A suicidal mistake
Three days ago, in the evening of Thursday 25th, I wrote in my Reflections: “We do not know what will happen tonight or tomorrow in Honduras, but the courageous behavior adopted by Zelaya will go down in history.”Two paragraphs before I had indicated that: “The situation that might result from whatever occurs in that country will be a test for the OAS and the current US administration.”The prehistoric Inter-American institution met in Washington the following day and in a halfhearted and spiritless resolution promised to immediately make the necessary efforts to bring about harmony between the contending parties; that is, a negotiation between the putschists and the Constitutional President of Honduras.The high ranking military chief who was still in command of the Honduran Armed Forces was making public statements different from the President’s position while recognizing his authority in a merely formal way.The putschists needed barely anything else from the OAS. They couldn’t care less for the presence of a large number of international observers who had traveled to that country to bear witness to a referendum and who had been talking with Zelaya until late into the night. Today, before dawn, they launched on the President’s home about 200 well-trained and equipped professional troops who roughly set aside the members of the Guard of Honor and kidnapped Zelaya --who was sleeping at the moment-- taking him to an air base and forcibly putting him on a plane to Costa Rica.At 8:30 a.m. we learned from Telesur of the assault on the Presidential House and the kidnapping. The President was unable to attend the initial activity related to the referendum that was to take place this Sunday and his whereabouts were unknown.The official television channel was silenced. They wanted to prevent the early spread of the news of the treacherous action through Telesur and Cubavision Internacional, which were reporting the events. Therefore, they first suspended the broadcasting centers and then cut off electricity to the entire country. At the moment, the Supreme Court and the Congress involved in the conspiracy had yet to make public the decisions that justified the plot. They first carried out the indescribable military coup and then legalized it.The people woke up to a fait accompli and started to react with growing indignation. Zelaya’s destination was unknown. Three hours later the people’s reaction was such that we could see women punching soldiers with their fists and the latter’s weapons falling off their hands as they were nervous and confused. At the beginning, their movements resembled a strange combat with ghosts; later, they tried to cover Telesur’s cameras with their hands and nervously aimed their guns at the reporters. Sometimes, when the people advanced the troops stepped back. At this point, armored vehicles carrying cannons and machineguns were sent in as the people fearlessly discussed with the crews of the armored vehicles. The people’s reaction was amazing.Approximately at 2:00 in the afternoon, a tamed majority in Congress --in coordination with the putschists—toppled Zelaya, the Constitutional President of Honduras, and appointed a new head of State announcing to the world that the former had resigned and showing a forged signature. A few minutes later, from an airport in Costa Rica, Zelaya related everything that had happened and categorically refuted the news about his resignation. The plotters had placed themselves in a ridiculous situation in the eyes of the world.Many other things happened today. Cubavision took all of its time to expose the coup and keep our people informed.Some events were purely fascist in nature and even if expected they are still astonishing.Honduran Foreign Minister Patricia Rodas was the putschists’ main target, second only to Zelaya. Another detachment was sent to her residence. She was brave and determined, and she acted quickly; she did not waste time and started denouncing the coup in every way possible. Our ambassador contacted Patricia to learn about the situation; other ambassadors did likewise. At a given moment, she asked the diplomatic representatives of Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba to meet with her since she was being fiercely hounded and required diplomatic protection. Our ambassador, who from the first moments was authorized to offer the minister all the constitutional and legal support, proceeded to visit her in her own residence.When the diplomats were already in her house, the putschist command sent Major Oceguera to put her under arrest. The diplomats stood between the woman and the officer and claimed she was under diplomatic protection and could only be moved accompanied by them. Oceguera discussed with them in a respectful fashion. A few minutes later, 12 or 15 men in uniform and covering their faces with ski masks rushed into the house. The three ambassadors embraced Patricia but the masked men using force managed to separate the Venezuelan and Nicaraguan ambassadors; Hernandez held her so strongly by one arm that the masked men dragged them both to a van and drove to an air base where they finally separated him and took her away. As he was there in custody, Bruno, who had news of the kidnapping called him to the cell phone; one of the masked men tried to violently snatch the phone out of his hands and the Cuban ambassador, who had already been punched in Patricia’s home, shouted: “Don’t push me, cojones!” I don’t remember if the term was ever used by Cervantes, but there is no doubt that ambassador Juan Carlos Hernandez has enriched our language.Later, he was abandoned in a road far from the Cuban mission not before being warned that something worse could happen to him if he talked. “Nothing can be worse than death,” he answered with dignity, “and still I’m not afraid of you.” Then people from the area helped him to return to the embassy and from there he immediately called Bruno again.There is no way to negotiate with that putschist high command. They must be asked to abdicate while other younger officers, uninvolved with the oligarchy, take charge of the military command; otherwise, there will never be in Honduras a government “of the people, by the people and for the people.”There is no hope for the cornered and isolated putschists if the problem is faced with determination.Even Mrs. Clinton stated this afternoon that Zelaya is the only President of Honduras and the Honduran putschists can’t even breathe without the support of the United States of America.Zelaya, a man who was in his pyjamas just a few hours ago, will be recognized by the world as the only Constitutional President of Honduras.
