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Zelaya Blocked From Landing in Honduras After Supporters Shot
A plane carrying deposed President Manuel Zelaya was blocked from landing in Honduras as he tried to enter the country and resume power. He vowed to return as the jet he was traveling in headed to Nicaragua.
Supporters of ousted Honduras' President Manuel Zelaya cheer as his airplane flies overhead at the international airport in Tegucigalpa, Sunday, July 5, 2009. At least one person has been killed during clashes around the airport as Zelaya was kept from landing at the main Honduras airport Sunday because the runway was blocked by groups of soldiers with military vehicles, some of them lined up against a crowd of thousands outside.
(AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) At least one person was killed near the airport in the capital, Tegucigalpa, as security forces blocked the runway with trucks and clashed with demonstrators. Six people were injured, five by gunshots, according to aid workers at the scene. Telesur, a television network owned by Venezuela's government, reported that at least two Zelaya supporters were killed.
"Stop this massacre in the name of God," Zelaya said in an interview on Telesur as his plane circled the airport.
Zelaya, 56, will now regroup with supporters as he continues his quest to return to power after being deposed June 28. The Honduran armed forces, lawmakers and courts have rallied behind interim President Roberto Micheletti, who said today: "I won't be pressured by anyone."
The acting government put two vehicles on the runway, leaving too little space for the Venezuela-owned jet to land, Zelaya said on Telesur by phone from the plane. He said his plane was landing in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua.
Zelaya had originally planned to return to Honduras on July 2. He delayed his trip as the Organization of American States and regional leaders tried to reach a compromise that would restore him to office.
OAS Meeting
Micheletti, speaking at a news conference today in Tegucigalpa, said the plane wouldn't be allowed to land to prevent the dispute from escalating into violence. Micheletti took power when troops ejected Zelaya from the country.
Zelaya flew from Washington where he attended a meeting of the OAS. Shortly before midnight, the group suspended Honduras's membership from the regional body, paving the way for sanctions.
The Honduran military closed the road in front of the presidential palace as well as the road to the international airport in Tegucigalpa. Venezuelan television showed images of military helicopters taking off and landing from the Tegucigalpa airport and vehicles and people on the runway.
Zelaya told Telesur that Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo and OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza would fly in a separate aircraft to San Salvador, capital of neighboring El Salvador.
The OAS's reprimand further isolates the transitional government, which has yet to be recognized by any country.
Opposition to Zelaya
While the UN, European Union and OAS condemned the coup, the courts, Congress and business groups in Honduras defended the ouster, saying it was necessary to avoid a shift toward a government similar to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Chavez, who said he would hold the new government responsible for anything that happens to Zelaya, said Venezuela has provided the plane he is flying in.
More than 10,000 people rallied in support of the transitional government July 2, the largest demonstration so far for the new government.
Opposition to Zelaya grew over the past year as he joined an alliance of socialist countries led by Chavez.
Approval for the Zelaya government fell to 30 percent in February from a high of 57 percent in January 2007, according to a nationwide poll by CID-Gallup.
U.S. President Barack Obama has also called for Zelaya's reinstatement, and the deposed president's wife and youngest son are being protected at the residence of the U.S. ambassador in Tegucigalpa.
Zelaya may return to Washington as soon as tomorrow should he be barred from landing in the Honduran capital, a U.S. administration official said today on condition of anonymity.
22 Comments so far
Show AllNOW will Obama designate it a coup in Honduras?
Well, he's supposed to be going to Russia. We'll see if he can talk and chew gum at the same time. We already know Obama can talk out of both sides of his mouth. So what he SAYS isn't what's important now; It's what he DOESN'T DO when the Nicaraguan Army march in to arrest Micheletti.
This is seeming to become a "wag the dog" piece of theater, but I am afraid it may be being played for keeps. This is the one country in Latin America where such a scenario could be played out with a huge , long time US presence and a political situation where a sort of stimulated chaos could be engineered. It has been an especially savvy shut down and control of local media. I hope wisdom and unity can keep this from getting to a further shooting situation, and enough voices on the ground can give accurate reports to those outside, and to the Honduran population; the US mainstream media has really sucked on this one so far.
All of us need to watch how this is played by Obama& Co.
The days of armed coups overthrowing democratically elected governments should be over. (Remember Allende, Arbenz et al.). The coup in Honduras can not be allowed to stay. Democratically leaders must prevail.
The days of armed coups overthrowing democratically elected governments should be over. (Remember Allende, Arbenz et al.). The coup in Honduras can not be allowed to stay. Democratically leaders must prevail.
Why didn't Zaleya fly into Soto Cano airbase in Honduras where the US has troops? I can't be the first to think of this. Obama not approve? Hmmm.
Continental Airlines has direct flights from Houston to Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Next flight is Tuesday per Continental's website. Maybe Zaleya should buy a ticket.
Good idea, but maybe from another country.
A direct flight from Caracas or Quito?
Venezuela and Nicaragua should send in troops to reinstate Zelaya and arrest the traitorous military for its illegal coup. So far, Obama hasn't done anything to punish the illegal regime. I'm not surprised.
