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TechnoratiPresident of Honduras Overthrown in Military Coup
TEGUCIGALPA - A group of at least
100 soldiers surrounded the residence of Honduran President Manuel
Zelaya early Sunday morning, hauled him out of bed, took him to an air
force base and put him on a plane for Costa Rica.
Congress,
which decided late Thursday to investigate whether the president was
fit to govern on the grounds that he "failed to pay due attention to
problems of national interest and did not obey legal decisions, to the
detriment of the rule of law," planned to meet at noon (18:00 GMT) to
complete the process.
The head of Congress, Roberto Micheletti, will be named acting president, as Zelaya’s constitutional successor.
General elections are due in Honduras in November, and Zelaya’s term ends in January.
Blackout
There is virtually no power or Internet in the Honduran capital
in the wake of the coup d’etat. Electricity was gradually cut
throughout the city, which is being overflown by war planes and
helicopters. The few media outlets that continue to broadcast are only
airing music.
The police have reportedly fired tear gas to disperse the growing crowds that have taken to the streets to protest.
There is also a blackout in some neighbourhoods in San Pedro Sula, the second largest city in this Central American nation.
The Organisation of American States (OAS) has convened an
emergency meeting on the situation, at its headquarters in Washington,
D.C.
In a statement, OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza strongly
condemned the military coup and called on the Honduran people, the
countries of the Americas and the international community "to join
forces against this grave disturbance of the democratic process" in the
region.
U.S. President Barack Obama said "I am deeply concerned by
reports coming out of Honduras regarding the detention and expulsion of
President Manuel Zelaya. As the Organisation of American States did on
Friday, I call on all political and social actors in
Honduras to respect democratic norms, the rule of law and the tenets of
the Inter-American Democratic Charter. Any existing tensions and
disputes must be resolved peacefully through dialogue free from any
outside interference."
Officials in the White House reported that Obama and National
Security Adviser James Jones met early Sunday to discuss the situation
in Honduras.
Zelaya’s plans to hold a non-binding popular referendum Sunday
asking voters whether or not to hold a formal vote in November on
creating a constituent assembly to rewrite the constitution put him at
loggerheads with the Supreme Court, the military and Congress,
including members of his own party, the Liberal Party.
The situation deteriorated quickly over the last few days.
On Wednesday the president dismissed the military chief,
General Romeo Vásquez and accepted the resignation of Defence Minister
Edmundo Orellana after the armed forces commanders refused to help
organise the referendum by distributing ballot boxes and providing
security.
The Supreme Court ruled that the referendum was illegal, and
voted to reinstate Vásquez. But Zelaya refused to accept the military
chief’s reinstatement, and went ahead with the distribution of voting
materials.
The opposition maintains that Zelaya’s aim was to change the constitution to allow presidents to run for re-election.
Sunday’s unofficial referendum was deemed illegal on the
argument that it violates the constitutional stipulation that
referendums cannot be held during an election year.
The European Union has called on the Honduran military to
release Zelaya and restore constitutional order. "The EU strongly
condemns the arrest of the constitutional president of the republic of
Honduras by the armed forces," Foreign Minister Jan Kohout of the Czech
Republic, which holds the rotating EU presidency, told reporters in
Corfu, Greece.
"This action is an unacceptable violation of constitutional
order in Honduras," said Kohout. "The EU calls for the urgent release
of the president and a swift return to constitutional normality."
Zelaya was elected as the candidate of the centrist Liberal Party, but soon after taking office he took a turn to the left.
![[Demonstrators hold up copies of Honduras' flag as they take part in a show of support for Honduras' President Manuel Zelaya outside Miraflores Palace in Caracas June 28, 2009. (REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins)]](http://www.commondreams.org/files/article_images/honduras-2.jpg "honduras-2.jpg")
72 Comments so far
Show All"zmann June 30th, 2009 9:31 am
"but remains ever [silent] about the U.S.-led coup d'etat against the Haitian presidency of Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Imagine that."
Uh, that happened during Clinton's presidency, did it not?"
ONLY if you believe Clinton was President on Feb. 29, 2004. That's when the U.S., Canada and France, led by the U.S., conducted the coup against the Haitian government and voters that people speak of today, without saying that President Clinton was any angel towards Haiti. They kidnapped President Aristide for this coup, forced him out of the country, so when people look for analogies for the kidnapping of President Zelaya of Honduras and forcing him out of the country, this Feb. 29, 2004, coup against the Haitian government is about as close as one can get; for the analogy.
Clinton, and for the sake of apparences, that is, deceit, pretended to act well towards Haiti, but he was also rotten ... as hell there. However, it's the Feb. 29, 2004, coup people are referring to when speaking or writing about the coup.
Damn, am I thinking of a previous coup we supported against Haiti's government? I know we have a too-long history of screwing up that poor place.
Perhaps the links for these videos have already been posted, but quickly scanning over the posts arleady made in this CD page, I didn't see any of these links.
First, I'll post the original Dem. Now! page, where people familiar with the website will already know that the full hour video is available. Then I'll post a couple of clips at Youtube for the interviews with the two guests, Dr Juan Almendares and NYU professor Greg Grandin.