-Fidel Castro Ruz - June 28, 2009

* Coup in Honduras: Military Ousts President Manuel Zelaya, Supporters Defy Curfew and Take to the Streets *
In the first military coup in Central America in a quarter of a century, the Honduran military has ousted the democratically elected President Manuel Zelaya. Former Parliamentary speaker Roberto Micheletti, who was sworn in as Zelaya's replacement on Sunday, has imposed a two-day nationwide curfew. But hundreds of Zelaya supporters remain on the streets, and shots were fired at protesters near the presidential palace early Monday morning. We go to Honduras to speak with Honduran medical doctor and award-winning human rights activist, Dr. Juan Almendares, and NYU professor of Latin American history, Greg Grandin.
Listen/Watch/Readhttp://www.democracynow.org/2009/6/29/coup_in_honduras_military_ousts_president

Perez Esquivel a los Presidentes de los países del Continente Americano
Adolfo Pérez Esquivel
Al secretario General de la OEA
A las Iglesias, Movimientos y organizaciones populares.
Nuevamente surgen en el continente los golpes militares apoyados por el Pentágono y la CIA y los grupos de poder económico, eclesiástico y político que no quieren cambio alguno y están dispuestos a imponer nuevamente gobiernos dictatoriales en los países que intenten cambios estructurales y la conquista de la soberanía y autodeterminación de los pueblos.Lo estamos viviendo en la República hermana de Honduras, víctima de un golpe de Estado por las fuerzas armadas y sus aliados contra el gobierno del Presidente Manuel Zelaya, a quien detuvieron y expulsaron del país, encontrándose actualmente en Costa Rica.El Presidente de Costa Rica, Oscar Arias asumió su responsabilidad en defensa del gobierno democrático hondureño al decir “que el golpe de Estado contra el gobierno hondureño es un gran retroceso”, y expresando su solidaridad con el pueblo hermano, reclamando la restitución de Presidente Zelaya en su función presidencial.Rechazamos el golpe de Estado contra el presidente Manuel Zelaya y reclamamos acciones urgentes de la OEA, y de los gobiernos en el continente para respetar y restituir en sus funciones de gobierno al mandatario depuesto, sin imposición alguna. Se debe juzgar y condenar a los militares golpistas y sus cómplices. No pueden quedar en la impunidad; son criminales que atentan contra la democracia y los derechos humanos del pueblo hondureño y dañan a todos los pueblos del continente y el mundo.Reclamamos al Presidente de los EE.UU. Barack Obama, intervenir urgentemente para que se respete al pueblo hondureño y su Presidente electo democráticamente.Que repudie el golpe de Estado llevado a cabo por las fuerzas armadas hondureñas y sus secuaces.Es hora que el gobierno de los EE.UU. cambie su política intervencionista en el continente latinoamericano y sepa respetar la voluntad de los pueblos. Las fuerzas armadas no actúan sin el consentimiento del Pentágono y de la CIA y la complicidad de empresarios, sectores eclesiásticos y políticos que siempre usaron y abusaron del poder para dominar al pueblo.Esos sectores antidemocráticos pretenden imponer conflictos y guerras de baja intensidad en la región para defender sus intereses y evitar la soberanía y autodeterminación de los pueblos.Reclamamos a la OEA, desconocer el gobierno golpista impuesto en Honduras. Desconocer al gobierno de facto y restituir en su cargo al Presidente elegido por el pueblo, Manuel Zelaya.Pedimos a los movimientos y organizaciones populares del continente y de otros países solidarios:* Repudiar el golpe de estado en Honduras* Reclamar el restablecimiento en sus funciones del presidente Manuel Zelaya, sin condicionamiento alguno.* Reclamamos sancionar a los militares y sus cómplices; parlamentarios, magistrados, empresarios y eclesiásticos, que no pueden quedar en la impunidadNo podemos olvidar que quedan en el continente remanentes de fuerzas armadas golpistas, impregnadas de la Doctrina de Seguridad Nacional y con añoranza de las dictaduras que, en lugar de estar al servicio del pueblo, se han transformado en tropas de ocupación de sus propios pueblos, violando los derechos democráticos y los derechos humanosNo podemos olvidar que sectores antidemocráticos y golpistas intentaron imponer un golpe de Estado, contra el gobierno legítimo del Presidente Hugo Chávez, de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela y gracias a la acción y apoyo del pueblo venezolano y la solidaridad internacional, fue restituido al gobierno y se logró derrotar a los golpistas.Los magistrados del Tribunal Electoral, la Corte y el Congreso, deben actuar de acuerdo a la Constitución Nacional y respetar el llamado a la consulta popular sobre la Reforma Constitucional y las decisiones democráticas del gobierno.No pueden avalar y apoyar un golpe militar contra un gobierno constitucional, se ilegitiman por sus acciones y ponen en peligro todas las democracias en el continente, al apoyar un gobierno de facto, inmoral e ilegítimo.Por el derecho de los pueblos a su soberanía y autodeterminación decimos:
¡¡¡¡¡¡ No a los golpes militares. basta ya!!!!!!!
Los pueblos son los constructores de su propia vida y de su propia historia.
- Adolfo Pérez Esquivel - Premio Nóbel de la Paz

Honduran Military Assassinates Leftist Presidential Candidate
Posted by Kristin Bricker - June 28, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Congressman Cesar Ham Was a Zelaya Ally and Organizer of the Opinion Poll on a New Constitution
Cesar Ham, presidential candidate and the head of Honduras' only registered leftist political party, the Democratic Unification of Honduras, is dead. He was killed by a squad of soldiers who arrived at his home this morning to arrest him. The military has rounded up many of Zelaya's allies within the government. Chancellor Patricia Rodas remains kidnapped.Honduran police confirmed Ham's death to Notimex. The official version of events, as reported by Notimex, is that Ham confronted the military squad that came to his house with a gun, "and therefore he had to be killed."Despite being from a different party, Ham was a close ally of ousted President Manuel Zelaya. Ham's party, the Democratic Unification of Honduras, is Honduras' only registered leftist party. Zelaya is from the conservative Liberal Party; he became a populist leftist after being elected.Ham, at the time of his assassination, was a member of Congress. He wholeheartedly supported President Zelaya's initiative to form a constitutional convention to write a new Constitution, and he was one of the main organizers of today's thwarted opinion poll that would have gauged public opinion on forming a constitutional convention.Ham has come under fire this year from fellow members of Congress, with help from Honduras' right-wing media. Gregorio Baca, a dissident member of Ham's party who opposed an alliance with Zelaya, accused Ham of receiving "millions of dollars" from President Zelaya in exchange for his support of a referendum on a new constitutional convention. Right-wing newspaper El Heraldo accused Ham and his deputy Misael Castro of embezzling government money to pay for luxury cars. Neither of the accusations were ever verified by a court of law. This past March the Democratic Unification party chose him as its presidential candidate by a vote of 104-4. The coup plotters had previously announced that the November 2009 elections would go on as planned. Ham's assassination means that the only leftist candidate in the upcoming elections is now dead.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Honduras: la futilidad del golpe
-Atilio A. Boron
ALAI AMLATINA, 28/06/2009.- La historia se repite, y muy probablemente concluya de la misma manera. El golpe de estado en Honduras es una re-edición del que se perpetrara en Abril del 2002 en Venezuela y del que fuera abortado ante la fulminante reacción de varios gobiernos de la región en Bolivia el año pasado. Un presidente violentamente secuestrado en horas de la madrugada por militares encapuchados, siguiendo al pie de la letra lo indicado por el Manual de Operaciones de la CIA y la Escuela de las Américas para los escuadrones de la muerte; una carta de renuncia apócrifa que se dio a conocer con el propósito de engañar y desmovilizar a la población y que fue de inmediato retransmitida a todo el mundo por la CNN sin antes confirmar la veracidad de la noticia; la reacción del pueblo que conciente de la maniobra sale a la calle a detener los tanques y los vehículos del Ejército a mano limpia y a exigir el retorno de Zelaya a la presidencia; el corte de la energía eléctrica para impedir el funcionamiento de la radio y la televisión y sembrar la confusión y el desánimo. Como en Venezuela, ni bien encarcelaron a Hugo Chávez los golpistas instalaron un nuevo presidente: Pedro Francisco Carmona, a quien la inventiva popular lo rebautizó como "el efímero." Quien desempeña su rol en Honduras es el presidente del Congreso unicameral de