Honduras vows to close Brazil embassy

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Financial Times

Honduras vows to close Brazil embassy

TEGUCIGALPA, Sept 27 – Honduras’ de facto government threatened on Sunday to close Brazil’s embassy for harbouring ousted President Manuel Zelaya and moved to suppress dissent, defying international pressure to give up power.

The government, which took power after a June 28 coup, also denied entry to an Organisation of American States delegation that had hoped to help broker a solution to the crisis.

The moves were aimed at stifling opposition and sending a clear message that it would not allow the leftist Mr Zelaya’s return to power under any circumstances, but they will also likely bring further international condemnation.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said he would ignore a 10-day deadline set by de facto leader Roberto Micheletti to decide what to do with Mr Zelaya, who is holed up with his family and some supporters in Brazil’s embassy in the capital.

”Brazil will not comply with an ultimatum from a government of coup mongers,” Mr Lula told reporters at a summit of African and South American leaders in Venezuela.



Read more: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0b0e0440-abcb-11de-9be4-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=rss&nclick_check=1

[earcandle]

1. What do we do? How can we protect ourselves from a coup? Maybe they are showing us? What?

[EFerrari]

3. That's a really good question because the mechanisms supporting this coup

are largely American -- like the PR companies, for example. Like the entrenched wingnuts at State. Does anyone really think that this behavior is only a threat to HONDURANS? This stuff always comes home.

[harmonicon]

8. not shit - that's why it amazes me that this isn't getting more attention

(granted, I don't live in the US, so I have no idea how it's playing out in US media)

But why on earth isn't this a much bigger topic on here and other websites that I read?! This is huge. When Chavez was overthrown it was a big story, but I guess that's because Venezuela is a big US trading partner and a much larger country. However, this coup has been far longer lasting, and the threat to democracy is the same. What the hell does the US stand for that we aren't doing everything in our power to stand up for democracy in a country that is a close neighbour?

[Judi Lynn]

2. Panama advocates for Zelaya to return home

Panamá, lunes 28 de septiembre de 2009
Panama advocates for Zelaya to return home

The government of Panama submitted a formal request to the Honduran government – currently under the administration of interim president Roberto Michelleti – to allow the transfer of ousted president Manuel Zelaya to his home in Tegucigalpa. This, according to a press release issued yesterday by Vice-President and Foreign Minister, Juan Carlos Varela.

Varela said that Panama made the request for "humanitarian reasons", arguing that if Zelaya could take refuge in the offices of the Brazilian Embassy in Honduras, he might as well be allowed to go home.

President Zelaya was removed from office on June 28, 2009 by the Honduran army on Supreme Court order, after his mandate to hold a public opinion poll - intended to assess the population's desire for a National Constituent Assembly - led to a political crisis. Zelaya was then expatriated to Costa Rica, while Congress named Micheletti as interim president to replace him. To date, however, no country has recognized the change in office.

Varela's press release further highlighted his support to the mediation process currently being led by the Catholic Church through Cardinal Óscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Tegucigalpa, Juan José Pineda.

More:
http://mensual.prensa.com/mensual/contenido/2009/09/28/hoy/english/news_1063.asp

[struggle4progress]

4. Honduras refuses to allow 4 foreign ambassadors in the country

28/09/2009 10:11 (01:52 minutes ago)

The FINANCIAL -- MEXICO, The de-facto Honduran government has refused to allow ambassadors from Argentina, Mexico, Spain and Venezuela to return to the country after they left together with diplomats from other countries in protest against a state coup in June ... http://finchannel.com/news_flash/World/47963_Honduras_refuses_to_allow_4_foreign_ambassadors_in_the_country/

[struggle4progress]

5. Honduras Suspends Civil Rights, Bans Protests as Talks Stall

By Andres R. Martinez and Blake Schmidt

Sept. 28 (Bloomberg) -- Honduras banned protests for 45 days and suspended other civil rights as talks to end a three- monthlong political crisis stalled and supporters of ousted President Manuel Zelaya planned rallies for today.