"Coup in Honduras
Military Ousts President Manuel Zelaya, Supporters Defy Curfew and Take to the Streets",
June 29, 2009
(url broken over two lines)
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/6/29/
coup_in_honduras_military_ousts_president
Youtube, the Dem. Now! introduction clip (1:58),
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q22sI_BgLXM
Youtube clip 1 of 2 (10:05):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kovpKlKorg
clip 2 of 2 (7:36)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYJZibeIdLk
Clip 1 is mostly the first part of the interview with Dr Almendares, while he is again interviewed a little in clip 2, but while that's more with professor Grandin.
Good interview. I think people will appreciate these.
The following is an interview readers will probably appreciate viewing, too. I haven't viewed it yet, but will later in the day. This is what the Dem. Now! page says is an 'exclusive', but I don't know if that implies that it takes up the full DN! hour. Other than for that, I know what 'exclusive' means; just wondering if it also means full hour, when it comes to DN!.
"Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa on Global Capitalism, Why He Won't Renew the US Base in Manta, Chevron in the Amazon, Obama's War in Afghanistan, and More",
June 29, 2009
(url broken over two lines)
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/6/29/
ecuadoran_president_rafael_correa_on_global
And given the question of "who's behind the coup?" is asked and answered in the first video, above, while no words firmly saying whether the U.S. is behind this coup, or not (either way), and there are words about the military members and the rich, wealthy of Honduras who, nationally, are certainly behind the coup and are all into Big Business, the next video, below, is one that strikes me as worth viewing. Oh, actually, professor Grandin does say that the U.S. has basically been like an owner of Honduras for ... too long now; not that Hondurans want this, but the ruling "elites" of the U.S. and Honduras, the imperialists, oligarchists, aristocrats, ....
So, anyway, those latter words from professor Grandin cause me to additionally perceive this following video as a very fitting report to view and keep in mind when people claim that the U.S. is definitely not behind this coup in Honduras, at all. Keep the video report and professor Grandin's words in mind, both; and John Pilger's documentary, "War on Democracy", is definitely a strong complementary piece. It's mostly or else entirely about "secret" U.S. history, covert coups, ... in Central and Latin American countries is also very fitting to keep in mind; and there are copies at Youtube (in multiple clips there) and Google. And, not to forget, the words of John Perkins, author of "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man" and a more recent book on the same or very similar theme or topic, are worth also referring to.
Anyway, there is no voice heard in this following video, because the investigative interviews are obviously done in non-English; but there's English text for translation and it's a very recommendable and important report. It's very well done; especially since it's not even 10 minutes. It'd surely be very difficult to make a better video report of greater quality than this with only 10 minutes for the clip.
"The Real Costs of Gold Mining",(9:51), an investigative report by RightsAction.org, posted at the following website Nov. 11, 2008
http://www.dominionpaper.ca/node/2298
The direct Youtube link is the following.
"Video: The Real Costs of Gold Mining: GoldCorp Inc. In Honduras", posted Oct 7, 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TxLAzy3YT8
You really don't want to miss this above investigative report! There's the business, pillaging, ... psychopathy. And there's the humanitarian crisis for the people of Siria Valley in Honduras! "Thanks" to the U.S.-Canadian Goldcorp, Inc. PIGS, these yet more hellish PIGS!
Will Obama force a stop to that pillaging and also force reparations to be provided by the corporation to the people of the Siria Valley, with these reparations including compensation for health conditions that can hardly be compensated for, but which require compensation nevertheless, and for environmental decontamination? I doubt that he will. If he does, then we can list plenty of other critical things his administration needs to do and getting to restoring President Aristide to the Haitian presidency certainly could, if not should, be step #1.
Imagine that. Obama has finally, after being forced by the loud and firm cries of condemnation by many countries around this planet, into condemning the coup d'etat in Honduras, but remains ever [silent] about the U.S.-led coup d'etat against the Haitian presidency of Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Imagine that. You don't need to imagine it. It's reality.
"but remains ever [silent] about the U.S.-led coup d'etat against the Haitian presidency of Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Imagine that."
Uh, that happened during Clinton's presidency, did it not?
I am sure American political/economic leaders think one way to wealth and power in the western hemisphere is to kill democracy and humiliate, while enslaving Latin America. Latin America has it's issues with getting over colonial residuals of corruption and nepotism. It does not need interference from North American corporate greed and arrogance. Latin America has suffered too long from White Anglo Saxon Protestant arrogance.
While I agree, that has nothing to do with the comment I posted.
Poet
I am no fan of Obama at this point, I believe he has betrayed pretty much ebery promise he made....but he deserves to be heard before judgement. Lets see if he recognizes the Junta/Dictatorship or stands behind President Zelaya.
In any case other than commenting, he needs to keep our nose out of this.
Considering that the new head of the US Southern Command and Otto Reich instrumented this coup, I'd say that the US nose is in it pretty deep already.
I think this coup in Honduras has much wider implications than appear at first glance.
