On 28 June the democratically elected president of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya was expelled from office in a military coup perpetrated by right wing politicians, and the business sector. The coup regime that take over has no legitimacy and has not been recognised by any country in the world. The Organization of American States (OAS) suspended Honduras until democracy is restored, and the UN called for the “immediate and unconditional return” of the elected president. On 20 July the European Union expressed its “deep concern” over the political crisis and the “ongoing violation of constitutional order” and suspended 65million euros in aid.
On 3 September the US state department suspended all but non- humanitarian aid to Honduras and, for the first time, used the term ‘coup d’etat’. However, the response of the Obama administration has been confused and ambiguous providing sustenance for those who perpetrated the coup which would never have succeeded were it not for the tacit support of powerful backers in the US and Latin American countries, among them Senator John McCann, his Latin America policy advisor Otto Reich and the Venezuelan lawyer Robert Carmona- Borgas.
In Honduras broad based social forces that form the National Front of Resistance Against the Coup – trade unions, women’s and indigenous organisations, environmental organisations, farmers associations, lawyers, and journalists – have sustained nation wide protests on an unprecedented level for nearly 90 days despite unrelenting harassment, detentions, disappearances and killings. The National Front of Resistance is calling for international support for the reinstatement of their duly elected president, for the formation of a constituent assembly to write a new constitution, and for the immediate end to violence and repression by the coup regime.
On 21st August a delegation of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights reported widespread abuses showing a pattern of serious violations including excessive use of force, arbitrary detention, sexual violence, and attacks on the media, as well as several confirmed deaths and possible “disappearances.” The commission also documented an absence of effective legal protections.
On 22 September, after over eighty days in exile, Manuel Zelaya, returned to Honduras and took shelter in the Brazilian embassy along with 85 members of his cabinet and supporters. The Honduran military and the police surrounded the Embassy and attempted to disperse a crowd of Zelaya supporters by using rubber bullets, water cannon and tear gas. At least two people were killed and more than 40 people were reported injured. The few media outlets that were broadcasting information about the resistance movement were threatened and some were taken off the air. All of the international airports were closed. .
In the following days Remote Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRAD-X ) classified as offensive weapons were found inside the Brazilian Embassy. These devices emit high pitched and pain inducing sounds causing bleeding of the nose and stomach, and nausea. This is a violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. A UN Security Council Emergency Session called by Brazil stated: ‘We condemn acts of intimidation against the Brazilian Embassy and call upon the de facto government of Honduras to cease harassing the Embassy. ‘ The response of the coup regime was to give Brazil 10 days to either grant Mr Zelaya asylum or hand him over to face charges of treason.
On 25 September the coup regime detained four diplomats from the Organisation of American States (OAS), including two US officials, two Canadians and the general secretary of the OAS, for six hours in the Toncontin International Airport, barring them from entering Honduras to negotiate a peaceful settlement of the crisis..
On 25 September the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights in Honduras (CODEH) issued a report blaming the coup government of Roberto Micheletti, for the more than 101 extrajudicial murders and summary executions perpetrated since 28 June.
On 27 September, in an act of further mockery of the global repudiation of his illegitimate regime, Micheletti issued a decree that will suspend constitutional rights for a period of 45 days. This decree restricts the freedom of expression, prohibits public meetings and freedom of movement , and gives the coup regime the power to suspend T.V. and radio outlets that “disrupt the peace and public order.” The decree also gives police and military the right to arrest and detain person suspected of exercising these tights.
Further information:
Emergency Committee Against the Coup in Honduras
Central America Women’s Network
National Front for Resistance against the Coup
Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign Action Group