ese país, Roberto Micheletti, quien juró este domingo como mandatario provisional y sólo un milagro le impediría correr la misma suerte que su predecesor venezolano.Lo ocurrido en Honduras pone de manifiesto la resistencia que provoca en las estructuras tradicionales de poder cualquier tentativa de profundizar la vida democrática. Bastó que el Presidente Zelaya decidiera llamar a una consulta popular -apoyada con la firma de más de 400.000 ciudadanos- sobre una futura convocatoria a una Asamblea Constitucional para que los distintos dispositivos institucionales del estado se movilizaran para impedirlo, desmintiendo de ese modo su supuesto carácter democrático: el Congreso ordenó la destitución del presidente y un fallo de la Corte Suprema convalidó el golpe de estado. Fue nada menos que este tribunal quien emitió la orden de secuestro y expulsión del país del Presidente Zelaya, prohijando como lo hizo a lo largo de toda la semana la conducta sediciosa de las Fuerzas Armadas.Zelaya no ha renunciado ni ha solicitado asilo político en Costa Rica. Fue secuestrado y expatriado, y el pueblo ha salido a la calle a defender a su gobierno. Las declaraciones que logran salir de Honduras son clarísimas en ese sentido, especialmente la del líder mundial de Vía Campesina, Rafael Alegría. Los gobiernos de la región han repudiado al golpismo y en el mismo sentido se ha manifestado Barack Obama al decir que Zelaya "es el único presidente de Honduras que reconozco y quiero dejarlo muy claro". La OEA se expresó en los mismos términos y desde la Argentina la Presidenta Cristina Fernández declaró que "vamos a impulsar una reunión de Unasur, aunque Honduras no forma parte de ese organismo, y vamos a exigir a la OEA el respeto de la institucionalidad y la reposición de Zelaya, además garantías para su vida, su integridad física y la de su familia, porque eso es fundamental, porque es un acto de respeto a la democracia y a todos los ciudadanos."La brutalidad de todo el operativo lleva la marca indeleble de la CIA y la Escuela de las Américas: desde el secuestro del Presidente, enviado en pijama a Costa Rica, y el insólito secuestro y la golpiza propinada a tres embajadores de países amigos: Nicaragua, Cuba y Venezuela, que se habían acercado hasta la residencia de la Ministra de Relaciones Exteriores de Honduras, Patricia Rodas, para expresarle la solidaridad de sus países, pasando por el ostentoso despliegue de fuerza hecha por los militares en las principales ciudades del país con el claro propósito de aterrorizar a la población. A última hora de la tarde impusieron el toque de queda y existe una estricta censura de prensa, pese a lo cual no se conoce declaración alguna de la Sociedad Interamericana de Prensa (siempre tan atenta ante la situación de los medios en Venezuela, Bolivia y Ecuador) condenando este atentado contra la libertad de prensa.No está demás recordar que las fuerzas armadas de Honduras fueron completamente reestructuradas y "re-educadas" durante los años ochentas cuando el Embajador de EEUU en Honduras era nada menos que John Negroponte, cuya carrera "diplomática" lo llevó a cubrir destinos tan distintos como Vietnam, Honduras, México, Irak para, posteriormente, hacerse cargo del super-organismo de inteligencia llamado Consejo Nacional de Inteligencia de su país. Desde Tegucigalpa monitoreó personalmente las operaciones terroristas realizadas contra el gobierno Sandinista y promovió la creación del escuadrón de la muerte mejor conocido como el Batallón 316 que secuestró, torturó y asesinó a centenares de personas dentro de Honduras mientras en sus informes a Washington negaba que hubiera violaciones de los derechos humanos en ese país. En su momento el Senador estadounidense John Kerry demostró que el Departamento de Estado había pagado 800 mil dólares a cuatro compañías de aviones de carga pertenecientes a grandes narcos colombianos para que transportasen armas para los grupos que Negroponte organizaba y apoyaba en Honduras. Estos pilotos testificaron bajo juramento confirmando las declaraciones de Kerry. La propia prensa estadounidense informó que Negroponte estuvo ligado al tráfico de armas y de drogas entre 1981 a 1985 con el objeto de armar a los escuadrones de la muerte, pero nada interrumpió su carrera. Esas fuerzas armadas son las que hoy depusieron a Zelaya. Pero la correlación de fuerzas en el plano interno e internacional es tan desfavorable que la derrota de los golpistas es sólo cuestión de (muy poco) tiempo.