The coincidence in time of:
1. the new head of the US Southern Command flatly contradicting Obama's stated Latin American policies,
2. the flurry of activity in Central America of old Iran Contra conspirator and Venezuelan coup operator Otto Reich and
3. the free-as-a-bird terrorist Posada (implicated in the latest assassination plot against Chavez in El Salvador)
are pretty clear signals that:
1. Obama is either not in control at all of his minions, or
2. Obama is a plastic smile with a big stick between his teeth spreading a halitosis blast of lies.
The increasing militarization of Mexico on the part of US-installed Calderon, plus the rumblings of the Pentagon about invading Mexico again are part of this dark scenario.
If Obama scenario number 1 is the case, the next military coup may well occur in Washington, with the result that Dick Cheney will be back in power.
Obama scenario number 2 doesn't exactly look upbeat, either.
It's showdown time for Obama.
Either he comes out for the rule of law and democracy, or he might as well wait for the gorillas to come for him.
His polyester pantsuited spokeswoman, Hillary Clinton, has called the military coup in Honduras a military coup--BUT
she also said the US would not turn off the financial support to Honduras.
Put up or shut up, US government.
Where are all the posters claiming that we don't know if the CIA was involved?
Oh, yeah... Israel doesn't care, so its apples and oranges.
Only about 1% of the Honduras population is white - and I`m pretty sure that, like in Mexico, Brazil and practically all of Latin America, this minority controls most of the wealth. Not just the wealth - but the military and the judiciary, which are essentially for protecting the interests of the elite. Roberto Micheletti is the son of Italian immigrants - born in Italy. So the picture is clear. Manuel Zelaya`s talk of a constituent assembly was obviously seen as a clear threat to the wealth of the traditional elite - they are surely not going to give it away just because a lefty wants to spread it around. It`s an ongoing struggle. What`s happening is clear to most people - except those who get their news only from the American MSM. It`s good that the EU has come out strongly against the coup, calling Zelaya the constitutional president`. By putting out such a muted response, the Obama administration is going to lose whatever goodwill or benefit of doubt it might have earned in the region. If Chavez can force the Honduran military to back off, with little or no bloodshed, his stature will go up. By sitting it out, Obama is making a mistake.
Plan Honduras - Corporations with Guns!
I really thought O'Bomber was a little smarter than this. Obviously this is another 1982 style Coup. The US is simply trying to drive a wedge into the growth of populist democracies in the south and central Americas. The problem is that the momentum for real freedom and sovereignty has reached a tipping point with Venezuela and Bolivia repelling the empire and numerous other states following their example. The genie is out of the bottle, we can't put it back. Che's dream of a continent free of US imperialism is coming true and nothing is going to stop it. O'Bomber has stupidly tried to distance himself a little without repudiating the coup. His own words brand him as complicit by refusing to repudiate. But by distancing himself he leaves the door open for other states in the region to restore the elected president by force. Whats the US going to do, invade Honduras to protect a president we don't support and in fact question? Dumb, dumb, dumb. Don't be at all surprised if local "peace keeping" troops decend from other OAS states to "respect democratic norms" O'Bombers own words. What could he do but support Chavez and the OAS members. Check and Mate you idiot....
Fred
It should be recalled that Obama has expressed his admiration in the past for Ronald Reagan. It would seem that Obama's adulation of Reagan would also include Reagan's support for U.S. intervention against left wing governments and by propping up right wing regimes in Central America. it is more than curious that Obama's "concern" about the overthrow of Honduras's democratically elected government is not expressed with actually condemning what transpired in Honduras
Barack Obama, apparently following in the footsteps of Ronald Reagan. Plus ca change ...
Here we go again, the U.S. asserting itself where it can to send a message to lefty presidents in South America.
I thought that we support democracies...
I know of very few democracies supported by the US.
Here in the hemisphere it cozies up to Mexico and Colombia--both dictatorships of narcos and military thugs.
And to Peru--where US imposed meatball Alan Garcia commits genocide against indigenas--200 massacred in June, compared to HOW many suspicious deaths in Iran?
And to Chile--with its rancid Pinochet oligarchy poised to take over the government yet again.
The folks who head truly democratic governments have not been invited to the White House.
Where's the outrage from John McCain or that other scum-bag Lindsey Grahm?
Does anyone smell the dirty hands of the CIA in this?
What a two-face, Obama! Just like so many dumocrats masquerading as if they care about people when they're just interested in continuing to line the pockets of the super wealthy multi-national megacorporations.
There appears to be a love-in type of connection between the US and Honduras military according to this article ...
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=52881
Fortunately, we now have a US president who is committed to non interference in the domestic affairs of other countries, so we can just sit back and watch this Honduran drama play out.
I take your comment to be ironic.
Obama's tepid concern concerning the coup in Honduras seems about as genuine as the crocodile tears that he shed while over a thousand Palestinians were being slaughtered by Israeli bombs and rockets last year.
Thank you, Obama, for being a beacon of light to the world.
When a protestor is killed, will we know her name? No...
If Zelaya was violating the law by asking for a referendum, then why was he flown out of the country? And why cut power and fly military planes if it were a simple police action?
I'm not sure what's going on here. However, this sort of kidnapping tactic was last seen when the United States abducted President Aristide in Haiti and flew him to central Africa.
