Stock pile of tear gas grenades in Honduras triggers fears of human rights abuses

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Amnesty International

Stock pile of tear gas grenades in Honduras triggers fears of human rights abuses
27 November 2009

Amnesty International has learned that the de facto authorities in Honduras have stock piled 10,000 tear gas cans and other crowd control equipment, triggering fears of an increased risk of excessive and disproportionate use of force by security forces around the presidential elections.

An Amnesty International delegation in Honduras to monitor the human rights situation around the presidential elections on 29 November received information of the recent official purchase of 10,000 tear gas grenades; 5,000 projectiles for tear gas grenades and a water spray tank, as well as the deployment of several thousand reservists.

"Since taking power, the de facto authorities have allowed the security forces to use tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition to punish demonstrators in Honduras, causing several deaths and serious injuries, and nobody has been held responsible," said Javier Zuniga, Head of Amnesty International's delegation in Honduras.

"The past misuse of tear gas and other crowd control equipment, together with the lack of guarantees that the purchased equipment will not be used to attack demonstrators and the absence of investigations on past abuses paints an extremely worrying picture of what might happen over the next few days," said Javier Zuniga.

Read more: http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/stock-pile-tear-gas-grenades-honduras-triggers-fears-human-rights-abuses-20091127

[natrat]

1. change you can believe in

[L. Coyote]

7. Assassination of the anti-coup resistance leader after public arrest and beating

This is what giving a fascist junta the green light results in!
This murder and roadside body dmump blatantly sends a message to Hondurans,

"We can beat, torture and assassinate you with impunity."

======================
Assassination of the anti-coup resistance leader after public arrest and beating

Honduran People Leader Assassination Worsens Crisis
http://www.periodico26.cu/english/news_world/november2009/honduras-assasination112509.html


Tegucigalpa, Nov 25, (PL).- Assassination of the anti-coup resistance leader in the southern Honduran .... National Front against the Coup d'état leader Luis Gradis Espinal's corpse was found on Tuesday after he was arrested by the police, human rights authorities denounced.

Reports by the Front said 56-year-old Espinal, retired teacher, had left on Sunday southern Valle department for the capital, and his whereabouts had been unknown since then.

A witness said the vehicle in which she was travelling with Espinal was stopped at the city's Beltway by a police patrol and the teacher was arrested and also beaten with a pistol in his head.

The Detainees and Missing People's Relatives' Committee (CAFADEH) reported that Espinal's corpse was found in Las Casitas sector, in the capital's western area.........

That alliance of people forces reiterated a call to ignore actively the elections, which it considers a complete sham to legitimize the military coup .....

[Vidar]

2. Wonder who supplied the tear gas?

[L. Coyote]

4. Perú Official Threatens “Legal Action” Over Honduran Tear Gas Story = by Al Giordano

Perú Official Threatens “Legal Action” Over Honduran Tear Gas Story
Posted by Al Giordano - September 26, 2009 at 1:11 pm - http://narcosphere.narconews.com/thefield/3462/per%C3%BA-official-threatens-%E2%80%9Clegal-action%E2%80%9D-over-honduran-tear-gas-story


On the website of today’s daily La República – an important newspaper in Perú – a YouTube video by Honduras’ Gremio de Cineastas (a filmmaker’s association) that we published on Narco News on Wednesday - and something we reported from that video - has now launched a national polemic in that Andean country, including a threat of “legal action” by the country’s Government Minister against those of us that reported it.

The video shows Honduran coup regime police invading the Hato de Enmedio neighborhood of Tegucigalpa shooting tear gas canisters clearly stamped, “National Police of Perú.”

...............

The Honduran official said that the tear gas materials was obtained by its government from the Honduran business “Representaciones Comercio e Inversiones (RCI),” which had obtained it from the business, “Combined Systems, Inc.” of the United States. ........

The US company, Combined Systems, Inc., that the Honduran regime says is the source of its gas grenades, is based in Jamestown, Pennsylvania. Through its subsidiary website with the ironic name of less-lethal.com, it deals in chemical munitions, impact munitions, flash-bang devices and multi-effect grenades, arms launchers and other such toys, which, whether through Perú or not, seem to have no problem getting into the hands of a coup dictatorship that has fetishized chemical warfare against its own people and even a foreign embassy.

.............. now the Peruvian Congress wants an investigation into how the Honduran regime got its simian mitts on tear gas canisters with National Police logos on them. .............

[L. Coyote]

5. Here is the YouTube evidence:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YartPc2UBjI&feature=player_embedded

[L. Coyote]

3. Previous LATEST thread: Honduran high court rules against Zelaya's return

Honduran high court rules against Zelaya's return
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4161444

[L. Coyote]

6. The people of Honduras have been betrayed

The people of Honduras have been betrayed
James Burgess - 27 November 2009 - http://www.newstatesman.com/south-america/2009/11/honduras-zelaya-president


In Honduras, the spectre of US support for right-wing Latin American coups is making its reappearance ... Amnesty International has condemned the illegal regime's use of force to punish opposition protesters. Frequent clashes between demonstrators and police have left several dead .....

