Why is Solidarity with the Honduran Social Movement so Important?

A Fact Sheet on the Situation in Honduras

Honduras Since the Coup

·       June 28th, 2010 marked a year since a military coup was carried out against the government of President Manuel Zelaya in Honduras. The coup was launched after the Zelaya administration enacted policy steps that threatened the dominance of the right wing Honduran elite allied with the United States.

·       While Zelaya was President, his progressive policy actions included: an effort create a national survey to measure the Honduran people’s interest in holding a Constitutional Assembly to bring about greater participatory democracy, a raise in the minimum wage, steps to re- nationalize energy generation plants and the telephone system, signing a bill that vastly improves labor conditions for teachers, joining the Venezuelan Petrocaribe program which provides loans for development initiatives via petroleum sales, and delaying recognition of the new US ambassador after the Bolivian government implicated the US embassy in supporting fascist paramilitary groups destabilizing Bolivia. 

·       In reaction to the coup, a diverse, vibrant nonviolent resistance movement has sprung up uniting artists, LGBTQ activists, students, labor unions and a variety of progressive groups. In the face of this large and well organized resistance, the coup regime has employed increasingly draconian measures.

 

·       Since the coup, there has been a resurgence of death squad activity in the country, suspension of constitutional rights, an increase in hate crimes and the criminalization of social protest. During a recent Sister Cities delegation to Honduras we learned that between 10 and 15 youth are killed daily and that the human rights organization, COFADEH, has received 1,200 complaints of human rights abuses. Most recently, on September 29th, Wilmer Alvarado, member of the Resistance Front, , the National Youth Forum (FJN),and the gay community, was found assassinated in his home in San Pedro Sula. Human rights groups estimate that the largest number of nonviolent activists who have been murdered since the coup have been the members of the LGBTQ community.

·       In the most recent attack, government forces attacked a peaceful march and concert celebrating Independence Day on September 15th. They sprayed tear gas, took $30,000 worth of instruments out of musicians’ hands and beat up participants. A street vendor selling nearby died from asphyxiation from the tear gas.

Honduras in a Regional Context

·       In recent years, the strength of Latin American social movements has led to a power shift to progressive governments throughout the region. However Latin American and US elites have been working against these democratic transitions, as they see their power in the region slipping away.

·       Both Republican Party members from the Reagan-Bush years and some pro-business Democrats support the coup regime in Honduras. The US government has been linked to failed coup attempts in Venezuela and Bolivia in recent years.

The Effect of the Coup in Honduras on El Salvador

·       The Right wing and business elite in El Salvador support the coup regime in Honduras. Their support of the regime demonstrates their hope that the coup will set a precedent internationally, giving them an opportunity to overthrow the progressive government in El Salvador in the future. On July 22, the right wing Salvadoran organization, la Cruzada pro Paz y Trabajo, brought coup organizer, Roberto Micheletti, to San Salvador to speak about how he came to power in Honduras. It has been through many years of repression and sacrifice that a democratic process has begun in El Salvador and if the international community accepts the coup in Honduras, they will likely accept a coup in El Salvador as well.

The US Government’s Role in Honduras

·       The U.S. Government has a history of intervention in Honduras. The 1982 Constitution that governs the country was written to provide a cover of “democracy” to the Honduran military government, which allowed the U.S. to set up a military base that was used to attack the Sandinista government in Nicaragua and the social movement in El Salvador. The Obama administration is under severe pressure from the US business elite, the old Reaganite foreign policy criminals, and right wing congress people to support the coup government.

·       It is up to concerned citizens of the U.S. and international community progressives to push the U.S. Congress and President Obama to stand for democracy and human rights in Honduras.

How to Get Involved

·       Stay updated on the situation in Honduras by signing up for the Sister Cities, Rights Action or Quixote Center Mailing List at www.elsalvadorsolidarity.org, www.rightsaction.org, www.quixote.org

·       Participate in Sister Cities Urgent Actions on the situation in Honduras.

·       Consider participating in a Rights Action or Quixote Center accompaniment delegation in Honduras or have your Sister Cities delegation to El Salvador include a visit to Honduras.

·       Make a donation in support of the work in solidarity with the Honduran social movement.

 

 

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