-TIA
As Gatos1014 pointed out, General Vasques studied at the SOA'S, in 1976 & 1984.
Also, the head of the Air Force, General Suazo studied at Fort Benning Georgia in 1996.
60,000 Latin American soldiers trained to do the United States's dirty work. The Dictators, Death Squads, Torturers. Arch Bishop Romero.
"Civil society leaders report that more then 25,000 Honduras are protesting in front of the National Palace in support of the president, despite reports that the entry and exits to some towns have been blocked by the military to prevent public protests."
this was said by an organization known as Rights Action
http://www.rightsaction.org/Alerts/Honduran_coup_alert2_062809.html
more info:
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/4559
Will this get the same amount of air time and debate as the elections in Iran?
You must be joking.
So far it hasn't. Apparently, as far as the corporate press is concerned, there's "democracy" and then there is "democracy". It all depends whose class interests are being served.
I doubt it. So far it hasn't. My guess is that our government and the mainstream media powers to be are hoping that a few days go by without the media frenzy so that the new Honduran government will be irreversable. Meanwhile Obama will throw out a few words without action condemning the action. .
"Zelaya was elected as the candidate of the centrist Liberal Party, but soon after taking office he took a turn to the left."
-gee, that's a big crime, small wonder they didn't execute already!
The Lexus-set who voted O'Bamba to the throne are concerned about the stability of their family's supply of cavendish bananas from Honduras.
So our US military members on a base in Honduras sit on their hands while a coup occurs. So what are they doing in Honduras?
What are they doing in hundreds of bases around the world? Waiting for the word to start killing people, what else.
They are doing what almost all of the other 750 or so US military bases are doing throughout the world... making sure that the "market" stays open to allow big business to do its thing - exploitation and reaping profits at the expense of other peoples land and lives.
Providing cover for the CIA
So what are they doing in Honduras?
Cheering the fall of another democracy!
We really do need more information to be able to sort this development out, but the idea of a military coup led by a formerly dismissed military chief Vasquez and Defense Minister Orellana is unsettling.
Equally unsettling is the rejection of the displaced Presidente by his own political party and the Supreme Court after ruling that his referendum planned during an election year was unconstitutional.
Equally confusing is the apparent dislike of develpments by the EU, the Beige Bush (aka Barack Obama), and ALBA, a grouping that almost never agrees on anything. I hope Amy Goodman and Democracy Now will have some additional clarifying information tomorrow on their broadcast.
Poet
Here's a bit of the "more information" you ask for (for the whole article, see: http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/4554):
"UPDATE 1: As of 11:15am, Caracas time, President Zelaya is speaking live on Telesur from San Jose, Costa Rica. He has verified the soldiers entered his residence in the early morning hours, firing guns and threatening to kill him and his family if he resisted the coup. He was forced to go with the soldiers who took him to the air base and flew him to Costa Rica. He has requested the U.S. Government make a public statement condemning the coup, otherwise, it will indicate their compliance.
UPDATE 2: 12pm noon - The Organization of American States is meeting in an emergency session in Washington concerning the situation in Honduras and the kidnapping of Honduras' president. Venezuelan Ambassador to the OAS, Roy Chaderton, just announced that the ambassadors of Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua in Honduras have just been kidnapped along with Foreign Minister Patricia Rodas, and are being beaten by Honduran military forces.
President Obama has made a statement regarding his "concern" for the situation in Honduras and a call to all political leaders and parties to "respect democratic norms". However, this statement is NOT a clear condemnation of the coup d'etat that has taken place during the early morning hours on Sunday. Nor did Obama indicate, as other countries have done, that Washington would not recognize any other government in Honduras other than the elected government of Manual Zelaya.
Opposition forces in Honduras, led by a US-funded NGO Grupo Paz y Democracia, have stated via CNN that a coup has not ocurred, but rather a "transition" to democracy. Martha Diaz, coordinator of the NGO, which receives USAID funding, has just declared minutes ago on CNN that "civil society" does not support President Zelaya nor his "illegal quest" to hold a non-binding referendum on a potential future constitutional reform. She justified his kidnapping, beating and removal from power as a "democratic transition". Again, this is eerily reminiscent of the coup d'etat in Venezuela in April 2002, when so-called "civil society" along with dissident military forces kidnapped President Chávez and installed a "transition government". The goups involved also received funding from the U.S. government, primarily via the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and later from USAID as well.
CNN en Español, Telesur, and other international television stations reporting on the situation in Honduras have been removed from the airways in the Central American nation. The whereabouts of the Foreign Minister and the ambassadors of Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua are still unknown. OAS General Secretary Jose Miguel Insulze has announced he will travel immediately to Honduras to investigate the situation. President Chávez of Venezuela has also announced an emergency meeting of ALBA nations in Managua, Nicaragua, as soon as this evening.
More to come as the situation develops over the next few hours. Catch live blogging at www.chavezcode.com.
Obama and Clinton condemned the coup today.
A good thing!