Any media that “incited” violence will be shut down, Cesar Caceres, government spokesman, said in a telephone interview late yesterday in the capital, Tegucigalpa. The military and police will be allowed to arrest anyone posing a threat, he said ...

Honduras’s acting government also asked that Venezuela, Mexico, Argentina and Spain recognize it or they will have to close their missions in the Central American nation ...

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=amiujFUMW.FI

[Ghost Dog]

7. Spain's El País: Micheletti decrees State of Emergency in Honduras

Micheletti decrees State of Emergency in Honduras

The Coup Government of Honduras suspends five fundamental rights and threatens by decree the freedom of the press

PABLO ORDAZ | Tegucigalpa 28/09/2009

The Honduran Coup Government suspended five fundamental constitutional guarantees and has decreed a state of siege in all the national territory during next the 45 days. But not only that. Micheletti grants himself the power to close all mass media that are hostile to him, in practice reduced to two: Radio Globo and Channel 36 television. The five annulled constitutional rights are of such importance as individual freedom, freedom of expression, freedom of association and union, freedom of movement and the rights of prisoners.

Such a drastic reduction of liberty was approved by a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 22nd - only a day after Zelaya's return to Honduras - and published in the Official State Bulletin on Saturday 26th.

...

Executive decree PCM-M-016-2009 occupies only two folios, but they are two folios that give fear. Because after all what they mean is that citizens' freedom is from now on, and for a period of 45 days, at the mercy of the military and police, to which Micheletti gives unlimited power. Any person can be detained, says the text of the decree, "who is apprehended outside permitted hours, or who is in any way suspected by the police and military authorities to have damaged persons or their goods… " According to article 187 of the Constitution of Honduras, the Government has the power to suspend the rights mentioned in cases of "invasion of the national territory, serious disturbance of the peace, epidemic or any other general circumstances". The following article 188 makes very clear that in the territory in which the previous guarantees were suspended, "By Law a State of Emergency will be in place".

The above is my quick translation from the following El País (Pablo Ordaz is their special correspondent, who appears to know his way around) front page article:

Micheletti decreta el estado de sitio en Honduras

El Gobierno golpista de Honduras suspende cinco derechos fundamentales y amenaza por decreto a la prensa libre

PABLO ORDAZ | Tegucigalpa 28/09/2009

El Gobierno golpista de Honduras ha dejado en suspenso cinco importantes garantías constitucionales y ha decretado el estado de sitio para todo el territorio nacional durante los próximos 45 días. Pero no sólo eso. Roberto Micheletti se reserva la potestad de cerrar los medios de comunicación que le resultan hostiles y que se reducen prácticamente a dos, Radio Globo y el Canal 36 de televisión. Los cinco derechos constitucionales que quedan anulados son tan importantes como el de libertad personal, libre emisión de pensamiento (libertad de expresión), libertad de asociación y de unión, libre circulación y los derechos de los detenidos.

Tan drástico recorte de libertades fue aprobado por un consejo de ministros celebrado el martes 22 -sólo un día después del regreso de Manuel Zelaya a Honduras- y publicado en La Gaceta (el boletín oficial del Estado) el sábado 26.

...

El decreto ejecutivo PCM-M-016-2009 ocupa sólo dos folios, pero son dos folios que dan miedo. Porque a fin de cuentas lo que vienen a señalar es que la libertad de los ciudadanos queda a partir de ahora, y por un periodo de 45 días, a discreción de militares y policías, a los que Micheletti da carta blanca. Se podrá detener, dice el texto del decreto, "a toda persona que sea encontrada fuera del horario de circulación establecido, o que de alguna manera se presuma como sospechoso por las autoridades policiales y militares de causar daños a las personas o a sus bienes..." Según el artículo 187 de la Constitución de Honduras, el Gobierno tiene la potestad de suspender los derechos citados en los casos de "invasión del territorio nacional, perturbación grave de la paz, de epidemia o de cualquier otra calidad general". El artículo siguiente, el 188, deja muy claro que en el territorio en que fuesen suspendidas las garantías anteriores, "se regirá por la Ley de Estado de Sitio".