- Dr. Atilio A. Boron, director del Programa Latinoamericano de Educación a Distancia en Ciencias Sociales (PLED), Buenos Aires, Argentina http://www.centrocultural.coop/pled - http://www.atilioboron.com

As I said during an interview with WBAI News today, I would be very surprised if the Honduran military, with its close ties to the Pentagon, would carry out this kind of coup without approval from some high officials in the Pentagon. See Eva Golinger's update at the end of her article and also the coverage by School of the Americas (below).Jane Franklin

Obama's First Coup d'Etat: Honduran President has been Kidnapped:
Updates 1, 2, 3
June 28th 2009, by Eva Golinger
Caracas, Venezuela - The text message that beeped on my cell phone this morning read "Alert, Zelaya has been kidnapped, coup d'etat underway in Honduras, spread the word." It's a rude awakening for a Sunday morning, especially for the millions of Hondurans that were preparing to exercise their sacred right to vote today for the first time on a consultative referend um concerning the future convening of a constitutional assembly to reform the constitution. Supposedly at the center of the controversary is today's scheduled referendum, which is not a binding vote but merely an opinion poll to determine whether or not a majority of Hondurans desire to eventually enter into a process to modify their constitution. Such an initiative has never taken place in the Central American nation, which has a very limited constitution that allows minimal participation by the people of Honduras in their political processes. The current constitution, written in 1982 during the height of the Reagan Administration's dirty war in Central America, was designed to ensure those in power, both economic and political, would retain it with little interference from the people. Zelaya, elected in November 2005 on the platform of Honduras' Liberal Party, had proposed the opinion poll be conducted to determine if a majority of citizens agreed that constitutional reform was necessary. He was backed by a majority of labor unions and social movements in the country. If the poll had occured, depending on the results, a referendum would have been conducted during the upcoming elections in November to vote on convening a constitutional assembly. Nevertheless, today's scheduled poll was not binding by law.In fact, several days before the poll was to occur, Honduras' Supreme Court ruled it illegal, upon request by the Congress, both of which are led by anti-Zelaya majorities and members of the ultra-conservative party, National Party of Honduras (PNH). This move led to massive protests in the streets in favor of President Zelaya. On June 24, the president fired the head of the high military command, General Romeo Vásquez, after he refused to allow the military to distribute the electoral material for Sunday's elections. General Romeo Vásquez held the material under tight military control, refusing to release it even to the president's followers, stating that the scheduled referendum had been determined illegal by the Supreme Court and therefore he could not comply with the president's order. As in the Unted States, the president of Honduras is Commander in Chief and has the final say on the military's actions, and so he ordered the General's removal. The Minister of Defense, Angel Edmundo Orellana, also resigned in response to this increasingly tense situation.But the following day, Honduras' Supreme Court reinstated General Romeo Vásquez to the high military command, ruling his firing as "unconstitutional'. Thousands poured into the streets of Honduras' capital, Tegucigalpa, showing support for President Zelaya and evidencing their determination to ensure Sunday's non-binding referendum would take place. On Friday, the president and a group of hundreds of supporters, marched to the nearby air base to collect the electoral material that had been previously held by the military. That evening, Zelaya gave a national press conference along with a group of politicians from different political parties and social movements, callin g for unity and peace in the country.As of Saturday, the situation in Honduras was reported as calm. But early Sunday morning, a group of approximately 60 armed soldiers entered the presidential residence and took Zelaya hostage. After several hours of confusion, reports surfaced claiming the president had been taken to a nearby air force base and flown to neighboring Costa Rica. No images have been seen of the president so far and it is unknown whether or not his life is still endangered.President Zelaya's wife, Xiomara Castro de Zelaya, speaking live on Telesur at approximately 10:00am Caracas time, denounced that in early hours of Sunday morning, the soldiers stormed their residence, firing shots throughout the house, beating and then taking the president. "It was an act of cowardice", said the first lady, referring to the illegal kidnapping occuring during a time when no one would know or react until it was all over. Casto de Zelaya also called for the "preservation" of her husband's life, indicating that she herself is unaware of his whereabouts. She claimed their lives are all still in "serious danger" and made a call for the international community to denounce this illegal coup d'etat and to act rapidly to reinstate constitutional order in the country, which includes the rescue and return of the democratically