More from same site:
UPDATE 3: 12:18pm - Dan Restrepo, Presidential Advisor to President Obama for Latin American Affairs, is currently on CNN en Español. He has just stated that Obama's government is communicating with the coup forces in Honduras, trying to "feel out" the situation. He also responded to the reporter's question regarding whether Washington would recognize a government in Honduras other than President Zelaya's elected government, by saying that the Obama Administration "is waiting to see how things play out" and so long as democratic norms are respected, will work with all sectors. This is a confirmation practically of support for the coup leaders. Restrepo also inferred that other countries are interfering in Honduras' international affairs, obviously referring to Venezuela and other ALBA nations who have condemned the coup with firm statements earlier this morning.
UPDATE 4: 12:26PM - President Chávez of Venezuela has just announced that the Cuban Ambassador in Honduras has been kidnapped and beaten by Honduran military forces. The Venezuelan Ambassador was beaten, kidnapped and left at the side of a road outside of Tegucigalpa. Chávez has denounced that both CNN and Venezuelan private station Globovisión have been trying to justify the coup against President Zelaya in Honduras. Chávez is live from the presidential palace together with the Honduran Ambassador in Venezuela. Chávez spoke with Fidel Castro in Cuba just over an hour ago regarding the situation. Both Cuba and Venezuela, along with Bolivia, Nicaragua and Ecuador, have unilaterally condemned the coup in Honduras.
UPDATE 5: 12:30PM - Foreign Minister of Honduras Patricia Rodas has been taken from her home by soldiers, beaten and imprisoned. Serious human rights violations are occurring in Honduras and President Obama has so far only said he is "concerned". Another showing of a US double standard? Since Zelaya is a "leftist" president, will the Obama administration refuse to condemn the coup against him?
Chávez announces that President Bachelet of Chile has also condemned the coup in Honduras and is emitting a formal declaration.
UPDATE 6: 1PM - President Zelaya is speaking right now live from San Jose, Costa Rica, alongside the right-wing president of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias, who traditionally has been a staunch ally of Washington. Arias has just adamantly condemned the coup against Zelaya and called for the whole hemisphere to follow suit.
UPDATE 7: 2:00PM - SOA WATCH CALLS FOR URGENT CALLS TO STATE DEPT
Military Coup in Honduras
A military coup has taken place in Honduras this morning (Sunday, June 28), led by SOA graduate Romeo Vasquez. In the early hours of the day, members of the Honduran military surrounded the presidential palace and forced the democratically elected president, Manuel Zelaya, into custody. He was immediately flown to Costa Rica.
A national vote had been scheduled to take place today in Honduras to consult the electorate on a proposal of holding a Constitutional Assembly in November. General Vasquez had refused to comply with this vote and was deposed by the president, only to later be reinstated by the Congress and Supreme Court.
The Honduran state television was taken off the air. The electricity supply to the capital Tegucigalpa, as well as telephone and cellphone lines were cut. Government institutions were taken over by the military. While the traditional political parties, Catholic church and military have not issued any statements, the people of Honduras are going into the streets, in spite of the fact that the streets are militarized. From Costa Rica, President Zelaya has called for a non-violent response from the people of Honduras, and for international solidarity for the Honduran democracy.
While the European Union and several Latin American governments just came out in support of President Zelaya and spoke out against the coup, a statement that was just issued by Barack Obama fell short of calling for the reinstatement of Zelaya as the legitimate president.
Call the State Department and the White House
Demand that they call for the immediate reinstatement of Honduran President Zelaya.
State Department: 202-647-4000 or 1-800-877-8339
White House: Comments: 202-456-1111, Switchboard: 202-456-1414
Visit www.SOAW.org and www.SOAW.org/presente for articles and updated information.
Still more from same site:
UPDATE 8: 2:10PM - CNN broadcasts from Honduran congree; stating Zelaya has resigned
Incredible! Just like Venezuela, April 2002. CNN has just issued a report saying that the Honduran Congress has just read President Zelaya's resignation from the presidency and the head of Congress will be the new president of Honduras. However, just under one hour ago, President Zelaya spoke live from Costa Rica and did not give ANY indication whatsoever that he was going to resign. Zelaya moreover reiterated that he remains the elected president of Honduras until 2010 and was hoping to return to his country as soon as possible... Is the resignation letter real? Or is this yet another strange repetition of Venezuela in 2002 when the opposition forces released a forged resignation letter they attributed to President Chávez but had actually been doctored by the coup leaders...
UPDATE 9: 2:20pm -President Zelaya Denies Resignation, Live On CNN
President Manuel Zelaya of Honduras was just live on CNN enEspañol, confirming that he never signed nor authorized his resignation fromthe presidency. This is a coup d'etat taking place, he denounced. The Hondurancongress has forged a resignation letter removing illegally the president frompower. They say it's a correspondence they have received and have to process,but have not confirmed its authenticity. MAJOR COUP UNDERWAY.
UPDATE 10: 3:00PM -PEOPLE Taking To Streets In Honduras To Protest Military Coup
Minister of the Presidency in Honduras, Enrique FLoresLanza, is live on "Once Noticias" Channel 11 news in Hondurasaffirming that hundreds of thousands of Hondurans are taking to the streets todemand the return of President Zelaya. He has confirmed that President ZelayaHAS NOT RESIGNED and the letter presented by the Congress is a FAKE.
