IKN: POSSIBLE COUP D'ETAT GOING DOWN IN HONDURAS

[magbana]

6/25/09
Possible coup d'etat going down in Honduras

Things are a bit confused in Honduras right now, but the basic story is that:
President Manuel Zelaya is trying to push through a change to the constitution to allow the president (i.e. him) to be re-elected.
A few days ago army general and armed forces head Romeo Vasquez refused to support the move for a referendum on the issue (claiming it was illegal) and was dismissed by his President last night.
His defence minister resigned, apparently in protest at the presidential decision.
This afternoon, the country's supreme court has annuled the presidential decree that sacked Vasquez.
Right now troops are moving through the capital Tegucigalpa and quelling disturbances, supposedly instigated by Zeyala supporters.
The President has asked the Organization of American States (OAS) for support.

Like I say, things are not clear as yet but there does seem to be a military move to block the President's greater ambitions. Whether this is a fully fledged coup right now, or the beginnings of one, or merely a show of strength to chastize Zelaya remains to be seen. It's worth mentioning that Zelaya has been polling very low in approval ratings in 2009, normally in the low 20s.

http://incakolanews.blogspot.com/2009/06/possible-coup-detat-going-down-in.html

[struggle4progress]

1. Honduras leader refuses to restore military chief

By FREDDY CUEVAS – 26 minutes ago

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — The Honduran president vowed Thursday to ignore a Supreme Court ruling ordering him to reinstate the military chief he fired, escalating a showdown that has threatened the leftist leader's hold on power.

President Manuel Zelaya's attempt to hold a referendum Sunday on changing the constitution has pitted him against the country's top courts, the attorney general, military leaders and even his own party, all of whom argue the vote is illegal. But Zelaya has the support of labor leaders, farmers and leftist groups who view the president as facing down an entrenched elite in a country where 70 percent of the population is poor.

The crisis quickly ballooned when Zelaya fired Gen. Romeo Vasquez as head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff late Wednesday for refusing to support the referendum, which is intended to measure popular support for possible constitutional changes. Zelaya has not said what he wants, but critics accuse him of trying to extend presidential terms before his ends in January, like his ally Hugo Chavez did in Venezuela.

The Supreme court ordered Vasquez reinstated Thursday and warned Zelaya would face penal consequences if he does not respect the ruling ...

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ilB4EYZ3kF-s2I4kUt5k-8AT6_yAD991VLTG0

[Peace Patriot]

3. "...like his ally Hugo Chavez did in Venezuela." The Associated Pukes strike again!

This sounds nothing like what occurred in Venezuela--which was an orderly, legal process initiated by the Venezuelan National Assembly and overwhelmingly supported by the voters. Chavez has enjoyed a 55% to 65% approval rating in Venezuela throughout his tenure. Venezuela has very transparent, aboveboard elections, and the voters clearly wanted Chavez to run for office again in 2012. It is also curious for AP to call Zelaya a "leftist." The corpo/fascist press has never done so before, that I can recall, and I'm not sure I would.

"...escalating a showdown that has threatened the leftist leader's hold on power." (And did they ever call Bush the "rightwing leader of the U.S.?! No, they did not.) Zelaya seems to me more of an opportunist than any of the other leftist/majorityist leaders in Latin America (if he is truly a leftist at all). He was content to toady to the Bushwhacks until the winds changed, hoping for scraps from the Bushwhack table; got very little for his trouble, and started cultivating leftist leaders and groups. He himself was a timber baron and a rich man. I don't know a lot about him, but I am struck by the Associated Pukes calling him a "leftist" now that he seems to be in trouble.

In any case, what appears to be happening in Honduras, where Zelaya has a low approval rating, is not in the least comparable to the Venezuelan referendum on term limits. It seems more akin to that rat bastard Alvaro Uribe in Colombia, and his bribes and other underhanded methods of getting his term extended. This is just my first impression, based on the reports of the controlled, corpo/fascist press. Their off-hand comparison to Venezuela indicates that there may be more lies, deceptions, distortions and other typical behavior in their accounts of events in Honduras. We will just have to wait and see, and meanwhile consult more reliable sources.

[struggle4progress]

5. The corporate press is predictable, f'sure.

[Summermoondancer]

26. He is a leftist he ran a Liberal platform but they have abandoned him

liberal leader Jorge Yllascas called him an orphan yesterday and said he was without support. He is right...less than 20% of the public here approves of him and it is because of his support of Chavez and the ideologue of a continuist regime not to mention that he has led the most corrupt administration in history. Beyond all of that is his connection to the Massacre of the Horcones.
Venezuela has threatened to intervene in the removal and stop it even though it is a LEGAL process in Honduras that no one has the right to involve themselves in except the people of Honduras.

[struggle4progress]

2. Congress Bars President Zelaya from Holding Referendum

June 24, 2009
by AQ Online

The Honduran Congress passed a new law on Tuesday, after an unusual late-night legislative session. The measure, called the Ley Especial que Regula el Referéndum y el Plebiscito, establishes specific restrictions on the power of the executive to call for national referendums by prohibiting plebiscites and referendums 180 days before or after a national election.

Prior to Tuesday’s development, President Zelaya had scheduled a vote for June 28 on whether to convene a constituent assembly to re-write the Honduran Constitution. Plans for the referendum provoked widespread criticism throughout Honduras, and were declared illegal by the Supreme Court, the Attorney General and the Human Rights Ombudsman, but President Zelaya vowed to press forward with the vote.