elected Zelaya.Presidents Evo Morales of Bolivia and Hugo Chávez of Venezuela have both made public statements on Sunday morning condeming the coup d'etat in Honduras and calling on the international community to react to ensure democracy is restored and the constitutional president is reinstated. Last Wednesday, June 24, an extraordinary meeting of the member nations of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA), of which Honduras is a member, was convened in Venezuela to welcome Ecuador, Antigua & Barbados and St. Vincent to its ranks. During the meeting, which was attended by Honduras' Foreign Minister, Patricia Rodas, a statement was read supporting President Zelaya and condenming any attempts to undermine his mandate and Honduras' democratic processes.Reports coming out of Honduras have informed that the public television channel, Canal 8, has been shut down by the coup forces. Just minutes ago, Telesur announced that the military in Honduras is shutting down all electricity throughout the country. Those television and radio stations still transmitting are not reporting the coup d'etat or the kidnapping of President Zelaya, according to Foreign Minister Patricia Rodas. "Telephones and electricity are being cut off", confirmed Rodas just minutes ago via Telesur. "The media are showing cartoons and soap operas and are not informing the people of Honduras about what is happening". The situation is eerily reminiscent of the April 2002 coup d'etat against President Chávez in Venezuela, when the media played a key role by first manipulating information to support the coup and then later blacking out all information when the people began protesting and eventually overcame and defeated the coup forces, rescuing Chávez (who had also been kidnapped by the military) and restoring constitutional order.Honduras is a nation that has been the victim of dictatorships and massive U.S. intervention during the past century, including several military invasions. The last major U.S. government intervention in Honduras occured during the 1980s, when the Reagain Administration funded death squads and paramilitaries to eliminate any potential "communist threats" in Central America. At the time, John Negroponte, was the U.S. Ambassador in Honduras and was responsible for directly funding and training Honduran death squads that were responsable for thousands of disappeared and assassinated throughout the region.On Friday, the Organization of American States (OAS), convened a special meeting to discuss the crisis in Honduras, later issuing a statement condeming the threats to democracy and authorizing a convoy of representatives to travel to OAS to investigate further. Nevertheless, on Friday, Assistant Secretary of State of the United States, Phillip J. Crowley, refused to clarify the U.S. government's position in reference to the potential coup against President Zelaya, and instead issued a more ambiguous statement that implied Washington's support for the opposition to the Honduran president. While most other Latin American governments had clearly indicated their adamant condemnation of the coup plans underway in Honduras and their solid support for Honduras' constitutionally elected president, Manual Zelaya, the U.S. spokesman stated the=2 0following, "We are concerned about the breakdown in the political dialogue among Honduran politicians over the proposed June 28 poll on constitutional reform. We urge all sides to seek a consensual democratic resolution in the current political impasse that adheres to the Honduran constitution and to Honduran laws consistent with the principles of the Inter-American Democratic Charter."As of 10:30am, Sunday morning, no further statements have been issued by the Washington concerning the military coup in Honduras. The Central American nation is highly dependent on the U.S. economy, which ensures one of its top sources of income, the monies sent from Hondurans working in the U.S. under the "temporary protected status" program that was implemented during Washington's dirty war in the 1980s as a result of massive immigration to U.S. territory to escape the war zone. Another major source of funding in Honduras is USAID, providing over US$ 50 millon annually for "democracy promotion" programs, which generally supports NGOs and political parties favorable to U.S. interests, as has been the case in Venezuela, Bolivia and other nations in the region. The Pentagon also maintains a military base in Honduras in Soto Cano, equipped with approximately 500 troops and numerous air force combat planes and helicopters.Foreign Minister Rodas has stated that she has repeatedly tried to make contact with the U.S. Ambassador in Honduras, Hugo Llorens, who has not responded to any of her calls thus far. The modus operandi of the coup makes clear that Washington is involved. Neither the Honduran military, which is majority trained by U.S. forces, nor the political and economic elite, would act to oust a democratically elected president without the backing and support of the U.S. government. President Zelaya has increasingly come under attack by the conservative forces in Honduras for his growing relationship with the ALBA countries, and particularly Venezuela and President Chávez. Many believe the coup has been executed as a method of ensuring Honduras does not continue to unify with the more leftist and socialist countries in Latin America.