The OBAMA Administration has not yet called for theunequivocal reinstatement of Zelaya to the presidency of Honduras.
Call the State Department and the White House
Demand that they call for the immediate reinstatement ofHonduran President Zelaya.
State Department: 202-647-4000 or 1-800-877-8339
White House: Comments: 202-456-1111, Switchboard:202-456-1414
The Honduran Congress and Supreme Court are backing theArmed Forces and the military coup. They say a military coup per se has notoccurred because the military does not want to take power, but rather the headof Congress will be named president.
PRESIDENT ZELAYA WAS BEATEN AND KIDNAPPED FROM HIS HOUSETHIS MORNING AND TAKEN BY FORCE TO AN AIRPLANE AND SENT TO COSTA RICA. FOREIGNMINISTER PATRICIA RODAS HAS BEEN BEATEN, KIDNAPPED AND IMPRISONED BY MILITARYFORCES AND IS STILL IN CUSTODY, HER WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN. HONDURAN TELEVISION ISTRYING TO SAY THIS IS NOT A COUP. BUT THIS IS A COUP D'ETAT AND MUST BEUNILATERALLY CONDEMNED AND DEFEATED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TOGETHERWITH THE HONDURAN PEOPLE.
And more:
UPDATE 11: 3:15PM -International Community Unanimously Rejects Military Coup In Honduras
The Organization of American States, ALBA nations, EuropeanCommunity, United Nations, UNASUR, MERCOSUR and even the United States have nowALL condemned the military coup underway in Honduras. HOWEVER, the HonduranCongress, Supreme Court and military are refusing to recognize their actions asa coup d'etat.
Still the other nation to not unequivocally call forPresident Zelaya's immediate rescue and reinstatement is the United States,nevertheless, Hillary Clinton has issued a statement condemning the"situation" in Honduras and calling for "respect" forconstitutional order.
Electricity and state media outlets in Honduras are stillshut down in order to impose a curfew and blackout state so the military coupcan succeed.
Honduran Congress live on CNN en español, Jose AlfredoSaavedra, Secretary of the Congress, has just read a Decree declaring PresidentZelaya no longer President of Honduras because he wanted to proceed with theopinion poll scheduled to occur today.
What happened to the validity of all those who voted forZelaya? He is the elected president since 2005!
UPDATE 12: 3:30PM -Honduran Congress Says Can't Allow Constitutional Assembly To Ever Take Place
A member of Honduras' Congress has just admitted that indiscussions with the US Ambassador in Honduras, the US Ambassador suggestedthey just let the opinion poll take place and then vote against theConstitutional Assembly in November, but, said the congressmember, "wecan't just allow 'these people' to do this with the help of Venezuela andCuba."
"we can't have a constitution that allows the 'people'to elect members on the supreme court and allows the 'people' to be involved ingovernment".......
They also blamed Zelaya for increases in corruption,drugtrafficking and the relationship with "chavismo" in Venezuela....
Nevertheless, they can be in disagreement with Zelaya'spolicies, but he was elected by a majority of Honduran people and still remainspopular as their president...It's the elite and the conservative parties, whichhave power in Congress, who have backed this coup...
UPDATE 13: 3:44PM - Fake Resignation Letter From Zelaya Dated 3Days Ago
Alleged resignation letter with forged signature fromPresident Zelaya is dated June 25, 2009. This is completely ridiculousconsidering that up until he was violently kidnapped this morning, Zelaya gaveno indication whatsoever that he was planning to resign. Today, in is forcedexile from Costa Rica, he has reaffirmed his role as constitutional presidentof Honduras and denied any resignation via letter or any other means.
The Honduran Congress has violated the human rights of itscitizens and has brutally repressed members of Zelaya's administration. ForeignMinister Patricia Rodas, who was beaten and taken from her home a few hoursago, has still not resurfaced.
The Honduran Congress says they have not executed a coupd'etat but rather are installing "rule of law" and"democracy". WTF?????
BTW, the FAKE RESIGNATION letter states:
"Mr. President:
Due to the polarizing political situation in the country,which has provoked a national conflict that is eroding my political support,and due to my uncureable health problems that have impeded me fromconcentrating on my fundamental duties in the government, I am handing in myirrevocable resignation as President of the Republic, together with my Cabinetmembers, effective as of today.
With my resignation, I hope to contribute to healing thewounds in the national political environment.
Sincerely,
Jose Manual Zelaya Rosales
President of the Republic of Honduras
Addressed to: President of the National Congress
Honorable Representative Don Roberto Micheletti Bain
Legislative Palace
Tegucigalpa"
THIS IS CLEARLY A FAKE! AND THE GUY IT'S ADDRESSED TO,MICHELETTI, IS THE ONE THE CONGRESS JUST NAMED PRESIDENT OF HONDURAS!
Also, the "health problems" referred to in theletter are regarding the opposition's claim that President Zelaya is"mentally ill". Hmmm....the Venezuelan opposition has tried to saythe same about President Chavez and have even had psychiatric studies conductedto back their "accusations".