Zelaya has argued that social problems in Honduras are rooted in its current constitution. But opponents are worried that constitutional changes in other Latin American countries have eased re-election restrictions, expanded presidential powers and extended term limits. Opponents also argue the president is trying to pave the way for his own re-election. Zelaya's four-year term ends in early 2010 and current law requires him to step down ...

http://www.americasquarterly.org/node/685

[struggle4progress]

4. (UN) Assembly President strongly condemns attempted coup in Honduras

25 June 2009 – General Assembly President Miguel D’Escoto today deplored an attempted coup against the Government in Honduras, and called on all parties to resolve their differences through peaceful dialogue.

The Assembly President “clearly and strongly condemns the attempted coup d’etat that is currently unfolding against the democratically elected Government of President Manuel Zelaya of Honduras,” his spokesperson said in a statement.

He “expresses his deep concern and hopes that the rule of law is respected. He also appeals to the different parties to resolve their differences through peaceful dialogue,” the spokesperson added ...

Mr. D’Escoto told a news conference in New York that he thought the “ugly days” of military coups and the interruption of democratic processes were over ...

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=31274&Cr=military&Cr1=+coup+

[rabs]

6. Was just listening to radio from San Pedro Sula

General Romeo Vasquez. If there is a coup, he will probably lead it.

Radio said people in San Pedro Sula have been filling their gas tanks and crowding supermarkets to get food and other supplies in case something goes down in the capital. In San Pedro Sula, all calm.

School classes across the country suspended tomorrow (Friday) so voting booths can be set up for Sunday.


Hundreds of troops deployed in the streets of Tegucigalpa today.

Worthless OAS council to convene tomorrow (Friday) to issue a "resolution" on the situation in Honduras.

[rabs]

7. "El golpe de Estado ya esta dado" : presidente Zelaya

Pretty dramatic words from Zelaya tonight. He says the coup d' etat is a fact because of the Supreme Court today ordered the reinstatment of Gen. Romeo Vasquez. Zelaya called on the people to defend Honduras' democracy from returning to the dark dictatorships of 30 years ago.

(Article in Spanish)

http://www.hondudiario.com/H/content/el-golpe-de-estado-ya-esta-dado-presidente-zelaya

[Peace Patriot]

8. It is certainly a confusing situation--the hallmark of CIA instigated coups, it occurs to me.

Zelaya, who was not aligned with the larger leftist movement in Latin America--to my knowledge--until recently, suddenly took a left turn and joined ALBA--the Venezuela-organized barter trade group--because (I remember reading), according to Zelaya, it was not profiting Honduras to cooperate with the Bushwhacks. I have not thought of him as a leftist, but more of an opportunist, but now leaders like Fidel Castro are coming forward to defend him. He is--by AP's report--not popular, but that could be Associated Pukes/corpo-fascist lying (false polls--a standard CIA/fascist tactic). If he has labor unions and peasant farmers on his side, he must be more popular than AP is saying. Workers and small farmers comprise the vast majority of the population.

Honduras would seem to me to be a prime candidate for covert CIA coup-making, for many reasons: that it does not (to my knowledge) have a well-organized leftist movement (such as Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador and other countries, which have strongly resisted CIA/corpo-fascist interference); its grass roots organizational weakness would make it vulnerable to tactics of spreading confusion and "divide and conquer"; it is a key strategic location for U.S. "war on drugs" profiteering and militaristic control of the Caribbean and northern South America (esp. Venezuela), at a time when other countries (Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador in particular) are rejecting the U.S. "war on drugs" (along with "neoliberalism"); it was the launching pad for horrendous wars against democracy during the Reagan "reign of terror" and thus likely has entrenched military/fascist operatives who would do anything to return to the "good old days" of U.S. billions in military aid and a free hand to kill and oppress the leftist majority. The U.S. "war on drugs" is a key component of U.S. policy and of events in Latin America--one that I think most people (in the U.S.) don't think much about. It is THE enforcement arm of global corporate predation in Latin America. Witness Peru, where billions in U.S. military aid are being used to shoot at peasant protestors (protesting the rape of the Amazon) from helicopters and brutally oppress whole regions of resistance to corporate rape (i.e., "free trade"). Colombia, of course, is the "poster child" of the U.S. "war on drugs"--a country where thousands of union leaders, peasant farmers and others have been slaughtered by the military, and where peasant farms are routinely blasted with toxic pesticides (not to destroy small coca crops but rather to drive small farmers off their lands, in favor of the big drug lords, and Monsanto, et al). This is what "free trade" is all about, with U.S. military aid, under the cover of the "war on drugs," used to enforce rampant exploitation. The Bushwhacks shoved through billions in such aid to Mexico, just last summer, to bolster global corporate predation in Mexico. So-o-o, these same war profiteers want to keep Honduras within the global corporate predator orbit--and with Zelaya defecting from the "Washington Consensus" and siding with the overwhelming leftist trend in the region, the forces of evil must be panicked and scheming to retain their influence wherever they can.

This may be why we can't get a clear picture of what is happening: our view has been obscured. In the first reports, it appeared that Zelaya was doing something shady or illegal, by holding a referendum on his term limit. This may be simply lying by the corpo/fascist press. In situations like this, the lies are pre-written and fed to the corpo/fascist press as needed. And confusion--a confused narrative--is a prime tactic for preventing the people of the U.S. (who are funding oppression in Latin America and many other places) and the world from figuring out what is really going on. It's beginning to look like I myself was taken in. Recently, I haven't been able to follow the news of Latin America as carefully as I have in the past. And, sure enough, I swallowed the narrative that Zelaya was likely in the wrong--which it seems now may not be true.

