US mission workers ask Obama to help restore Honduran president

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Ecumenical News International

US mission workers ask Obama to help restore Honduran president
By Ecumenical News International
22 Jul 2009

Mission workers from the United Methodist Church, who are serving or have served in Latin America, have called on President Barack Obama "to take whatever diplomatic and economic steps are necessary" to restore deposed Honduran President Manuel Zelaya - writes Chris Herlinger.

The church workers sent a letter to Obama following Zelaya's 28 June 2009 overthrow in a coup d'état on the day Zelaya planned to hold a referendum asking voters if they would support a later vote to modify the constitution. Opponents of the deposed president said he would use such a vote to do away with term limits, and run again.

In a recent letter to the US president, 36 UMC personnel praised Obama for what they called, "the new and refreshing tone you have brought to relations between the United States government and the countries who share this hemisphere".

They applauded what they described as Obama's decision, "to immediately characterise the overthrow as an illegal coup, as well as your support for the actions of the Organization of American States to condemn the coup and call for the immediate reinstatement of … Zelaya". In their letter to the U.S. leader, the UMC personnel referred to Zelaya as the "legitimate and constitutional president of Honduras".

"The coup d'état … represents a profound challenge to the region's recent progress in electing governments which more adequately represent the interests of those who have too long been relegated to the margins of economic and social progress," the letter said.


Read more: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/9963

[Judi Lynn]

1. Important points from the statement:

~snip~
The mission workers asked Obama to examine "any involvement of U.S. government-related agencies, including the International Republican Institute, in encouraging or preparing the rupture of the democratic process in Honduras".

The Washington-based IRI says on its Web site its mission is to act as a "non-profit, non-partisan organization committed to advancing freedom and democracy worldwide by developing political parties, civic institutions, open elections, good governance and the rule of law". Critics have charged that the IRI, among other activities, supported and trained opposition parties and leaders during a 2004 coup in Haiti. Senator John McCain, Obama's opponent during the 2008 presidential election, chairs the IRI.

"Given the long record of the U.S government in subverting genuine democracy throughout the region, it is important that your commitment to justice and democracy be reflected by the entire U.S. government," the UMC-related letter said.

This is a tremendous statement from a great organization.

Hope the President will have the chance to read this.

[raccoon]

2. K&R. nt

[Judi Lynn]

3. Zelaya, Negroponte and Controversy at U.S. Air Base of Soto Cano (Palmerola)

Zelaya, Negroponte
and Controversy at U.S. Air Base of Soto Cano (Palmerola)
July 22, 2009 By Nikolas Kozloff

The mainstream media has once again dropped the ball on a key aspect of the ongoing story in Honduras: the U.S. airbase at Soto Cano, also known as Palmerola. Prior to the recent military coup detat President Manuel Zelaya declared that he would turn the base into a civilian airport, a move opposed by the former U.S. ambassador. Whats more Zelaya intended to carry out his project with Venezuelan financing.

For years prior to the coup the Honduran authorities had discussed the possibility of converting Palmerola into a civilian facility. Officials fretted that Toncontn, Tegucigalpas international airport, was too small and incapable of handling large commercial aircraft. An aging facility dating to 1948, Toncontn has a short runway and primitive navigation equipment. The facility is surrounded by hills which makes it one of the worlds more dangerous international airports.

Palmerola by contrast has the best runway in the country at 8,850 feet long and 165 feet wide. The airport was built more recently in the mid-1980s at a reported cost of $30 million and was used by the United States for supplying the Contras during Americas proxy war against the Sandinistas in Nicaragua as well as conducting counter-insurgency operations in El Salvador. At the height of the Contra war the U.S. had more than 5,000 soldiers stationed at Palmerola. Known as the Contras unsinkable aircraft carrier, the base housed Green Berets as well as CIA operatives advising the Nicaraguan rebels.

More recently there have been some 500-to-600 U.S. troops on hand at the facility which serves as a Honduran air force base as well as a flight-training center. With the exit of U.S. bases from Panama in 1999, Palmerola became one of the few usable airfields available to the U.S. on Latin American soil. The base is located approximately 30 miles north of the capital Tegucigalpa.

More:
http://www.zcommunications.org/znet/viewArticle/22085

[bemildred]

4. Negroponte makes a big mess wherever he goes.

It's like a script.

[Judi Lynn]

5. There's no one in our government in a high profile position who's like Death Squads Negroponte.

He has carved a niche for himself in the world. It's a vile niche, and a bloody one. He should have been nailed a long time ago for his disservice to mankind.

http://www.sourcewatch.org.nyud.net:8090/images/d/d5/John_D._Negroponte.jpg http://www.musicismysanctuary.com.nyud.net:8090/HeadsUp/Nosferatu_door_in_the_castle.jpg
May he moulder in a wet, dark cave listening to the screams of crowds of helpless people in Central America who were slaughtered with his help, for eternity.

He's the U.S. Anti-Oskar Schindler.