Maybe all of us are mentally ill who fight for social andeconomic justice and refuse to bow to imperialism, fascism and military coups!!
UPDATE 14: 4:10PM -If Obama Does Not Refuse To Recognize Coup Leaders Than Us Approving MilitaryCoup
AS of this time, late Sunday afternoon, after the HonduranCongress has illegally removed President Zelaya from power and violentlykidnapped and forced him into exile in Costa Rica, the Obama Administration hasSTILL NOT stated that it WILL NOT recognize any other president of Hondurasother than the democratically elected President Manuel Zelaya.
All of the nations in the region have made clear that theywill only recognize President Zelaya as the legitimate president of Honduras.Even the United Nations and European Community have made clear the samesentiment. Only the Obama Administration has made no statement confirming thatit will not recognize the head of Congress, who just declared himself presidentof Honduras, as a legitimate leader.
THIS IS AN OUTRAGE! We must DEMAND the Obama Administrationrefuse to recognize any other president than Manuel Zelaya in Honduras. If theObama administration's rejects such a demand, then it is evidences its role inthis illegal military coup.
And finally:
UPDATE 15: 4:32PM -Massive Human Rights Violations Underway In Honduras
The Honduran president, Manuel Zelaya, elected in November2005, has been kidnapped, beaten and forced into exile in Costa Rica. A fakeletter of resignation, with his forged signature (see blog entry below), wasused by Honduras' opposition majority Congress to justify the president'souster. Foreign Minister Patricia Rodas was brutally beaten and kidnapped bymilitary forces in her residence just before noon and taken into custody. Shehas not been seen since.
In complete violation of diplomatic law, the ambassadors ofVenezuela and Cuba were both beaten and kidnapped for a short period byHonduran soldiers, under orders of the coup leaders. They have both beenreleased and have taken refuge again in their respective embassies.
A non-binding vote, scheduled for today, on a possiblefuture constitutional assembly, was impeded by the coup leaders, violating theHonduran people's right to vote and participate in their political processes.
Nations around the world, including the United Nations,Organization of American States, Latin American countries and even the UnitedStates have condemned the events in Honduras. Only the Obama Administration hasyet to clarify whether they will recognize the illegal coup government led bythe president of Honduras' congress, Micheletti.
UPDATE 16: 5:00PM - Illegal Swearing In Of De FactoPresident In Honduras
RIght now the Honduran Congress is illegally swearing in thepresident of Congress, Micheletti, as the de facto president of Honduras, inthe next development of this ongoing military-civil coup taking placethroughout the day.
President Zelaya is still in forced exile in Costa Rica,after being beaten and kidnapped by soldiers under orders of those involved inthe coup. Foreign Minister Patricia Rodas is still disappeared, after also beingbeaten and taking prisoner by the Honduran military in clear violation of herrights.
The United States maintains a military base in Soto Cano,Honduras, that houses approximately 500 soldiers and special forces. The U.S.military group in Honduras is one of the largest in U.S. Embassies in theregion. The leaders of the coup today are graduates of the U.S. School of theAmericas, a training camp for dictators and repressive forces in Latin America.
Will the Obama Administration recognize the coup governmentin place now in Honduras? Or will Obama call for the reinstatement ofconstitutional president Manuel Zelaya. We are waiting to hear from the WhiteHouse....
Tonight, a special meeting of ALBA nations has been convenedin Managua, Nicaragua. Heads of state or high level representatives fromBolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Venezuela, Dominica, San Vincent and Antigua andBarbados are expected to attend.
UPDATE 17: 5:37PM -Coup Government In Place In Honduras
It's official, illegal, but official. Roberto Micheletti, upuntil right now the head of Congress, has just been sworn in as de factopresident after violently ousting President Zelaya from power, kidnapping himand forcing him into exile in Costa Rica. Micheletti just gave a speech beforeCongress, broadcast live via CNN en Español and Telesur, along with Honduranstations, was enraged with power, often yelling and declaring his "utmostrespect for democracy and the constitution" (?!) He also discussed how his"cabinet" which he is about to announce, will "restoredemocracy" and "respect for the constitution" to the country. Herepeated over and over again that what took place was not a military-civil coupbut rather a "civil society" action to "ensure democracy".
Still no word about kidnapped and beaten Foreign MinisterPatricia Rodas' whereabouts. The Congress also did not explain PresidentZelaya's beating and kidnapping and forced exile or the forged resignationletter, which they now obviously are no longer using as a legitimate"justification" for the coup. It's just too bogus.
BTW, The US Military Group in Honduras trains around 300Honduran soldiers every year, provides more than $500,000 annually to theHonduran Armed Forces and additionally provides $1.4 million for a militaryeducation and exchange program for around 300 more Honduran soldiers everyyear.
You shouldn't be so quick to trust Obomber's finger-shaking tsk tsk. Its very lukewarmness arouses suspicion. If he was truly against this coup, a far stronger reaction was in order, especially in light of all the recent hysteria over Iran.
The head of the coup was a graduate of the School of the Americas.
This is why there needs to ba a South American Treaty Organization, to come to the aid of fellow members when the students of the School of the Americas cause this kind of mischief.