What are the views of Hondurans? I know that Zelaya's poll numbers were down in recent months, do they support the coup or are they against it? If people support the coup then nothing should be done. You can’t force things on people that they don’t want (although I realize that poll numbers won’t say tons when a tiny elite is violently suppressing the media, the opposition and Zelaya supporters). If it's even it should be left to Hondurans to decide, but the US presence and pressure should be fought against as well. People on the right will talk about interference by Chavez, they'll say nothing about the NED, USAID, the International Republican Institute, or US funding and training to the Honduran military. If they stay, and they will, then Venezuela and similar countries should spend money lobbying for leftist causes and candidates and fight them on that front. If the US is serious about doing what is right they can put the most pressure on, stop funding the country though these institutions, stop training the military and stop giving them aid.
Construcción blanda con judías hervidas.
The OAS cannot let this corporate coup stand lest all the dominos fall one by one.
Couldn't Obama and the US just leave Honduras alone?
You mean Iran? Or is it Honduras or both?
Sorry for the digression
bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view/20090706joe_biden_us_wont_stop_israel_from_attacking_iran/
Frankly, if Zelaya was the dictator these jokers were making him out to be, he would've just landed on the buggers. You know the coup jerks would have.
I think the archbishop did the most damage here. Those guys carry lots of weight with the poorer citizens (they are a great method of social control), and Romero he clearly ain't.
It's interesting how no one's talked about the role of the church yet in the coup and the popular response to it.
Below is an AlJazeera report, live from Honduras. It's short, doesn't show or say much, but has some "news" value; a little. Judge for yourselves.
One news sort of bit, too short, for it'd be welcome to know plenty more about this, Nicraguan troops reportedly were on the way to Honduras and Nicaragua was told by the coup leaders in Honduras (and/or the idiot who thinks he's boss and can, so-called legitimately, criminally occupy the presidential seat) to not let its troops cross the border into Honduras. The troops were, reportedly, only on the way; hadn't crossed, yet, into Honduras.
President Zelaya, prevented from landing in the country where he was democratically elected, told the coup leaders and/or the "interim" replacement of the elected president that the only way to the presidency is through the front door when elected by The People; but that's "of course" rejected by the pig-headed coup leaders, who prefer to shoot the electors, the voters.
"Honduran clashes turn deadly - 06 July 09" (2:21), posted July 5, 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnTj0umnWy4
QUOTE:
The Honduran military has thwarted an attempt by Manuel Zelaya, the ousted president, to fly back to the country, as clashes between his supporters and security forces turned deadly.
A young boy has become the first to die in the wake of the coup after security forces opened fire on tens of thousands of Zelaya supporters who had gathered in anticipation of his return.
Al Jazeera's Mariana Sanchez reports from Honduran capital Tegucigalpa.
END QUOTE
It's unfortunatley short, but might be useful or of interest to some people.
smells like clinton and aristide all over again. o will make him an offer he can't refuse..
...Congress and business groups in Honduras defended the ouster, saying it was necessary to avoid a shift toward a government similar to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
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You mean a government that cannot be overthrown by a coup?
Or perhaps a government that represents the common people?
How many USans are employed by or otherwise associated with or dependent on the "global economic interests" behind the Honduran coupsters? A few tens of thousands? Now, how many USans depend on the coupsters for their cavendish banana fix? A hundred million? Land of the free!
We must defend democracy: we must send more troops to Honduras and guide them in setting up a democratic government, and train Honduran troops to keep order, and set up many bases with many US troops there to back up their security forces, and ensure proper economic policy -- for many years to come -- for as long as it takes -- indefinitely...
If Obama supported Zelaya then ED, AGG, obusha and others would be screaming MARXIST. You people who oppose Obama just check to see where he stands on an issue and then go the other way. You have no principles, you have no idea what the issues are, you just disagree with Obama. You now want Obama to come out and publicly proclaim support for a man who is being manipulated by Chavez and Ortega, two of the leading socialist/marxist leaders in South America. If you had a clue it would be worth debating you. But you only want to oppose Obama regardless of what the circumstances. In no way are the coup leaders right in what they have done. Zelaya should never have been deposed. However, Hondurans are the only people who should be making public remarks about this matter. It is their country, let them decide who their leader should be. It is not for the USA to decide. I have to say it but you reich-wingers are idiots.
For one, the Honduran people are NOT the only ones doing anything about this matter. There is massive US involvement through the institutions I mentioned bellow, amongst other channels, the US trains hundreds of Honduran military leaders every year and you can rest assured that there is covert support by the CIA that we aren't aware of. Having said that, it makes no logical sense for the left to say nothing, it is leaving these people open to be punished by our government. I'm sorry, but saying some strong worded comments does not mean they are doing all they can to do what is right.
Clinton said some wonderful sounding things and brought Aristide back to Haiti...on the condition that he adopt policies Aristide and Clinton both knew the Haitian population didn't want and would make them even poorer and give them less control over their lives. The liberal defenders of Clinton said the same nonsense then, "you people on the left are never happy". I guess in liberal land, when a "liberal" or Democratic president says something facts are secondary. I wish I were president with that power. I can say "I am god" and you'd believe me, because I said it. What else do you need, you damn leftists?
Bogus opinion polls are now operating as legal referedums on presidencies?
Bushboy's approval ratings languished in the 20s for awhile and he was not given the hook by the Pentagon.
The bogus pollsters and tv channels are the factious powers in many countries now. And the militaries enforce their orders.