[Peace Patriot]

11. I just read the Inka Kola comments, and I think it's important to look at a map.

Honduras is now surrounded by countries with leftist (anti-"Washington Consensus") governments: Guatemala to the north, El Salvador to the west, Nicaragua to the south. During the Reagan "reign of terror" in Central America, Honduras was the launching pad for horrendous fascist killing sprees in Guatemala and Nicaragua. It also has a long coastal border on the Caribbean, just over the sea from the northern hump of South America, where the fascist vs leftist confrontation simmers on the border between Venezuela and Colombia, with Venezuela's oil fields mostly in this coastal region and highly vulnerable (as evidenced, in part, by the fascist coup plotting in Venezuela's northern oil province, Zulia, where the rightwing oppositon, in league with Colombia's fascists, has been designing a secessionist strategy, a la Bolivia).

Also, it is notable that the Honduran military is the chief actor in this attempted coup (?) in Honduras (if that's what it is). It was the military who defied Zelaya. He is an elected official; they are not. They are subject to him, in a proper democracy, and he can fire whoever he wants to fire in the military. (The supreme court and the congress have sided with the military--at least to this point--but it was the military that started it.) And this is where the "war on drugs" comes in. Under color of the "war on drugs," the Bushwhacks larded Colombia's fascists with billions of dollars in military aid. The man who controls that aid (moola to the military) is Colombian Defense Minister Santos, who has ambitions to become 'president' (military dictator?) of Colombia. He is a rat bastard of the first order, very similar to Donald Rumsfeld in his arrogance and cold, calculating, 'Machiavellian' indifference to death, torture, lies and the vast suffering of Colombia's poor. Santos' chief rival is Alvaro Uribe, the current president of Colombia. Uribe is a former Medellin Cartel operative, with strong ties to rightwing paramilitary death squads, a dirty player for sure, but at least heading the civilian government (such as it is). I strongly suspect that the Colombian military (& Santos) are in collusion with the elements in the Honduran military who are defying Honduras's president, and that this is part of a larger plot, run by the CIA (or by Rumsfeld in his 'retirement'), to turn back the tide of this overwhelming leftist trend in Central America (and of course in South America), to regain control of the Caribbean, and probably--long term, at this point--to regain control of Venezuela's northern oil reserves. Again, look at a map. Honduras stands out as an extremely important strategic location for control of the Caribbean (and for surveillance of, and potential attack upon, Venezuela). Ecuador's leftist president is evicting the U.S. military (and its "war on drugs" ruse) from Ecuador this year, and the U.S. military has been desperately looking for a new location from which to spy upon South America and plot future actions in support of whatever coups can be arranged. If Santos has his way, Colombia will host a new U.S. military base--especially for spying on, and planning attacks upon, Venezuela. But what if that doesn't work out? And, depending on the location of a possible U.S. base in Colombia, how to hopscotch into the Caribbean? Where oh where will the homeless U.S. military ensconce itself? I think this may be a key element of what is happening in Honduras. Zelaya would not likely be friendly to CIA-funded rightwing paramilitary death squads, as Honduras was in the 1980s, nor to Honduras becoming a U.S. military base. But this is likely exactly what the leaders of the Honduran military want--the money and the power that the U.S. can give them, for providing a bulwark against democracy in the region, and a key location for long term plans to grab the region's oil.

[La Gringa]

35. This is so crazy

"Also, it is notable that the Honduran military is the chief actor in this attempted coup (?) in Honduras (if that's what it is). It was the military who defied Zelaya."

This statement shows such a complete lack of knowledge of what is going on in Honduras that I don't even know where to start. Sorry, I don't mean to be rude. The Attorney General declared the referendum illegal. The Congress declared it illegal. A constitutional court declared it illegal. The Supreme Court declared it illegal....And only then did the poor general refuse to follow illegal orders from the President, as he was advised to do by all of these parties!

Jeesh. These conspiracy theories are just crazy. And we have no oil.

[magbana]

9. Whether Zelaya is good/bad, right/wrong won't be an issue because

what all the representatives to the OAS, heads of state, and Fidel all mustdo is support a democratically-elected head of state. If the OAS gets over this hump and "order" is achieved in Honduras, the Honduran generals, defense minister, agents provocateurs will lie low for a while and then try again or simply assassinate Zelaya.

Unfortunately, when President Aristide of Haiti asked for help from the OAS in similar circumstances, the US made sure that no help would be forthcoming.

[Summermoondancer]

27. So to hell with 87% of the people right?

It isn´t a coup it is an impeachment which is a legal and constitutional process for his violation of our constitution and for thumbing his nose at the Supreme Court, violating the law, the most corrupt admnistration in history and so forth. HE is scum and we want to remove him and that is frankly no one´s business but the people of Honduras.
Think I am kidding...look at what the general public opinion is...
www.cuartaurna.com
further read the comments here
www.laprensahn.com

people here hate him...it won´t be provocateurs calling for his head it is the people...there is so much chaos against him that they have deployed troops all over the country just to stop a war from breaking out.

[magbana]

10. Just as the VEN amb. to OAS is speaking about ALBA's support

for Zelaya, here's a statement from ALBA via the Cuban News Agency:

acnnews 6
ALBA Condemns Unfolding Attempted Coup in Honduras

HAVANA, Cuba, June 26 (acn) The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of
Our Americas (ALBA) has released a statement condemning a coup attempt
underway in Honduras against the democratically elected government of
President Jose Manuel Zelaya.
In the text, published on Friday by Granma and Juventud Rebelde
newspapers, the ALBA member countries express their deep concern over
the recent events in the Central American nation.
The note recalls that the coup attempt aims at obstructing a
referendum scheduled for next Sunday to consult Hondurans on installing
a Constituent Assembly to reform the Constitution.
The ALBA statement urges the international community to reject this
attack on the democratic constitutional order in Honduras and any other
violent and destabilizing action against the Honduran people and
Government.
The text also expresses the unconditional solidarity of the regional
integration and cooperation bloc with President Jose Manuel Zelaya and
the Honduran people, and its backing of a Declaration in support of the
popular consultation process in Honduras approved during an ALBA
extraordinary summit held last Wednesday in Maracay, Venezuela.
ALBA is currently comprised of Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, Dominica,
Nicaragua, Ecuador, Honduras, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and
Antigua and Barbuda.