Surely the CIA was involved, with carrots, promises, rewards.
On venezuelananalysis, Hugo Chavez is quoted: "Soldier, empty out your riffle against the oligarchy and not against the people"
This is the same Hugo Chavez who caught flak this week for opening his mouth over the Iranian election. On balance, it's a good thing for the people of the world that Hugo Chavez opens his mouth.
I agree. One can't be right all of the time, but Hugo's instincts are genuine, and we should thank heaven we have at least one world leader who can cut right through the BS.
oh lefties....
The big turnover is underway... the people will pay and pay and pay and pay.
The pioneer will sink like a stone,
Obama's First Coup d'Etat: Honduran President has been Kidnapped: Updates 1-17
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/4554
thanks a ton for the link. that was useful. nice to know our little community rated a government troll coming aboard for a couple of less than stellar posts about "madness".
here we go again. can't wait to see the spin on this one.
http://americasmexico.blogspot.com/2009/06/oas-countries-back-zelaya-calls-for.html
more information.
i am confused by your government troll coming aboard... comment... ??
venezuelanalysis.com is not a government website, it is privately run.
apologies, that was not directed at you, but another poster below.
Not true, the electricity is on since morning, we have cable tv, internet functioning, expresident Zelaya broke the law, he tried by any mean, even fraudulent referendum to stay in the presidency, he was mad, didn´t hear anyone, didn´t obey the judge unruliyng the referendum, so he had to be arrested.
Everything is normal here, just little group of people are protesting, he didn´t to anythyng after the earthquake three weeks ago , nothing with the virus ANH1 or any its name is, he had only 20% of aprobation of the honduran citizens. We just stop a new dictartoship born in Latin America.
Here's a paragraph from a piece by Kristin Bricker of Narco News (narconews.com):
The lie that Zelaya is pushing for a new Constitution so that he can be re-elected has been repeated so many times that even self-proclaimed western hemisphere experts are parroting it. The third sentence in the Council on Hemispheric Affairs' (COHA) analysis entitled "Political Reform in President Zelaya's Honduras" states: "As a result of this referendum, the president hopes to eliminate the one-term limit placed on Honduran presidents." As previously stated, the ballot for tomorrow's poll only asks one question, "Do you think that the November 2009 general elections should include a fourth ballot box in order to make a decision about the creation of a National Constitutional Assembly that would approve a new Constitution?" COHA obviously never checked the actual text of the ballot, because it writes that tomorrow's voting is to re-elect Zelaya--a claim that even the conservative Honduran press hasn't been brazen enough to make. COHA writes, "Later that day [on June 25] the Supreme Electoral Tribunal declared Zelaya’s re-election null and ordered the seizure of all ballot boxes and election-related materials."
Has there been an explanation about why the current Constitution of Honduras needs to be replaced?
when the army kidnaps a democratically elected president and forces him out of the country, I hardly call that stopping "a new dictatorship born in Latin America" (sic), rather, I call that, the birth of another dictatorship in Latin America.
Everything is normal there - yes, normal for Honduras.
it is against the Honduran constitution to have a referendum?
According to the article, it is during an election year, and if an election is due in January then yes it seems so.
thre's more to this story, of course. making an enemy of the military and a historically elite judiciary usually involves money and lots of it. i'll wait until I see that trail reveal itself in any direction.
Why would he rely on the military to distribute ballot boxes anyway? That would not be tolerable in this country.
"Zelaya was elected as the candidate of the centrist Liberal Party, but soon after taking office he took a turn to the left."
Ruh, roh. And in Honduras, no less. The one place we've always taken for granted. So is twitter twittering? Again?
he just went mad as he make friendship with Hugo Chavez
so making friends with hugo chavez makes one mad? i can see that...it does invite certain consequences.
you guys should've taken notes from the Mousavi guys. they were much more sophisticated.
i'd recommend you email Dreyfus. he'll be a receptive audience.
so then why did the EU, OAS, most ALBA affiliated countries, and others condemn the removal of the president?
This is a very disconcerting development, but had been building over the past week. Especially now that reports are in about the Ambassadors to Nicaragua, Cuba and Venezuela also being taken away, even if only briefly. Is this the challenge to the Latin American nations who are rising up and resisting the "Washington Concensus"? To keep up please include this website in your reading: www.venezuelanalysis.com/ . Greg Grandin's book Empires Workshop is also recommended.
Joe in Gainesville
They where trying to protect the ex-canciller Patricia Rodas, from being arrested, she was the most powerful women over the leftist direction the expresident was goin to, she didn´t hide their emotions when she was near Fidel or Hugo Chavez, treating them as Hollywood stars.
Let's accept your argument that she treated Castro and Chavez as rock stars? Let's assume that she was as you say "the most powerful women over the leftist direction the expresident was goin to"
SO FREAKING WHAT? You don't like her, you don't like her politics, that is what elections are for. Vote no in the referendum.
They where trying to protect the ex-chancellor Patricia Rodas, from being arrested, she was the most powerful women over the leftist direction the expresident was goin to, she didn´t hide their emotions when she was near Fidel or Hugo Chavez, treating them as Hollywood stars