.....

Sinister characters from Honduras's troubled past have returned to haunt the politics of the recent crisis. Billy Joya was a leader of the notorious Battalion 3-16 group, responsible for kidnapping, torturing and murdering suspected Leftists in the 1980's. He is now acting as an adviser to Micheletti. Meanwhile, Hilary Clinton, who has taken a much more conservative stance than that of her president on the crisis in Honduras, has as her adviser John Negroponte. He was US ambassador to Honduras during the early 1980's, and turned a blind eye to human rights abuses by the Honduran military as US military aid massively increased to support the clandestine operation to overthrow the Sandinista government of Nicaragua.

The events unfolding in Honduras set a dangerous precedent in Latin America, and threaten the hard-won democratic progress made across the continent in recent years. Whilst Obama's hands are tied by domestic affairs and conflict elsewhere, the spectre of US support for right-wing Latin American military coups is making its ominous reappearance.

===========================
AFIRMAN DICTADURA COMPRO EQUIPOS GUERRA PARA REPRESION INTERNA
Internacionales | 10:39:00 - http://www.elpatagonico.net/index.php?item=viewlast&ref=ultimas&id=45767&sec=ext


Tegucigalpa, 25 de noviembre (Télam).- La dictadura hondureña que encabeza Roberto Micheletti compró pertrechos de guerra para reprimir al Frente de la Resistencia al golpe de Estado ..........

La afirmación fue hecha en un comunicado difundido anoche por el Comité de Familiares de Detenidos Desaparecidos en Honduras (Cofadeh), que denuncia además que el régimen de facto pretende eliminar a unos 1.300 miembros de la resistencia.

"La dictadura política-militar-empresarial, a través de Roberto Micheletti, ha movido sus tenebrosos hilos para armarse hasta los dientes, dotándose en los últimos días de equipo y pertrechos de guerra, para convertir el proceso electoral (del domingo próximo) en un escenario de guerra y enfrentar a un enemigo imaginario", destacó el Cofadeh.

La organización defensora de los derechos humanos dijo que el 9 de noviembre el régimen de facto recibió, libre de impuestos, un camión blindado, comprado en Estados Unidos por 12 millones de dólares, para el control de disturbios callejeros.

"La maquinaria de muerte está equipada con una torreta de cañón de agua con presión de 300 libras y 150 galones por minuto, cuatro cámaras blindadas de seguridad con una visión de 360 grados, operadas desde una estación de video-grabación dentro del camión", apuntó el texto, citado por ANSA.

Añadió que "la pesada máquina está dotada de puertos para la colocación de armas, removedor frontal de barricadas y dispositivos de rodaje en todas las llantas en caso de pinchaduras".
También denunció que el gobierno golpista adquirió 10.000 granadas de mano lacrimógenas y 5.000 proyectiles de 37 milímetros de gas lacrimógeno por un valor de 930.000 dólares.

El organismo aseguró que se pidió a los alcaldes que identifiquen a los líderes de la resistencia en sus jurisdicciones y dio orden de "despejar las salas de los centros hospitalarios del país", lo cual indica que "nos enfrentamos a terribles presagios en vísperas" de las elecciones presidenciales.

...........

[L. Coyote]

11. ¡Conozca las diez familias que financiaron el golpe de Estado en Honduras!

¡Conozca las diez familias que financiaron el golpe de Estado en Honduras!
06/08/2009 08:06:00 El Libertador - http://ellibertador.hn/Nacional/3135.html


"Fue planeado por un grupo empresarial liderado por Carlos Roberto Facussé, dueño del periódico ‘La Tribuna', que junto con ‘La Prensa', ‘El Heraldo', los canales de TV 2, 3, 5 y 9 fueron el pilar fundamental del golpe". El resto de las familias opuestas a al Presidente Zelaya, y que controlan el 90 por ciento de la riqueza que produce el país, son: José Rafael Ferrari, Juan Canahuati, el financiero Camilo Atala, el maderero José Lamas y otros”, explicó en una mesa redonda la experta en temas militares, Leticia Salomón.

