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EMERGENCY RALLY - Supporting Zelaya's return to Honduras

We invite Canadians to participate in an emergency rally on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at noon in front of the Brazilian consulate in Toronto (77 Bloor Street West) to show their support for the return to democracy in Honduras.

In light of the news of President Manuel Zelaya’s return to Honduras, the Latin American Solidarity Network wishes to make known our statement regarding this development.We commend the valiant acts of the Honduran people who have been resisting for 87 days. We also recognize the efforts of the countries of Latin America to find a peaceful resolution to this conflict, in particular we would like to thank the Brazilian government and its officials in Tegucigalpa, who have been providing for the safety of President Zelaya.

We fully agree with the statements made by Juan Barahona, the general coordinator of the National Front of Resistance Against the Coup, who has called this is a peaceful popular insurrection and has claimed that the de facto government of Micheletti has few options before them if they wish to stay in power now that Zelaya has returned. "The Armed Forces would have to commit a blood bath in order to [keep the de facto government in power]," stated Barahona. Members of the military have already stated they are willing take the lives of their fellow Hondurans.

We demand that the Canadian government condemn the acts of repression that have already been occurring and that they pressure the de facto regime to cease its repression.

We have received reports of the following:

• Police attacks on peaceful protests in front of the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa, including the use of live ammunition, Telesur reports that there are 2 dead and many wounded as a result of the repression


• The targeting of pro-democracy journalists, the de facto government has attempted to shut down Radio Globo, TV Canal 36, and has targeted members of the international press


• A complete militarization of the country, with a curfew imposed around-the-clock, and the suspension of electricity and mobile phone networks

We call on the Canadian government to immediate declare its support for the return of President Zelaya to power and the return to democracy.

Breaking News: President Zelaya has returned to Honduras

By Lucho Granados Ceja

It has been confirmed that the legitimate President of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya Rosales, has returned to the capital, Tegucigalpa, after traveling by land over a period of two days. Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela, spoke with Zelaya on the phone and has called for the de facto government of Roberto Micheletti to respect the life of Zelaya and to peacefully return power to Zelaya.

The valiant people of Honduras, who have been resisting for 86 days, have already taken to the streets by the thousands to support the return of Zelaya. Juan Barahona, the general coordinator of the National Front of Resistance Against the Coup, has called this is a peaceful popular insurrection and claimed that the de facto government of Micheletti has few options before them if they wish to stay in power now that Zelaya has returned. "The Armed Forces would have to commit a blood bath in order to [keep the de facto government in power]," stated Barahona.

Juan Barahona of the National Front of Resistance Against the Coup

Zelaya was ousted by political elites in a coup on June 28, 2009, the same day that a referendum was set to take place in order to determine the desire of the Honduran people to re-write the constitution. It was this prospect of a more progressive constitution that would favour the interests of the people and not the rich that drove them to oust the President.

Developing story...

Rally Against Human Rights Violations in Honduras by de facto Government

The Latin American Solidarity Network will rally at 12 p.m. on Saturday, August 8 at the US Consulate in Toronto (360 University Ave. @ Dundas St.) to demand the US government work towards the immediate and unconditional restoration of Manuel Zelaya to the Honduran presidency in order to put an end to the human rights violations presently occurring in Honduras.

“The International Mission confirms the existence of grave and systematic violations of human rights in Honduras subsequent to the coup d’état. Some of these violations originate from the application of norms in open violation of the international agreements for the protection of human rights, the militarization of security functions and state institutions, abuses on the part of the State security forces, and lack of response from the guaranteed mechanisms of the State,” said a public statement by an International Human Rights Commission composed of fifteen independent professionals that recently visited Honduras.

The statement further concluded, “We have confirmed serious limitations on freedom of expression and intimidations intended to restrict the circulation of information criticizing the de facto regime. At this time, we consider a portion of the mass communication intermediaries of the country have had an attitude inconsistent with the plurality of ideas and democracy.”

Democratically elected Honduran president Manuel Zelaya was overthrown in a military coup in June and the de facto government has categorically refused to allow his return to power, threatening instead to arrest him if he sets foot on Honduran soil.

This rally will serve as lead up to more actions on Tuesday, August 11, the Global Day of Action Against the Coup in Honduras. The Latin American Solidarity Network is an independent and inclusive group of people and organizations working in solidarity with Latin American grassroots movements and struggles.

For more information on the state of Human Rights in Honduras click here.

