediately suspend all loans and grants to Honduras.

3. Suspend all political, economic, financial, cultural, sports, tourist, and cooperation meetings with the de facto government.

4. Veto the participation of all Honduran representatives that are not accredited by President Manuel Zelaya in SICA meetings.

5. Fully support the Organization of American States (OAS) resolution regarding the current situation in Honduras dated June 28, 2009, to reactive the reestablishment of constitutional order and request an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council so that it issues a resolution condemning [the coup] and adopts necessary coercive measures.

6. Request that the UN Secretary General open a session called "Honduras' Political Situation" that leads to a General Assembly resolution condemning [the coup].

7. If the constitutional order is not reestablished, SICA member countries will take the necessary measures in a staggered manner, including measures related to interregional commerce, against Honduras' de facto government until President Jose Manuel Zelaya is reinstated as president and institutional normalcy is reestablished.

8. Declare that no government that arises from this constitutional breakdown is recognized.

9. Maintain permanent contact, in particular through the Rio Group, in order to evaluate the situation as it evolves and the measures that will be necessary to adopt in the future in order to achieve the full reestablishment of democratic normalcy.

The consultations with SICA's respective ambassadors to Honduras does not necessarily mean that SICA countries will withdraw their ambassadors and cut off all diplomatic relations. El Salvador, for example, will not withdraw its ambassador. However, other countries have decided to withdraw their ambassadors and cut off diplomatic relations with the coup government. Mexico has withdrawn its ambassador in solidarity with ousted President Zelaya, as have all nations that are members of the Bolivarian Aliance of the Americas (ALBA).

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has announced that he will call a meeting of Petrocaribe on Tuesday to halt oil exports to Honduras. An agreement that President Zelaya signed with Venezuela has allowed Honduras--Central America's second poorest nation--to purchase Venezuelan crude at significantly reduced prices. The agreement was proposed in 2006, and likely saved the Honduran economy when petroleum prices drastically rose in recent years. Honduras imports 100% of its petroleum. Whereas Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua's border closing will only last 48 hours, Chavez says that oil exports to Honduras won't resume until Zelaya returns to power.

Economic Impact

The 48-hour border closing will not deal a death blow to Honduras' economy. Over 70% of Honduras' exports go to the United States, and many of them pass through Honduras' ports. 90% of all Honduras trade passes through ports in Puerto Cortes and San Pedro Sula and the airport in Tegucigalpa, all of which will be unaffected by the border closings.

However, by merely by opening up the question of economic boycott, the SICA countries opened the floodgates to a nonviolent strategy that would shake an already faltering economy and thus the business class that had originally supported the coup.

Indeed, the business class is already in an uproar over the first of Central America's escalating sanctions against the coup government. The Private Enterprise Federation of Central America, the Dominican Republic, and Panama (Fedepricap) issued a statement against the border closing. "It will limit interregional commerce," they complained. "Closing the borders is a blow to trade..."

While Honduras' ports are likely to keep Honduran trade rolling during the temporary border closing, SICA's measures will also impact Puerto Cortes for an indefinite period of time. Puerto Cortes is Central America's largest Caribbean port. The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) is currently providing $120 million in financing to upgrade the port. SICA's decision to suspend all CABEI funds to Honduras will bring that project to a sudden halt. Overall, in 2007 (the latest year data is available), the CABEI approved nearly $400 million in funding for Honduras.
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