Worldnews/ef/11:25

ALBA condena golpe de estado en curso en Honduras



Cuban News Agency
www.cubanews.ain.cu

[magbana]

12. Well, well, the US Amb. just said that he thinks that the OAS

needs to have a longer discussion about the role of the OAS in Honduras. And "ALL actors" should be given an opportunity to be a part of the solution. So, maybe this is the US' "punishment coup," huh?

[magbana]

13. Peru and Colombia comments

Peru: All actors dialogue facilitated by OAS

Colombia: special commission headed by Sec.-Gen to launch a dialogue process.

Honduras had better be careful about what it asks for.

[magbana]

14. OAS schedule for afternoon

They just broke for lunch. Regional groups willconvene in private to talk, then at 2 pm a "working group" will meet in private and involve participation of 2 representatives of each regional group to review a draft resolution on the Honduras issue and to hammer out changes. The public meeting will re-convene at 3:30 pm to adopt the resolution.

[Judi Lynn]

15. Thanks for providing the updates. Hoping the OAS will either become responsive

to the democratic majorities of Latin America and the Caribbean, or be phased out, and replaced by truly representative organizations, like the ones coming into being now.

[magbana]

16. Walter Lippmann has some pertinent comments

A quick note about Honduras
Posted by: "Walter Lippmann" [email protected] walterlx
Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:15 am (PDT)

A classic "dual power" situation in Honduras; a pre-revolutionary or
counter-revolutionary situation. The counter-revolutionary forces have more
resources at their command. President Zelaya has moved to the left but he
does not have his Liberal party behind him. The working classes are not
sufficiently organized. The rightwing controls the military, the Congress,
the courts, the mass media ,
the Catholic church, the economy.

Honduras is also the headquarters of the rightwing Cuban exiles; former home
of Posada Carriles.

=========================================
WALTER LIPPMANN
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Editor-in-Chief, CubaNews
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/
"Cuba - Un Paraíso bajo el bloqueo"
================

[magbana]

17. INCA KOLA NEWS Update: Honduras: "Coup in Progress"

"6/26/09
Honduras: "Coup in Progress"

Thanks Bina; you knew I'd steal it one day

An update on yesterday's post. The Honduras delgation to the United Nations has just declared there is "A coup d'etat in progress" in the country. The delegation says that "there is an attempt by some sector of Honduras society to overthrow President José Manuel Zelaya."

Meanwhile, the man in the centre of the supposed revolt, the head of the joint armed forces General Romeo Vásquez, told reporters today that the political situation in the country "is still difficult, but can be resolved through dialogue". He also explained the continuing presene of troops on the streets of the capital Tegucigalpa were due to said "difficulties". This, for me, is the kind of talk used by military chiefs that suddenly smell the political balance of power tipping their way.

It also fits in with Honduran opposition congressional moves to try and force the president to resign, all with the backdrop of Sunday's constitutional referendum that (if it goes ahead) will decide whether presidents will be allowed a re-election. Congress was apparently about to vote in favour of the destitution of its president but then both opposition and government members of parliament "received calls" and the final vote did not take place.

All in all, it seems that the death of Michael Jackson may be useful to the USA after all, carpe diem and all that. Also it seems like a step back in time to when Thriller was number one and military coups were all the rage this side of the Rio Grande. I mean, what would the US gain from having a Central American nation controlled by a military junta surrounded by countries with leftist governments, anyway.....?


UPDATE: Here's a comment from someone on the ground in Honduras that was just left in the comments section...worth adding here, I reckon. Thanks for the words, Wendy.

Wendy M Flood in Honduras said...

Hi,
I am a Canadian expat living in Honduras.... I just wanted to clarify what Sunday's referendum...as you say "if it takes place" is really about... I notice you have stated it's "to decide whether Honduran President's will be allowed a re-election"... This isn't exactly the case..it's actually to decide whether the country will give the President the right to be able to change the constitution in any way he sees fit. ie to give him a "carte blache" to rewrite the Honduran constitution....many believe this means he will seek to remain in power perpetually, as his cohorts Chavez and Castro have done. This is what all the protests are about. None of the people want this. The Supreme Court has ruled the referendum illegal, has told the military not to comply with President Zelaya's attempt at a referendum on Sunday.
We'll see what happens.... He was able to push thru the ALBA agreement against the wishes of the people of Honduras...... Unfortunately many people here, will vote for whoever pays them the most.... I believe the going rate for Sunday's referendum is the equivalent of $26US.


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Labels: coup d'etat, honduras, manuel zelaya, Romeo Vasquez, Tegucigalpa

http://incakolanews.blogspot.com/2009/06/honduras-coup-in-progress.html

[magbana]

18. Large Delegation Accompanies Zelaya to "Rescue" Electoral Material Linked to Referendum

"Hondurans back Zelaya’s referendum
• Large delegation accompanies president to "rescue" electoral material linked to referendum to reform the Constitution

Hondurans back Zelaya’s referendumTEGUCIGALPA, June 25.
—"Nobody is going to stop Sunday’s referendum," affirmed Honduran President Manuel Zelaya at the start of a popular convoy led by Zelaya to the headquarters of the Air Force to "rescue" the ballot boxes and slips for a referendum scheduled for this Sunday and seized by the Public Ministry.