/... http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/Micheletti/decreta/estado/sitio/Honduras/elpepuint/20090928elpepuint_2/Tes

[L. Coyote]

10. UN suspends support to Honduran electoral court; says elections there likely won't be credible

UN suspends support to Honduran electoral court; says elections there likely won't be credible
Associated Press - 09/23/09 -

UNITED NATIONS — U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has suspended technical assistance to Honduras' electoral court, saying turmoil there means presidential elections scheduled for November will not be credible.

[struggle4progress]

6. IMF May Destabilize Honduras, Central Bank Chief Says (Update1)

By Blake Schmidt and Andres R. Martinez

Sept. 28 (Bloomberg) -- The International Monetary Fund’s decision to recognize ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya may further destabilize the country’s idling economy, Sandra Midence, Central Bank of Honduras president, said.

“There’s already a lot of instability, and it could destabilize the economy even more,” Midence said in an interview in her Tegucigalpa office Sept. 25.

The IMF said last week it will recognize the government of Zelaya, who returned to the country last week and took refuge in the Brazilian embassy, almost three months after soldiers forced him out of the country at gunpoint. Calls and e-mail today to IMF offices in New York were not immediately returned ...

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aB7X8RVzE4c0

[L. Coyote]

9. Honduran Crisis Explodes: Persecution and Panic-Buying Under Coup Crackdown

Honduran Crisis Explodes: Persecution and Panic-Buying Under Coup Crackdown
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Honduran-Crisis-Explodes--by-Laura-Carlsen-090924-473.html


By Laura Carlsen

The Honduran coup has dropped all pretenses of legality over the past few days as it enters into a phase of desperate repression since the return of President Manuel Zelaya on Sept. 21 and the surge in grassroots mobilization against the coup.

The resistance march yesterday reported many detained, beaten and chased. Photos reveal the brutality of the torture that arrested demonstrators have undergone. Neighborhoods in Tegucigalpa report that military tanks have been moved in to break up groups of protesters. The Armed Forces have threatened movement leaders and are targeting teachers and youths.

The coup regime lifted the general curfew for several hours yesterday, leading to panic-buying and a run on banks. The curfew was then imposed again "indefinitely", causing even greater panic. Following pressure from the U.S. government and others, the increasingly erratic coup regime lifted the curfew today.

...........

[L. Coyote]

11. Spain Will Not Recognize Honduras' De Facto Government

Spain Will Not Recognize Honduras' De Facto Government
09/28/09 07:36 am (EST)
http://www.forextv.com/Forex/News/ShowStory.jsp?seq=1077975&category=&displaycategory=Political


(RTTNews) - Spain has rejected a demand by Honduras' de facto government to recognize it so as to allow the Spanish ambassador to return to the Central American country.

Last week, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said the government was sending its ambassador back to Tegucigalpa, along with those of the European Union and the OAS, which withdrew their representatives following the June 28 coup that ousted president Manuel Zelaya.

Madrid wanted to send the ambassador back to aid mediation efforts, but Honduras said Spain first had to recognize the de facto government headed by Roberto Micheletti .........

[L. Coyote]

12. UPI: Honduran rulers ban public gatherings

Honduran rulers ban public gatherings
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- http://www.timesoftheinternet.com/114405.html


Public gatherings were outlawed by the de facto government of Honduras before a planned march in support of ousted President Manuel Zelaya, observers said.

The move by authorities Sunday to suspend constitutional guarantees would make it easier for the Honduran army to arrest Zelaya's backers, who were looking to gather Monday to mark the three-month anniversary of Zelaya's June 28 arrest and deportation, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Zelaya, from a refuge in the Brazilian Embassy in Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital, has called on his supporters to march .........

[David__77]

13. Maybe they'll take the outright fascist option.

In which case I wonder if revolution could be viable, with or without external support.

[boppers]

14. Which group?

Congress keeps stepping in down there, and telling the executive branch "NO".

No private elections.
No tossing out the constitution.
No unlimited martial law.

Unfortunately, the folks in the executive branch down there keep trying various things, regardless of existing law.