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 by20Honduran 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 20 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.
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.
======
Canciller de Honduras que "estaba desaparecida" parte a México, según Ortega
EFE,Managua La canciller de Honduras, Patricia Rodas, quien "estaba desaparecida", partió hoy de su país rumbo a México, informó el presidente de Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega."La canciller de Honduras, Patricia Rodas, que estaba desaparecida -dijo- salió de Honduras rumbo a México donde el gobierno del presidente Felipe Calderón la va a recibir".El vuelo que traslada a la canciller hondureña aterrizará en la ciudad de Toluca, cerca de México Distrito Federal, precisó el líder sandinista nicaragüense, quien dijo que esa información le fue suministrada por el embajador de México en Nicaragua, Raúl López Lira.Ortega denunció previamente que la canciller de Honduras y otros funcionarios del Gobierno del presidente Manuel Zelaya "se encuentran desaparecidos".El mandatario nicaragüense hizo esa denuncia a la llegada a Managua del presidente de Ecuador, Rafael Correa, para participar en una reunión urgente de la ALBA para apoyar al destituido presidente hondureño.Ortega espera que la canciller Rodas participe este lunes en la reunión del Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana (SICA).En Managua están previstas hoy reuniones de presidentes de la Alternativa Bolivariana para las Américas (ALBA), el SICA y del Grupo de Río para tratar la crisis en Honduras y ayudar a que Zelaya sea restituido en el cargo.El mandatario hondureño fue obligado por militares a abandonar el país con rumbo a Costa Rica, horas antes de que comenzara una consulta popular que había convocado con el fin de reformar la Constitución del país y que había sido declarada ilegal por el Parlamento y el Tribuna Supremo. http://www.escambray.cu/Esp/Especial/Golpe%20Estado%20Honduras/Gesitio090628950.htm,


Derrocar al gobierno de Honduras, objetivo de Estados Unidos y aliados
Pedro Echeverría (especial para ARGENPRESS.info)
1. Honduras, país americano situado en el centro de Centroamérica, enfrenta su futuro en estos días y, al mismo tiempo las posibilidades de dar un gran salto político. El presidente Manuel Zelaya está promoviendo la realización el próximo domingo 28 de una encuesta nacional en favor de la colocación de una cuarta urna en las elecciones generales del 29 de noviembre -junto a las urnas para elegir presidente, diputados y alcaldes- para que se decida si se convoca a una asamblea constituyente que apruebe una nueva Constitución. Obviamente eso ha desatado la furia de los poderosos grupos empresariales hondureños, asociados con los EEUU, que han estado haciendo una campaña que parece estar desembocando en la promoción de un golpe de Estado.
2. En México, aunque mucho escribimos en periódicos y revistas para demostrar lo perjudicial que sería para el pueblo el Tratado de Libre Comercio (TLC), este mismo acuerdo se realizó ocho años después, en 2005, entre Honduras- Estados Unidos, pero los movimientos populares de los hondureños gritaron que “ese era el último golpe que se le daba a la Constitución y por lo tanto era necesario una nueva Constituyente". Por eso la promesa se convirtió en realidad al adoptar el presidente Manuel Zelaya esa consigna y ha venido convocando a los hondureños sobre la necesidad de continuar luchando hasta lograr cambios constitucionales que permitan que el pueblo deje de ser engañado con leyes hechas por la clase dominante y para su propio beneficio.
