Business Interests Splitting Over Honduras Coup?

[IndianaGreen]

Business Interests Splitting Over Honduras Coup?

By Joel Wendland
7-28-09, 4:54 pm

A group of apparel makers with business interests in Honduras, in a July 27th letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, endorsed the administration's call for restoration of democracy and basic civil rights and liberties in that country. The letter's signatories included officials from Nike, The Gap, The Adidas Group and Knights Apparel, according to the letter posted at Nike's website.

The letter indicated that the four multinational corporations "do not and will not support or endorse the position of any party in this internal dispute." It further described the crisis in Honduras as one based on "serious disagreements" that "exist between the elected President, Congress and the Supreme Court" of that country.

Resolution of those disagreements should come through "peaceful, democratic dialogue," the letter asserted plainly, "rather than through military action."

The major apparel makers also endorsed the actions and statements of "the President of the United States, the governments of countries throughout the Americas, the Organization of American States, the UN General Assembly and the European Union in calling for the restoration of democracy in Honduras."

Violence and the restrictions on civil liberties, emerging since the coup, pose a serious concern, the letter continued. "We urge for an immediate resolution to the crisis and that civil liberties, including freedom of the press, freedom of speech, freedom of movement, freedom of assembly, and freedom of association be fully respected."

On July 1st, the coup authorities adopted and emergency order restricting freedom of movement, assembly, speech and media access to events in Honduras. Human rights groups have also revealed that social movement leaders have been attacked, arbitrarily arrested and even killed by pro-coup forces.

While the letter from the four major corporations refused to offer advice as to the next steps by international institutions or the US government to help bring the coup to an end, the letter did express continued hope that mediation talks could help resolve the crisis swiftly.

In a statement on its website, the Canadian-based workers' rights group Maquila Solidarity Network (MSN), welcomed the statement, but chastised other multinational corporations with similar interests for supporting the coup.

http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/8837/

[Downwinder]

1. It is difficult to do business with a 24 hr, curfew n/t

[flamingdem]

2. You are right! Didn't think of that motivation... nt