According to EFE, an emotional Zelaya arrived as it was raining. "They don’t want the people to be consulted, to speak, to have opinions, to have participation, nor do they want democracy in Honduras," the leader noted.

AFP reported that the head of state and hundreds of his followers broke down the gates to enter the Acosta Mejía Air Base on one side of the capital’s Toncontín airport and that the president himself picked up the boxes containing the material to carry them to waiting trucks. Zelaya had stated that from there, they were returning to the Presidential Palace to prepare for the referendum.

In response to the president’s call, thousands of defenders of his government had arrived from various points to meet up at midday at the Presidential Palace, giving their support in a demonstration whose combative nature could be seen on television footage. They then left on what Zelaya described as "a mission to guarantee the state of law": the recovery of the ballot boxes and slips.

A little earlier and defying the president, the Supreme Court of Justice had decided to reinstate General Romeo Vázquez, chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, less than 24 hours after he was dismissed by Zelaya, who took that step because of the Armed Forces’ reticence to distribute materials for the referendum, which is to consult Hondurans on installing a Constituent Assembly to reform the Constitution. According to AFP, the Congress likewise rejected the presidential measure.

"We want to legitimize the authority of the executive power…. The (Supreme) Court has allied itself with groups of power against the people," Zelaya affirmed to his supporters at the Palace.

During the brief demonstration, where he called on the crowd to sing the national anthem, the president also urged them not to let "democracy continue to be that of the few. We must fight untiringly to attain the superior democracy that we have proposed," he stated.

The Honduran Constitution dates back to 1982 and contains six articles "cast in stone" that cannot be reformed, such as those related to the form of government, territory and presidential terms, PL notes.

In Zelaya’s opinion, the current Constitution makes it impossible to undertake profound changes to eradicate poverty and inequality in the country, where seven out of every 10 people are living in conditions of poverty or extreme poverty. The referendum planned for Sunday would determine the installation of a fourth ballot in the November general elections, to allow the electorate to vote for the Constituent Assembly.

Since Wednesday night, observers and representatives of indigenous, campesino and trade union sectors and other social strata in Honduras have been exposing the danger of a coup d’état, given that Vázquez’ dismissal was followed by the resignation "in solidarity" of the chiefs of the navy, air force and army, as well as Defense Minister Edmundo Orellana.

In a communiqué, the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH) condemned the coup attempt and described the events as "a desperate reaction on the part of the right and its allies to deter the popular will to seek democratic ways to achieve a national transformation."

The rebellion came three days after the convening of the referendum, supported by popular leaders, campesinos, intellectuals and the political left, but rejected by the oligarchy, the business sector and religious organizations, PL reports. According to other observers, the Electoral Supreme Court, the General Attorney’s Office, and the Supreme Court of Justice and Parliament, institutions whose links with the power and oligarchic sectors have been exposed by Zelaya, also want to prevent the referendum from taking place.

Honduras has asked the OAS to urgently discuss the situation, which is to be reviewed this Friday in an extraordinary meeting of its Permanent Council, EFE stated.

Translated by Granma International
"
http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2009/junio/vier26/Hondurans.html

[rabs]

19. Catholic Church just pulled a 180-degree turnaround

Yesterday the church was supporting the Sunday plebiscite. Today the chief church man in a dress "clarified" that the church did not support it.

OAS back in session at this moment.

[magbana]

20. Rabs, thanks for the update on the Catholic Church!

[rabs]

21. OAS session just ended

nothing resolved. Looks like OAS will send a fact-finding mission to Honduras.


I find it amusing that the OAS is backed into a corner.

If it supports Mel (Zelaya), then the OAS lines up behind Fidel, Chavez, Correa, ALBA etc.

If the OAS does not support Mel, then it is turning its back on a democratically elected president.

Worthless OAS. :P

[magbana]

22. Rabs, you have hit the nail on the head. What Zelaya had better

be careful about is Peru, Colombia, Costa Rica and others declaring at the OAS this morning that it would be a good idea to have the OAS "facilitate" a dialogue among all parties. This goes beyond supporting a democratically-elected president to: what is democracry? is Zelaya's democracy the right kind of democracy? is Zelaya's democracy suitable for the US and Canada? will Zelaya's democracy allow a US military base or two. Next, it will be a damned "Twitter" revolution.

[rabs]

23. Looks like it already is a twitter revolution

I started watching the tweets on La Prensa from San Pedro Sula late last night. La Prensa is reporting the crisis more evenly. Tegucigalpa newspapers very anti-Zelaya for my taste.

http://twitter.com/diariolaprensa

[Summermoondancer]

28. Rabs..please point out exactly what good he has done for Honduras?

I will be waiting while you inform all of us here in Honduras exactly what is redeamable about this idiot with a hat....

[rabs]

33. Sorry, but you are in for a long wait

In none of my posts do I say anything "redeamable"(sic) about Zeyala. (After all he is not a bond or a convertible security.)

I merely passed on to fellow DUers what was being reported in SPS and Tegucigalpa media.

As for Zelaya, I remind you of the old axiom, "Cada pueblo tiene el gobierno que se merece."


Off topic; you say you are posting from Honduras. So why the flag of Texas avatar? Seems the flag of Honduras would be more appropriate.