3. Honduras ha sido un país centroamericano dominado -durante los últimos 100 años- por militares, por grandes inversionistas yanquis y una poderosa clase política y empresarial asociada a los EEUU. La pobreza de sus aproximadamente ocho millones de habitantes es profunda, mientras un puñado de privilegiados cuenta con todas las riquezas y la modernidad en las principales capitales de aquel país. A pesar de ser uno de los dos países más extensos de la región, de poseer una enorme riqueza natural en sus montañas, sus ríos, su producción agraria, Honduras no ha sobresalido en la región porque sus gobiernos han sido sumisos a las políticas yanquis y sus empresarios han vivido acumulando riquezas sin invertir.
4. Las fuerzas armadas hondureñas han intervenido mucho en golpes de Estado. En las últimas décadas los hondureños recuerdan. En octubre de 1956 se registra un derrocamiento por parte del ejército. En 1963, también en octubre, el ejército derroca al presidente Villeda. Dos años después se promulga una nueva Constitución pero las confrontaciones de fuerza no cesan. En 1969 se registra una “guerra no declarada” entre Honduras y El Salvador. Tres años después otro golpe de Estado dirigido por el general López Arellano, pero en 1975 éste mismo general es destituido por las fuerzas armadas. En 1980 la misma Junta Militar traspasa el gobierno a la Asamblea Constituyente. Al fin, hasta 1985 es electo, según se ha publicado, el primer gobierno civil.
5. En los últimos meses, con el nuevo gobierno de Manuel Zelaya, Honduras estrechó relaciones con el presidente venezolano Hugo Chávez y pasó a integrar la Alianza Bolivariana de los pueblos de nuestra América (Alba) haciendo a un lado el proyecto ALCA que Bush y sus incondicionales quisieron imponer en América. Por otro lado el presidente Zelaya, siguiendo el ejemplo de Venezuela, Bolivia y Ecuador, ha buscado la aprobación de una nueva Constitución mediante la instalación de una Asamblea Nacional Constituyente que discutiría también el derecho de reelección presidencial. El presidente Zelaya ha logrado un fuerte apoyo de los sectores explotados y oprimidos del pueblo, pero por otro lado se le prepara un golpe de Estado.
6. La poderosa clase empresarial de Honduras parece moverse de la misma manera, con la misma estrategia que lo hace la venezolana, boliviana o ecuatoriana. Con el abierto apoyo de los medios de información privados e internacionales -propiedad de los grandes capitalistas- impulsan enormes campañas contra Chávez, Evo, Correa y Fidel Castro, con el fin de desprestigiar el movimiento de los pueblos y las luchas de liberación. Buscan movilizar a los sectores privilegiados de las ciudades, a los blanquitos de los barrios residenciales y a los empleados de empresas privadas para salir a las calles a manifestarse contra el comunismo y en defensa de la religión y las propiedades. México también se anota en la lista de manifestaciones “blancas”.
7. Hugo Chávez, quien en estos años ha representado la oposición más consecuente frente a las oligarquías y el imperialismo, expresó el jueves 25 su total apoyo al presidente Zelaya por el hecho de estar siendo objeto de un intento de golpe de Estado de parte del Congreso nacional, de miembros de las Fuerzas Armadas y de la Corte Suprema de Justicia de su país. Asimismo brindó como su apoyo al pueblo hondureño, a los movimientos sociales y populares de Honduras. Explicó que los poderes públicos y militar de Honduras se han opuesto al llamado a una consulta popular, avalada por la firma de más de 500 mil ciudadanos hondureños, para la convocatoria a la instalación de una Asamblea Nacional Constituyente, desconociendo al jefe de Estado de ese país.
8. Venezuela envió el viernes un comunicado a los diversos medios de información de Honduras, donde define su respaldo a todas las acciones que realiza el presidente hondureño. Y al mismo tiempo un documento que dice: "Los países miembros de la Alianza Bolivariana de los pueblos de nuestra América (Alba), manifestamos nuestro firme respaldo al gobierno del presidente Zelaya, en sus justas y decididas acciones por defender el derecho del pueblo hondureño a expresar su voluntad soberana". Esos documentos demuestran un amplio rechazo al golpe de Estado que las poderosas clases empresariales y el gobierno norteamericano están preparando. Por toda esa historia llena de intervenciones militares los hondureños y líderes de América Latina están atentos para evitar un nuevo golpe de Estado.