Saturday, October 23, 2010. 5:46 p.m. Today, 21 October, the democratic resistance of Honduras will celebrate the day of the Artists of the National Resistance against the coup. This case is in direct contrast with the official recognition of this day day of the Armed Forces of Honduras. Resistance, who works for a truly democratic Honduras, changed the name of the festival and created an alternative celebration, in consideration of brutal attacks by police against musicians and their audience, which resulted in a dead person and dozens wounded.
15 September 2010, a peaceful assembly and a musical concert in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, has been attacked by the police and security. Surprisingly, the police officers involved in the assault focused on the destruction of instruments of musicians.
Musicians who have suffered the attack were asked to change the name of the day from 21 October to "Day of the Artist in Resistance against the Coup." On this occasion, the collective of Artist in Resistance and the National Front of Resistance in Young (FNJR) organized concerts that evening in San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa.
These groups represent only a small part of the National Front for Popular Resistance in Honduras (FNRP), one of the social groups most engaged in training in the hemisphere. The FNRP represents social groups, organizations and individuals from almost all sectors of Honduran society. They are organized to address one of the greatest human rights crises in Latin America: the coup of 2009 in Honduras, as well as intimidation, aggression, submission and murder to silence all those who resisted the two regimes that have succeeded to power after the coup. The hope is that the concerts today underline the continuity of the crisis in Honduras and they help to mobilize international solidarity with the FNRP.
Ongoing crisis in Honduras
Since the coup of June 2009, two schemes, the de facto government of Roberto Michelleti from the coup and the administration of President Porfirio (Pepe) Lobo, did little to protect human rights. While the police and security forces have subjected members FNRP, or those identified as forming part of mass arrests, the beatings, tear gas attacks, rape and other forms of Tortured and kidnapping. The judges and officials who were critical of the coup have been dismissed, transferred arbitrarily, and have undergone disciplinary processes.
At least ten journalists were murdered in 2010 in circumstances that indicate, for sure it was murder [policies]. Journalists who were not killed were faced with state censorship. Violence and repression of political discourse, public meetings and Democratic critics have become integral parts of everyday life.
Instead of investigating these crimes and arrest the perpetrators responsible for these acts, the Honduran authorities have routinely ignored. The official version presented by the Honduran authorities, and often referred to by many newspapers in Honduras (who make no effort to hide their support for the coup plans and post-coup), is that violence is a result of the war against drugs and gangs. Unfortunately, this story has attracted some attention in the blogosphere and diplomatic means, despite the fact that these speculations are not based on any independent investigation or to arrests made.
The increase in violence against union leaders, community organizers, journalists and activists, began only after the coup, and the objectives are certainly the leaders and members of the resistance.
The Committee of the family members of prisoners and missing in Honduras (COFADEH) eighty-three assassinations of members of FNRP took place, countless injuries in the attacks, and a steady stream of exiles who fled the country after being raped (s) or tortured (s) and / or have had their lives threatened for having joined the resistance, or be perceived as a part of.
Is it time to "move on"?
Despite the overthrow last year the democratically elected President Manuel Zelaya, despite the repressive measures of the interim regime coup Micheletti, despite the illegitimate "election" in Pepe Lobo (that groups like the Carter Center and even the United Nations refused to accept because of its manifest illegality), despite the lack of justice for victims of the coup, and despite the political violence and subsequent permanent authorities after the coup have said repeatedly that he was time "that the Honduran people move on."
The latest incarnation of the effort to "move on" from Pepe Lobo is false FNRP invitation to dialogue on the process of the Constituent Assembly. The FNRP considered the invitation carefully. Two separate meetings were formed, one integrated by members of the Branch and another in the General Assembly, and the decision was to reject the invitation to dialogue in view of violence and punishment referred to the resistance. The reasons for rejection include the fact that President Zelaya remains in forced exile because of false accusations against him, the fact that there are many political prisoners, and that no responsibility has been assigned to human rights violations of members of the movement. FNRP leaders have said that [the invitation to dialogue] was just another attempt to legitimize his authority Lobo in front of a national and international audience.
Progress resistance
Musicians who have suffered the attack were asked to change the name of the day from 21 October to "Day of the Artist in Resistance against the Coup." On this occasion, the collective of Artist in Resistance and the National Front of Resistance in Young (FNJR) organized concerts that evening in San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa.