For more information, contact:
Luis Granados Ceja
Phone: 416-417-0931
E-mail: granados.ceja@gmail.com

Rally Against US Complicity in Honduran Coup

The Latin American Solidarity Network will rally at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 18 at the US Consulate in Toronto (360 University Ave. @ Dundas St.) to demand the US government stop lending legitimacy to the coup leaders and work towards the immediate and unconditional restoration of Manuel Zelaya to the Honduran presidency.

Despite public statements by President Obama condemning the coup, the US State Department has refused to take steps to effectively pressure the de facto regime nor to legally certify the events in Honduras as a "coup d’état" – something that would require the US to suspend economic, diplomatic and military aid to Honduras immediately.

Activists in Toronto wear maks and handcuffs at a rally on July 14 to represent the repressive regime of Roberto Micheletti

“No one doubts Washington's involvement in the coup in Honduras that began on June 28. Many analysts, leaders and even presidents, have denounced this,” stated Eva Golinger, a distinguished journalist who helped expose the US role in the coup against President Chavez of Venezuela.

Democratically elected Honduran president Manuel Zelaya was overthrown in a military coup in June and the de facto government has categorically refused to allow his return to power, threatening instead to arrest him if he sets foot on Honduran soil.

The US Ambassador in Tegucigalpa, Hugo Llorens, was fully aware prior to the events of June 28 that a coup was being planned yet allowed the coup leaders to proceed. The Obama administration has subsequently pursued a policy of facilitating “negotiations” between the coup regime and Zelaya. This strategy only serves to discredit President Zelaya and legitimize the coup leaders.

Latin American Solidarity Network is an independent and inclusive group of people and organizations working in solidarity with Latin American grassroots movements and struggles.

Background information:

Washington & the Coup in Honduras: Here is the Evidence

The U.S. is Compromising Democracy in Honduras

For more information, contact:

Carlos Torchia

Phone: 416-962-0904

E-mail: ctorchia39@aol.com

Luis Granados Ceja

Phone: 416-417-0931

E-mail: granados.ceja@gmail.com

Peter Kent’s Constituency Office Closed to Canadians with Concerns Regarding Honduras

RESPONSE: Please call, fax, email the Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas), Peter Kent at his constituency office to demand that the Canadian government immediately suspend aid to the de facto government of Honduras.

On Tuesday, 14 July, approximately 40 demonstrators picketed in front of Minister of State of Foreign Affairs Peter Kent’s constituency office in Thornhill, Ontario to protest his and the Canadian government’s ambiguous position on the military coup d’état in Honduras. Despite having scheduled a meeting with a group of concerned citizens to discuss the Canadian position, Kent’s constituency office staff locked the doors and put up a ‘closed’ sign forcing demonstration representatives ready to meet with Kent and/or his staff to leave a prepared briefing with clear demands (see below) stuck to the door.

Take Action!

To encourage Minister Kent and his constituency office staff to embrace democracy and openness and to continue to demand that the Canadian government take strong action against the illegal government in Honduras, please:

1. Call, fax, or email Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas) Peter Kent at his constituency office, Tel: 905-886-1426, Fax: 905-886-5267, Email: Kent.P@parl.gc.ca. Use the call script below.
2. Call, fax, or email your MP (click here to contact your MP using your postal code) to demand that the Canadian government:

• unequivocally denounce the military coup
• refuse to recognise any ‘de facto’ government in Honduras
• insist on the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of the legitimate Honduran President, Manuel Zelaya
• cut aid to the illegal Honduran government
• demand respect for safety and human rights of all people in Honduras
• demand justice and reparations for the illegal actions and rights violations committed during this illegal coup

Note: Please send copies of all email correspondence to the Latin American Solidarity Network at ctorchia39@aol.com.

Call Script:

I urge Canada to take strong action to reject the military coup in Honduras. In keeping with the Canadian government’s stated condemnation of the coup, please demand the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of legitimate Honduran President, Manuel Zelaya, as our European allies have already done. I know that Honduras is the largest recipient of Canadian aid in the Central American region. As several countries around the world have already done, please also cut all Canadian assistance to the de facto government, including military aid. Canada must immediately back up its words with actions to further isolate the illegal government in Honduras.

Cut aid to illegal Honduran government

Call the Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas), Peter Kent, to demand that the Canadian government immediately suspend aid to the de facto government of Honduras.

Democratically elected Honduran president Manuel Zelaya was overthrown in a military coup on June 28th, and the de facto government has categorically refused to allow his return to power, threatening instead to arrest him if he sets foot on Honduran soil. Zelaya attempted to return to his country on Sunday, but his plane was unable to land after the Honduran military placed vehicles on the runways of the international airport. Meanwhile, at least two peaceful protestors have been killed and others injured, civil liberties have been suspended, and journalists have been harassed and detained by the current authorities.