[Summermoondancer]

34. Rabs

I am a US citizen living in Honduras. I was born in Texas. I live in San Pedro Sula, Cortes, Honduras...to be more exact.

There isn´t anything redeeming about Zelaya that is for sure.

[rabs]

24. Zelaya orders troops back into barracks

Below from minute-by-minute reporting by El Heraldo newspaper of Tegucigalpa. If this is so, then it raises the stakes because at this moment there is no guarantee the army will obey.

-----------------------------

09:14pm
A los cuarteles. El Presidente Manuel Zelaya ordenó a los militares que resguardan a la población en las calles, retornar a los cuarteles porque según él "atemorizan" a los hondureños.

(To the barracks. President Zelaya ordered troops who are safeguarding the people in the streets to return to their barracks because according to him, (they are) "terrifying" Hondurans.)

-----------------------------

Should note that El Heraldo is anti-Zelaya in its reporting.

[Summermoondancer]

25. It is not a coup it is a legitimate and legal impeachment

just like happens in the US. It is being voted on in Congress and nothing is confusing about it except that countries outside of Honduras need to mind their own business and leave our business alone.

[magbana]

29. MEX FILES BLOG on Honduras

"Close to the edge… Honduras
27 June 2009 · Leave a Comment

There may or may not be a referendum in Honduras this weekend. Then again, there may or may not be a coup d’etat, too. It’s hard to tell, and everyone outside Honduras is more than a little confused by the situation.

The outgoing president, Jose Manuel “Mel” Zelaya, has called for a non-binding referendum on calling for a constitutional convention. Fears that a new constitution would allow for re-election of the president (Zelaya’s term ends in January 2010) have led to extreme oppositon.

The Honduran Supreme Court ruled that the referendum was illegal, and the Army — which normally oversees voting in that country — has refused presidental orders to ignore the court and distribute ballots. Last Wednesday, Zelaya sacked Army chief Romeo Vásquez Velásquez, who disobeyed the President. Zeleya supporters have seized the ballots, and the Army has taken to the streets to prevent the referendum.

Short of a military coup, Congress may take action. Honduras, like several Latin American countries, allows for Congress to vote on the president’s mental fitness to hold office. Zelaya wouldn’t be the first Latin President whose congress decided he was loco.

Nearly all English-language reports have claimed the point of the referendum was to extend Zelaya’s tenure in office, but — given that the referendum is simply a non-binding resolution designed to nudge the Honduran Congress into taking up the issue, and any new constitution wouldn’t be finished before next January — these reports make no sense. The only two sources to have the story right that I’ve seen are Al Jazeera’s English language service and the Caracas-based Latin American Herald-Tribune. While Zelaya is considered an ally of Hugo Chavez and part of the “axis of Evo”, it should be noted that the Latin American Herald-Tribune is generally considered a “conservative” publication, and is considered “anti-Chavista”.

Other than providing immigrants and as a transit point for Colombian cocaine, Honduras is not particularly important to the United States. Although largely spared the worst of the civil wars of the 1980s, Honduras “hosted” a large U.S. military presence — it was the base for Oliver North’s “Contra” operations, and was used for training rebel Nicaraguan units. Although the EXISTING Honduran Constitution forbids permanent foreign troops on Honduran soil, Sota Cana Air Base has been operational since 1981, used by the United States Air Force.

Zelaya, whose background is as a land-owner and business-man, came to office on a “law-and-order” platform, and has succeeded in doubling the number of police officers, which cracking down on organzied crime, specifically the Mara Salvatruca gangs that infest Central America. However, crime has increased during his tenure, and his foreign policy has cost him support among the “traditional elites” who favor better relations with the United States."

http://mexfiles.net/2009/06/27/close-to-the-edgehonduras/

[magbana]

30. Honduras' Leftist President Pushes Ahead with Divisive Vote on Constitutional Referendum

"Honduras’ leftist president pushes ahead with divisive vote on constitutional referendum
Will Weissert
June 27th, 2009

Honduran leader pushes ahead with divisive vote

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — President Manuel Zelaya enlisted government employees and his supporters Saturday to set up polling stations for a rogue referendum that opponents depicted as a power grab by the leftist leader.

Zelaya cast himself as the survivor of an attempted right-wing coup and vowed to forge ahead in his quest to reform the constitution, which prevents him from being re-elected.

Opponents, including a Congress led by Zelaya’s own party, the Supreme Court, the military and others, warned voters to stay away from Sunday’s vote, saying it would be neither fair nor safe.

“I would tell the people to stay calmly at home in order not to get involved in any incident or any violence by going to vote ‘no,’ because they might be assaulted by these mobs,” National Human Rights Commissioner Ramon Custodio said, referring to the president’s supporters.

The Supreme Court and the attorney general have said the referendum is illegal because the constitution bars changes to some of its clauses, such as the ban on a president serving more than one term.

But many union and farm groups support Zelaya’s push for the referendum, which he says is not aimed at allowing him to run for another term. He says it is meant to start the country on the road to reforming governmental practices that have excluded the nearly three-quarters of Hondurans who live in poverty.

The referendum itself would not change the constitution: It merely asks voters if they want to hold a vote during the November presidential election on whether to convoke an assembly to rewrite the charter.

Zelaya suggested Friday that he considered the refusal of the army to distribute ballots, a role given the military by law, and the refusal of the Supreme Court and Congress to support the vote to be part of “a technical coup against me.”

So Zelaya says he led a crowd of supporters on to a military base this week to seize the ballots. He handed them out to his supporters to set up 15,000 polling stations at schools and community buildings for the Sunday vote.

Roman Catholic church leaders and Elvin Santos, a candidate for the presidential election in November from Zelaya’s own Liberal Party, urged voters to stay home.