These groups represent only a small part of the National Front for Popular Resistance in Honduras (FNRP), one of the social groups most engaged in training in the hemisphere. The FNRP represents social groups, organizations and individuals from almost all sectors of Honduran society. They are organized to address one of the greatest human rights crises in Latin America: the coup of 2009 in Honduras, as well as intimidation, aggression, submission and murder to silence all those who resisted the two regimes that have succeeded to power after the coup. The hope is that the concerts today underline the continuity of the crisis in Honduras and they help to mobilize international solidarity with the FNRP.
Ongoing crisis in Honduras
Since the coup of June 2009, two schemes, the de facto government of Roberto Michelleti from the coup and the administration of President Porfirio (Pepe) Lobo, did little to protect human rights. While the police and security forces have subjected members FNRP, or those identified as forming part of mass arrests, the beatings, tear gas attacks, rape and other forms of Tortured and kidnapping. The judges and officials who were critical of the coup have been dismissed, transferred arbitrarily, and have undergone disciplinary processes.
At least ten journalists were murdered in 2010 in circumstances that indicate, for sure it was murder [policies]. Journalists who were not killed were faced with state censorship. Violence and repression of political discourse, public meetings and Democratic critics have become integral parts of everyday life.
Instead of investigating these crimes and arrest the perpetrators responsible for these acts, the Honduran authorities have routinely ignored. The official version presented by the Honduran authorities, and often referred to by many newspapers in Honduras (who make no effort to hide their support for the coup plans and post-coup), is that violence is a result of the war against drugs and gangs. Unfortunately, this story has attracted some attention in the blogosphere and diplomatic means, despite the fact that these speculations are not based on any independent investigation or to arrests made.
The increase in violence against union leaders, community organizers, journalists and activists, began only after the coup, and the objectives are certainly the leaders and members of the resistance.
The Committee of the family members of prisoners and missing in Honduras (COFADEH) eighty-three assassinations of members of FNRP took place, countless injuries in the attacks, and a steady stream of exiles who fled the country after being raped (s) or tortured (s) and / or have had their lives threatened for having joined the resistance, or be perceived as a part of.
Is it time to "move on"?
Despite the overthrow last year the democratically elected President Manuel Zelaya, despite the repressive measures of the interim regime coup Micheletti, despite the illegitimate "election" in Pepe Lobo (that groups like the Carter Center and even the United Nations refused to accept because of its manifest illegality), despite the lack of justice for victims of the coup, and despite the political violence and subsequent permanent authorities after the coup have said repeatedly that he was time "that the Honduran people move on."
The latest incarnation of the effort to "move on" from Pepe Lobo is false FNRP invitation to dialogue on the process of the Constituent Assembly. The FNRP considered the invitation carefully. Two separate meetings were formed, one integrated by members of the Branch and another in the General Assembly, and the decision was to reject the invitation to dialogue in view of violence and punishment referred to the resistance. The reasons for rejection include the fact that President Zelaya remains in forced exile because of false accusations against him, the fact that there are many political prisoners, and that no responsibility has been assigned to human rights violations of members of the movement. FNRP leaders have said that [the invitation to dialogue] was just another attempt to legitimize his authority Lobo in front of a national and international audience.
Progress resistance
The FNRP undertook to amend the Constitution of Honduras, but in a way that the change reflects democracy and human rights. Many in Honduras are the Constitution as written the benefit of the country's elite, giving very few rights to the poor and historically marginalized. Some voices are raised to say that the Constitution is a major reason for which Honduras has one of the highest rates of poverty and differences between rich and poor in the Americas.
The Constituent Assembly was the main purpose of FNRP much of last year. Recently, 1.3 million signatures were collected and presented to support the process.
At first glance this may seem illogical [to dismiss the dialogue]. If it although the main objective of the movement, and that the current president wants to speak, the resistance should not she at least try to participate? Resistance considers illegitimate Lobo as an official participating actively in the crackdown against FNRP. Dialogue with Lobo had the potential to disrupt the democratic process that the careful and deep FNRP established for several months with all sectors of Honduran society with trade unions, youth, farmers groups, LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) and beyond. The
FNRP decided to continue on through the Constituent Assembly an autonomous process, profoundly democratic. It's incredibly moving, and history for our hemisphere and it is an example of participatory democracy where everyone can learn from.
Meanwhile, the United States, twenty-nine members of Congress took a bold step, especially in this period before the midterm elections, issuing a strong condemnation of the "deplorable record of human rights" in Honduras , citing several recent cases of political violence.
