By Dolores M. Bernal, NEWS JUNKIE POST
It appears that U.S. and other international efforts to reinstate Honduran President Manuel Zelaya, may not be going as well as some people expected. Despite calls for Zelaya’s reinstatement, the Honduran government is not budging. Nevertheless, Hondurans have taken to the streets calling for their deposed president to come back.
People demonstrated on the streets Monday morning, clashing with military units on the ground. It has been reported that, “Several thousand Hondurans, including youths, teachers and artists, converged around the presidential palace vowing to occupy the streets until Zelaya returned.”
The NYT is reporting that:
The protesters, many wearing masks and carrying wooden or metal sticks, yelled taunts at the soldiers across the fences ringing the compound and braced for the army to try to dispel them. “We’re defending our president,” said one protester, Umberto Guebara, who appeared to be in his 30s. “I’m not afraid. I’d give my life for my country.”
Injuries
At least 15 protesters were hurt when the police clashed with a large demonstration this afternoon.
Ambassadors Flee Unrest. Trade Suspended.
There are numerous reports in Central American newspapers that the ambassadors of Honduras from Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador have fled Tegucigalpa over the growing civil unrest and the Honduran government’s failure to reinstate Zelaya.
The above mentioned countries as well as the Dominican Republic and Mexico are also temporarily cutting trade with Honduras for 48 hours. The measured was approved by the OAS.
“All type of meetings such be political in nature, economic, financial, cultural, sporting, and touristic, that has to do with the Honduran government shall be suspended,” said Nicaragua’s president Daniel Ortega. (Remarks translated to English).
“Professional” Rioters?
Hondura’s new appointed president Roberto Micheletti Bain told people in his country to stay at home last night after declaring Marshall Law in that country for the next 48 hours. The impromptu removal of Zelaya angered the poor of the country as well as his closest ally in South America, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
La Prensa, one of Honduras’ conservative newspapers reports that “professional” Venezuelan rioters have added to the turmoil on the streets of San Pedro Sula as well as other major cities in the country.
The publication reports that at least 800 people have closed down one of Honduras’ most important bridges and have set tires on fire. There are reports of protesters attacking Honduran press vehicles.
U.S. Response
The United States continues to call for a return to democratic order in the region. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said at a press briefing this morning that the US, “will continue working with the OAS and other partners to construct a process of dialogue and engagement that will promote the restoration of democratic order, address the serious problems of political polarization in Honduras, restore confidence in their institutions of government, and ensure that Honduras moves successfully towards its scheduled presidential elections in November of this year.”
However, the U.S. is being very cautious to not meddle with Honduras’ sovereignty in their efforts to restore Zelaya. Honduran legislative bodies are moving on with the transfer of power, swearing in new members of cabinet under the new president on Monday.
TV news coverage of Honduran crisis.
the empire is on its last gasps. one too many crimes comited by its multitude of paid stooges will finally break the camels back. the empire is in well on the crash and burn trajectory.