“Who distributed the materials and who will count the votes?” Santos said on HRN radio. “The government will, so there won’t be any credibility.”

Zelaya has drawn the vocal support of fellow leftist Latin American leaders — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who loosened re-election limits to allow himself to stay in power, and former Cuban President Fidel Castro.

But Zelaya has seen his approval ratings fall over the past year at home, amid soaring food prices and worsening drug violence that has given Honduras one of the highest homicide rates in Latin America.

Some businesses in the capital, Tegucigalpa, closed earlier this week amid the rising tension.

“A lot of people are worried there will be a coup,” said Julio Godoy, a 66-year-old retiree who supplements his pension driving a taxi through Tegucigalpa’s hilly streets. “You have businesses closing, stores, even banks. That only causes more fear, even after they open again.”

Godoy said he would not vote Sunday because he thinks Zelaya only wants to hold on to power despite the president’s denial that is his goal. “This is why presidents are only allowed four years,” Godoy said.

The streets were calm, with most Hondurans working or quietly going about weekend errands at the stores that opened. Zelaya’s supporters drove dented sedans with loudspeakers through crowded neighborhoods, crowing that “the voice of the people must be heard.”

“It’s only a vote to allow the public to cast ballots directly and decide the future of the government,” said Rosa Perez, who sells limes, eggs and candy from a street stall. “Why is that bad?”

Congress, which is led by members of Zelaya’s party, has threatened to challenge Zelaya’s mental capacity to remain in office.

On Friday, the president of Congress, Roberto Micheletti, claimed Zelaya’s supporters might try to kill him. Offering few details, Micheletti, who would become president if Zelaya was removed from office, said it would be the fault of “the executive branch if something happens to my children, my wife or me.”

Zelaya has adopted an increasingly populist style reminiscent of Chavez, with lengthy discourses denouncing the rich and allegations that he is the victim of a right-wing conspiracy.

“They are ready not only to sacrifice democracy, but me personally because they would have to capture me, tie me up … and wipe me off the map,” Zelaya said Friday.
"
http://blog.taragana.com/n/honduras-leftist-president-pushes-ahead-with-divisive-vote-on-constitutional-referendum-93775/

[Judi Lynn]

31. Hey, who knew here the US has troops in Honduras? This may explain why we became infested

with someone trying to scuffle about Honduras when almost everyone had no idea of Honduran politics other than the dreadful, damnable events which lead to their use of death squads, which can NEVER be forgiven.

Here's an article from last winter which might shed some light on the subject. Just stumbled across this:

2008-10-09
US troops leave Ecuador, When will they leave Honduras?
Eduardo- Tamayo G.

US military bases in Latin America were considered one of the main concerns of social activists at the Gathering “Peace and demilitarization, with dignity for peoples and women” held during the Americas Social Forum (AFS) in Guatemala.

The US troops at the Ecuadorean Manta Base on the Pacific Ocean will leave the country once President Correa’s government has officially notified the US Embassy that Ecuador will not renew the agreement for the use of the base by the US. The country in the Andes will celebrate in 2009 its 200th independence from Spain, and wants to celebrate it without foreign troops in its soil.

Ecuador’s victory sends out a sign of hope since it proves that through peaceful demonstrations, lobbying and advocacy, it is possible to defeat the US domination strategy. There is concern, however, that the US will not easily leave other countries where it has military bases and is using new methods to win peoples’ hearts, such as the civic military campaigns (such as Further than New Horizons in Honduras) that include medical brigades, social support, according to reports at the AFS.

Participants in the event denounced the impact of military bases on women. Dennis Chávez from the Peru Women’s Front, member of the World Women’s March, stressed that near the Palmerola Base in Honduras and Manta, prostitution has grown and many women, out of need, have worked for the foreign troops.

Ms. Chavez also mentioned that women are the most affected in conflicts, since they are considered as war trophies. Many times they are raped. Women suffer when they are forced to leave their homes, or with increases in military budgets which diminish funds for health and education.

Bertha Cáceres, leader of the Civil Council of Honduras Popular and Indigenous Organizations COPIN, reported on the results of the II Hemispheric Gathering for Demilitarization carried out in Esperanza, Intibucá, Honduras, with the participation of 800 delegates from 27 countries, on October 3-7, 2008.

One of the main resolutions of the Gathering calls for the abolition of military bases in the region, through campaigns, communication strategies, education and demonstrations. The participants decided to unite their efforts to fight against the US Fourth Fleet which is patrolling the seas in Latin America and the Caribbean. They also expressed their support for the struggle for peace with dignity in Colombia and Haití, demanding that foreign troops leave the country and rather provide support and solidarity.

Honduras will be the center of a campaign to end with the foreign troops stationed in the Palmerola Base. The participants also reject any project to establish military bases in indigenous territories such as Caratasca and in miskito land, as well as the intention to reactivate bases in effect in the 80s, such as San Antonio and in Lenca peoples territory.

Bertha Cáceres said that the US military presence in Honduras began in 1904. Later Honduras was used to overthrow Guatemalan President Jacobo Arbenz in 1954. In 1983 the Palmerola Base was implemented for the counterguerrilla struggle against the Sandinista revolution in Nicaragua. Indigenous peoples were expelled from their land, while the forests were destroyed. There were forced disappearances, such as Father Guadalupe Cárdenas, which is attributed to the US army, as well as the rape and murder of children which were thrown in garbage cans.