(See http://quotha.net/docs/honduras/10.19.10.Dear_Colleague_Letter.pdf for more information)
Members of Congress have expressed their "serious concerns that the rule of law is threatened directly by members of the police and armed forces of Honduras," and they have asked the administration to stop Obama any direct aid to Honduran authorities, particularly police and army. They have also asked the U.S. to end its lobbying for the reinstatement of Honduras to the Organization of American States (OAS).
Although the majority of OAS member countries remained firm in its position of refusing entry to the Honduras to the OAS, the Secretary of State of the United States, Hillary Clinton has made the return of Honduras to the organization a priority for his country in the region by giving importance to the issue at meetings with leaders States of Latin America, and advocating for the reintroduction in various meetings supported. For reasons that the Center for Constitutional Rights establishes in our open letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Obama administration must avoid the admission and the OAS must stand firm in rejecting the Honduras of its members. ; (See http://ccrjustice.org/files/CCR% 20Letter% 20to% 20Clinton-Honduras.pdf for more information)
People who work in solidarity with the people by arranging for access to democracy, equality and social justice in the Americas are shocked to see that the Obama administration became the 'most important ally of the regime of Lobo. Without the support of the United States, the regime of Lobo was not able to conduct its elections illegitimate, or stay in power so long as he did.
But history shows that anti-democratic regimes in Latin America and elsewhere can be overcome, even when they have the support of the United States, through campaigns for democracy and human rights. The FNRP works to show the way to Honduras. Those of us who are in solidarity abroad, look with admiration at their work to transform their country, and welcome their efforts to do so in joy
Written by Bill Quigley and Laura Raymond.
Bill and Laura are working for the Center for Constitutional Rights.
Contact Bill at: quigley77@gmail.com and Laura: ljraym@gmail.com
The Constituent Assembly was the main purpose of FNRP much of last year. Recently, 1.3 million signatures were collected and presented to support the process.
At first glance this may seem illogical [to dismiss the dialogue]. If it although the main objective of the movement, and that the current president wants to speak, the resistance should not she at least try to participate? Resistance considers illegitimate Lobo as an official participating actively in the crackdown against FNRP. Dialogue with Lobo had the potential to disrupt the democratic process that the careful and deep FNRP established for several months with all sectors of Honduran society with trade unions, youth, farmers groups, LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) and beyond. The
FNRP decided to continue on through the Constituent Assembly an autonomous process, profoundly democratic. It's incredibly moving, and history for our hemisphere and it is an example of participatory democracy where everyone can learn from.
Meanwhile, the United States, twenty-nine members of Congress took a bold step, especially in this period before the midterm elections, issuing a strong condemnation of the "deplorable record of human rights" in Honduras , citing several recent cases of political violence.
(See http://quotha.net/docs/honduras/10.19.10.Dear_Colleague_Letter.pdf for more information)
Members of Congress have expressed their "serious concerns that the rule of law is threatened directly by members of the police and armed forces of Honduras," and they have asked the administration to stop Obama any direct aid to Honduran authorities, particularly police and army. They have also asked the U.S. to end its lobbying for the reinstatement of Honduras to the Organization of American States (OAS).
Although the majority of OAS member countries remained firm in its position of refusing entry to the Honduras to the OAS, the Secretary of State of the United States, Hillary Clinton has made the return of Honduras to the organization a priority for his country in the region by giving importance to the issue at meetings with leaders States of Latin America, and advocating for the reintroduction in various meetings supported. For reasons that the Center for Constitutional Rights establishes in our open letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Obama administration must avoid the admission and the OAS must stand firm in rejecting the Honduras of its members. ; (See http://ccrjustice.org/files/CCR% 20Letter% 20to% 20Clinton-Honduras.pdf for more information)
People who work in solidarity with the people by arranging for access to democracy, equality and social justice in the Americas are shocked to see that the Obama administration became the 'most important ally of the regime of Lobo. Without the support of the United States, the regime of Lobo was not able to conduct its elections illegitimate, or stay in power so long as he did.
But history shows that anti-democratic regimes in Latin America and elsewhere can be overcome, even when they have the support of the United States, through campaigns for democracy and human rights. The FNRP works to show the way to Honduras. Those of us who are in solidarity abroad, look with admiration at their work to transform their country, and welcome their efforts to do so in joy
Written by Bill Quigley and Laura Raymond.
Bill and Laura are working for the Center for Constitutional Rights.
Contact Bill at: quigley77@gmail.com and Laura: ljraym@gmail.com
commondreams.org Honduras Publié dans: Crisis and Progress
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