The Canadian government has denounced the coup. However, its position remains ambiguous. Canada has not cut aid, including military aid, to the illegal government that assumed power following the early morning kidnapping of President Zelaya ten days ago. Honduras is the largest recipient of Canadian aid in the Central American region.

The suspension of aid would further isolate the illegal regime that has taken power in Honduras. Already, the United Nations, Organization of American States (OAS), European Union and others have condemned the coup and called for Zelaya's return. The OAS has expelled Honduras, European and Latin American nations have withdrawn their ambassadors, and multilateral financial institutions including the World Bank have frozen loan payments.

We stand in solidarity with the thousands of Hondurans risking their lives in the streets to demand that their voices and their votes be respected. We join the Honduran and other Latin American communities in Canada in demanding that the Canadian government move beyond words in this urgent situation and take strong action against the illegal government that has taken over in Honduras. Call Minister Kent today!

Take Action!

1. Call, fax, or email Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas), Peter Kent at Tel: 613-992-0253, Fax: 613-992-0887, Email: Kent.P@parl.gc.ca. Use the call script below.
2. Call, fax, or email your MP (click here to contact your MP using your postal code) to demand that the Canadian government:

• unequivocally denounce the military coup


• refuse to recognise any ‘de facto’ government in Honduras


• insist on the unconditional reinstatement of the legitimate Honduran President, Manuel Zelaya


• cut aid to the illegal Honduran government


• demand respect for safety and human rights of all Hondurans


• demand justice and reparations for the illegal actions and rights violations committed during this illegal coup

Note: Please send copies of all email correspondence to the Latin American Solidarity Network at ctorchia39@aol.com.

Call Script:
I urge Canada to take strong action to reject the military coup in Honduras. In keeping with the Canadian government’s stated condemnation of the coup, please demand the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of legitimate Honduran President, Manuel Zelaya, as our European allies have already done. I know that Honduras is the largest recipient of Canadian aid in the Central American region. Please also cut all Canadian assistance to the de facto government, including military aid. Canada must immediately back up its words with actions to further isolate the illegal government in Honduras.

Barrio Nuevo's Statement on the Coup in Honduras

Barrio Nuevo continues to strongly condemn and oppose the military coup d’état carried out in Honduras forcibly removing the democratically-elected President, Manuel Zelaya. We call for the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of President Zelaya and for those responsible for ordering and carrying out the coup d’état to be brought to justice. Barrio Nuevo stands in solidarity with the Honduran people as they mobilize in the streets to denounce the coup in the face of violent repression from the military.

The Canadian government’s position remains unacceptably ambiguous. Although it has denounced the coup, the Canadian government continues to qualify its position by referring to an alleged and unsubstantiated violation of the Honduran constitution by democratically-elected President Zelaya as a possible justification for the illegal actions taken by the Honduran military. For example, in the OAS, Peter Kent, Canada’s minister of foreign affairs, is insisting this is not a simple one-sided problem, “that Mr. Zelaya was a highly polarizing figure who clashed with the Supreme Court, Congress and army,” that “there has to be an appreciation of the events that led up to the coup.” This equivocal position of the Canadian government must be rejected. Such implied justification for the coup from the Canadian government is dangerous and irresponsible at best. At worst, it bolsters the current illegal government in Honduras, a regime that has suspended various civil rights and is detaining without charge leaders and members of Honduran civil society. There is and can be no justification for the Honduran military coup and militarization of the country.

Please call or send a message to Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, demanding that the Canadian government unconditionally 1) denounce the coup d’état; 2) not recognize any illegal government in Honduras; 3) call for the immediate reinstatement of President Zelaya. Please send copies of any correspondence to Minister of State for the Americas, Peter Kent, and to the leaders of the three opposition parties. Finally, we call on allies and progressive organizations to support Honduran democracy, to demand President Zelaya’s reinstatement, and to remain vigilant as further actions and demonstrations are organized.

Contact:
Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Tel: 613-992-5516
Fax: 613-992-6802
Email: CannoL@parl.gc.ca

Peter Kent, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas)
Tel: 613-992-0253
Fax: 613-992-0887
Email: Kent.P@parl.gc.ca

Michael Ignatieff

Leader, Liberal Party of Canada
Email: IgnatM@parl.gc.ca

Gilles Duceppe

Leader, Bloc Quebecois
Email: DucepG@parl.gc.ca

Jack Layton
Leader, New Democratic Party of Canada

Email: LaytoJ@parl.gc.ca

For more information or to get involved, contact Barrio Nuevo, barrionuevo.canada@gmail.com