In the 90s a new protocol was signed by Honduras and the US for a temporary stay, but now they have built a wall, an indication that they plan to stay for a while. In Palmerola there are 500 military personnel, but the Base has the capacity to move all over Honduras’ land, air and sea. When New Horizons operations are carried out, they mobilize up to 4000 troops. There is also a training center in Olancho for Latin American mercenaries that fight in the Iraq war with Delta Force.

The impact has been devastating for the people of Honduras. It has been a violation of sovereignty and human rights, while prostitution has increased, as well as HIV AIDS and Vietnam flower and teen pregnancy. Petrified forests have also been affected since after the US troops arrive, the mining companies and hydroelectric projects arrive, according to Cáceres.

“The presence of the US troops has been humiliating for Honduras. Our country was used to attack our brothers and sisters in El Salvador and Nicaragua in the 80s. Now they use our strategic location (Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, close to Cuba and Venezuela). Recently one of the huge ships from the Fourth Fleet was stationed in front of Trujillo where they practice bombing, impacting a very rich biodiverse area”, according to the Hondurean leader.

The US military personnel control private security enterprises. “They are responsible of killing people and recently lawyer Dionisio García”, expressed Bertha Cáceres.

http://alainet.org/active/26787

[magbana]

32. I knew we had military in Honduras, but nothing like the numbers quoted

in the this article. I think some of these bases in Central America and South America that have US troops now are ones that were used in the 1980's by the CIA for its lucrative cocaine smuggling business.
magbana


"Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras

Joint Task Force-Bravo is located at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras. JTF-Bravo is comprised of approximately 550 US military personnel and more than 650 US and Honduran civilians. They work in six different areas including the Joint Staff, Air Force Forces (612th Air Base Squadron), Army Forces, Joint Security Forces and the Medical Element. 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment, a US Army South asset, is a tenant unit also based at Soto Cano. The J-Staff provides command and control for JTF-B.

The Air Force Forces has among its functions; weather forecasting, fire protection, and maintaining a 24-hour C-5-capable runway. The Army Forces operate finance, food service and transportation. Joint Security Forces is comprised of Air Force, Army and Marine force protection personnel who patrol the base and downtown areas frequented by US servicemembers.

Health care services are performed by the Medical Element. The 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment performs a variety of airlift support missions throughout Central and South America with UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters. US forces are guests here on the base which is the home of the Honduran Air Force Academy.

As early as 1965, the US and Honduran Armed Forces conducted combined training exercises. In 1983, the number and size of these exercises increased when the US, at the request of the Honduran Government, began maintaining a visible military presence in the face of threats from foreign forces. This initial joint force was designated JTF-11. Since 1983, the joint task force has provided support for joint and combined training exercises involving active and reserve components. The location and climate of Honduras combine to provide US military members an opportunity to train in an overseas, semi-tropical, austere environment.

The task force also oversees Operation New Horizons — civil engineer training missions that build new schools, bridges, wells and other infrastructure projects in underdeveloped regions of Central America, as well as assisting US forces in providing humanitarian assistance. Additionally, Soto Cano stages and arranges regular medical readiness training exercises throughout Central America — dispatching doctors, dentists and nurses to remote regions to treat locals, some of whom have never received modern medical care.

Soto Cano is a Honduran military installation and home of the Honduran Air Force and Naval Academy. It is located less than 10 miles from Comayagua (population: 33,000), and 60 miles from the Honduran capital, Tegucigalpa. The base is about two miles wide and six miles long; lies in the Comayagua Valley and is ringed by 8,000-foot mountain peaks to the east and west. Soto Cano sits at an elevation of 2,062 feet above sea level.

Soto Cano lodging consists of “hooches” and metal barracks. Hooches are temporary wooden buildings of tropical design, normally 16-feet by 32-feet with screened windows and a tin roof with air conditioners and fans for cooling. Metal barracks are more permanent structures and have air conditioners. Both contain beds, televisions, VCRs, refrigerators and microwaves. Latrines, shower facilities and laundry rooms are centrally located to the living areas. Dayrooms, volleyball courts, barbecues and “bohios” (covered picnic areas) are also located throughout the base. All the domestic facilities, like the post office, library, dining facility, gym, pool and base exchange, are clustered together within a five-minute walking distance.

Only a few airmen, mainly those with families in the area, own vehicles, since the government doesn’t ship privately owned vehicles to Honduras. The majority hoof it or ride bicycles, but since the base is so compact, it poses no problem. Most personnel arrive via the “Freedom Bird,” which conducts weekly flights from Charleston AFB, S.C., normally on Mondays, that fly directly into Soto Cano.

On December 11, 2002 five soldiers from 1-228th were killed when a UH-60 crashed into a mountain 85 miles north of Tegucigalpa. The aircraft departed Sen Pedro Sula at 8;14 PM and crashed 20 minutes later. It was headed to the US base in Palmerola.

As of early May 5005, Soto Cano was slated to get new housing facilities as part of a military construction project. The houses were to replace the 270 wooden structures (“hooches") used for decades prior at the facility. The project called for 44 four-unit apartment buildings, some of which were being built in a big open field next to rows of the old hooches, and seven two-story, 72-occupant dormitories to be built.

Plans called for the construction to take place over the forthcoming years with all all base facilities to either be new or receive major upgrades. A big improvement is the indoor plumbing and central air conditioning the new buildings will have. Hooches do not have running water, and many have old, noisy window air conditioning units. In addition, the new bulidings will lessen the requirement for constant maintenance.

As of early May 2005, Four of the apartment buildings were finished and already occupied. An additional four apartments were under construction and were to be occupied by mid-June 2005 while four others were to be ready by the end of November 2005. When construction on the dormitories would begin remained unclear.

"
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/soto-cano.htm