A supporter of ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya shows his bloodstained hands after helping wounded peeple during clashes with soldiers at Toncontin International Airpot in Tegucigalpa Sunday. (AFP)The shit is going to hit the fan in Honduras today, and few seem to be watching.
I think it's because Latin American conflicts aren't as sexy as Middle Eastern ones. Perhaps it's because these countries are too close to home, therefore not exotic enough, although probably it's because they don't represent a nuclear threat. Then again hot Latin tempers can't outdo volatile Iranian or Iraqi or Palestinian tempers...
The unrest in Honduras won't match that in Iran in the aftermath of the June 12 elections, but people will be hurt, some might die, and--once again, for the second time in less than a month--the international community will find itself wondering what to do, if anything.
After years of military coups, Honduras settled into democracy in the 80s. But a week ago, its president was ousted by a military-led coup d'etat, and despite strong international opposition to the coup and calls for the interim government to restore President Manueal Zelaya, the new leaders aren't backing down, but neither is Zelaya.
Supporters of the deposed president have been rallying and protesting his removal in the streets of capital city Tegucigalpa, clashing with police and soldiers.
Supporters of ousted Honduras President Manuel Zelaya clashed with soldiers near the presidential palace in Tegucigalpa on June 29, a day after Zelaya was ousted. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)These encounters should turn more violent today, when Zelaya will attempt to return in defiance of the interim government's warnings that he's not welcome and would be arrested if he tried.
Zelaya is on his way to the Central American country as we speak to reclaim his post undeterred by threats from coup leaders he would be arrested if he set foot on Honduras.
“I am the commander-in-chief of the armed forces elected by the people, and I ask the armed forces to comply with this order to open up the airport and avoid any problems with the landing,” Zelaya said according to the local Telesur TV.
United Nations General Assembly President Miguel D'escoto is on the plane with Zelaya, while a delegation of supporters including Organization of American States Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza and presidents Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of Argentina, Rafael Correa of Ecuador, and Fernando Lugo of Paraguay is flying on a separate plane to nearby El Salvador.
"It is important that Insulza go with Zelaya to avoid the manipulation of information, " Fernandez de Kirchner said. "It's not an ideological problem but one of the restoration of democracy."
The de-facto government is determined to block his return--denying permission for Zelaya's plane to land, closing the airport and access to it, boosting police and military reinforcements at the airport and surrounding areas, and vowing to arrest Zelaya if he enters the country any which way.
Enrique Ortez, foreign minister the caretaker government in Honduras, said any aircraft carrying Zelaya would not be allowed to land. "I have given orders that he not be allowed back. We cannot allow recklessness," he told local radio.
Right: A soldier stands guard at the international airport in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on Sunday.
The 34-member OAS yesterday expelled Honduras from the group because of coup leaders' refusal to restore Zelaya.Zelaya originally planned to return Thursday but postponed his trip until a OAS deadline to allow him to return to his post expired Saturday.
So far, Zelaya has given no indication of changing his mind, which means a showdown--most likely violent--is imminent.
Since the coup, Zelaya has called on his supporters to protest using only non-violent methods, but the interim government is fully armed and, apparently, ready to do whatever it takes to keep Zelaya out of Honduras, enforcing curfews and passing resolutions suspending Hondurans constitutional rights in the meantime.
At dawn on June 28, a military-led coup d'etat removed Zelaya from power. The reason: despite strong opposition from the country's high court, Congress and military, Zelaya instroduced and pushed a referendum to draft a new constitution that, among other things, would allow presidents to run for a second four-year term.
Zelaya fired the head of the military for not supporting the referendum, but the Supreme Court, which deemed the referendum illegal, ruled the firing was illegal and reinstated General Romeo Velasquez to his post.
Last Sunday, under orders from the Supreme Court and just hours before the polls were scheduled to open for the referendum, the army stormed the presidential residence, arrested president Zelaya and put him on a plane to Costa Rica, then took possession of the residence. Congress faked a letter of resignation from Zelaya and voted to place its leader, Roberto Micheletti, as interim president of Honduras. Hondurans have taken to the streets both in support and opposition to Zelaya's return.
The leftist leader has been adamant about returning to Honduras to complete his term, which began in 2006 and is set to end in 2010. Neighboring Latin American countries, the U.S., European Union, UN and OAS, among other countries and groups, back him. But the new governement is not giving in, claiming there was no coup but a constitutional removal of the president from power due to his illegal actions.
Micheletti said he was open to “good faith” talks with the OAS, but reiterated that his government was legitimate and would not be moved.
“We are going to remain here until the country becomes calm,” he said.
The clock is ticking.
A fatally wounded supporter of Manuel Zelaya--a 10-year-old boy--is carried away after he was apparently shot by Honduran soldiers outside of the international airport in Tegucigalpa July 5. (AP Photo)UPDATE: The shit hits the fan, 2 dead...so far
As predicted, the alarm went off, unleashing intensified violence between Zelaya supporters and soldiers outside the Toncontin International Airport in Tegucigalpa ahead of Zelaya's arrival.
Troops reportedly fired shots in the air and used tear gas to control the crowd.
Two casualties have been reported so far: an 18-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy. (Now, what are children doing in such a place? Why would parents take a 5-year-old kid to such an event?)
Zelaya begged for permission to land, but it was denied. The plane also could not land because of vehicles the military placed on the runway.
"If I could parachute to the ground, I would," he said via phone from the plane.
The plane reportedly is was heading to El Salvador but ended up landing on Managua, Nicaragua, because of fuel issues.
Meanwhile, Venezuela President Hugo Chavez reportedly has had the audacity to accuse the "yankee's government" for supporting Honduras' interim government.
Come again?
So the all-powerful U.S. somehow masterminded the coup d'etat in Honduras and the bloodbath that followed the June 12 presidential elections in Iran. I suppose it could happen. I mean, it's not like the resources aren't there, but we've got bigger fish to fry right now--don't we?
Source: Telesur via BNOCopyright © 2009, Primetime Oracle
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Recent Honduras posts:
Ousted Honduras president in his words, posted June 28
Honduras president resigns...not!, posted June 28
Coup d'etat in Honduras, Zelaya safe in Costa Rica, posted June 28
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