Edición* / EL LIBERTADOR

Tegucigalpa. La mayor experta en temas militares de Honduras, la investigadora de la Universidad Nacional, Leticia Salomón, destapó los entresijos del golpe de Estado. Y lo explicó como un detalle sin importancia ante una concurrida audiencia presente en una mesa redonda: "Fue planeado por un grupo empresarial liderado por Carlos Roberto Facussé, ex presidente de Honduras (1998-2002) y dueño del periódico ‘La Tribuna', que junto con ‘La Prensa', ‘El Heraldo', los canales de TV 2, 3, 5 y 9 fueron el pilar fundamental del golpe". El resto de las familias que apoyaron el golpe contra Zelaya y que controlan el 90 por ciento de la riqueza que produce el país son: José Rafael Ferrari, Juan Canahuati, el financiero Camilo Atala, el maderero José Lamas, el empresario energético Fredy Násser, Jacobo Kattán, el industrial azucarero Guillermo Lippman y el constructor Rafael Flores.
Un personaje fundamental en esta conspiración fue el magnate Miguel Facussé, condecorado por el Senado colombiano en 2004 con la Orden Mérito a la Democracia, y quien hoy monopoliza el negocio de la palma aceitera y en 1992 apoyó la compra de tierras a los campesinos a menos del 10 por ciento de su valor real.

FONDOS DE TELETON USADOS PARA EL GOLPE

Al conocer la participación de gente en el golpe de Estado contra Zelaya, entre otros, Jorge Canahuati Larach, José Rafael Ferrari y Carlos Flores Facussé, se deduce el porqué el Tribunal Superior de Cuentas (TSC), jamás ha realizado una auditoría de los fondos públicos que cada año recauda la Teletón; dinero que ha aportado mucha gente de buena fe, pero que Ferrari y Canahuati los han utilizado para destruir el débil Estado de Derecho que tenía Honduras”.

........................

[EFerrari]

22. Bookmarked to read tomorrow. Thank you!

[Judi Lynn]

23. Another important part of your 1st article should be posted, too.

It appears those with an agenda refuse to inform themselves, and insist on arguing about this coup from a position which is utterly bogus. The facts have been posted here from so many sources, over and over. There's NO EXCUSE to explain deliberate repudiation of the truth, and the constant parading lies here in order to bolster the criminal right-wing oligarchs as the "good guys."

We ALL know better than that.

From your Statesman article:

Coup leaders have used Zelaya's proposals for constitutional reform as a pretext to depose the president, arguing that the president sought to illegally extend his term in office. Two things are evident. Firstly, the poll was a legal, non-binding canvass of public opinion, and second, any changes in the constitution would not take effect until some time after the elections, when Zelaya would no longer be in office.

The non-binding poll proposed by Zelaya for the 28 June sought the views of voters on whether they supported a referendum, set for the same day as the presidential elections, on the introduction of a National Constitutional Assembly to reform the constitution. The proposed areas of constitutional reform remain unclear, but included proportional representation and legal title to communal and ancestral land.

The Honduran constitution gives ample provision for a case in which the president acts beyond his authority, and these processes were clearly not followed.

It's useless trying to explain the truth to people who keep reiterating the lies the criminals have used as justification when the truth has been known for a very long time by ALL of us.

Thank you, L. Coyote, for not giving up, and continuing to bring the truth here which passing trolls CAN use to inform themselves even if they won't admit how deeply wrong they are.

[L. Coyote]

25. Keeping the fresh truth up every day is important

especially in light of how search engines and trolls work.

Compilation threads rise to the top because of the number of keywords.
The latest web pages rise to the top, so keeping fresh news up is important.
Linking to previous and next threads aids search engines and researchers.
There is little English coverage, so a lot of online readers end up here.
In the face of massive propaganda expenditures, this is necessary.

And, in today's world, this is where Latin American liberators can work
without getting stabbed and tortured! I've had enough of that already.
Not to mention, I haven't been tear gassed once while posting :rofl:

Plus, unlike the junta, we don't have millions of Honduran taxpayer dollars
to pay media firms and their internet trolls to disseminate Pinocheletti LIES.

[L. Coyote]

8. Whom the gods would destroy: The crisis in Honduras

Whom the gods would destroy, part 2: The crisis in Honduras.
By Charles Utwater II
Wed Nov 25, 2009 at 06:31:29 PM PST - http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/11/25/808168/-Whom-the-gods-would-destroy,-part-2:-The-crisis-in-Honduras.


Introduction. The Timetable and the Motives behind the Honduran Coup. This, the second of a multi-part series on the Honduran coup against Manuel Zelaya, seeks to understand how it was viewed by both supporters and opponents of Zelaya, develop a clear timeline of events, and examine the legal issues, including both Honduran and international law. While conclusions are left to the final section, this analysis does make it clear that the removal of Zelaya violated the Honduran Constitution, which was the threshold event triggering international involvement.

Also in this section, troubling questions of US involvement in the coup are surfaced. Additionally, politicization of the Library of Congress, which produces key research reports on which the US Congress depends, is demonstrated. Just as corrupt intelligence from the Office of Special Plans led the US into an unnecessary war and occupation in Iraq, research written with an agenda can deceive the Congress and the Administration into disastrous foreign policy decisions.


The Timetable and the Motives behind the Coup.
a. Charges and countercharges. Reconstructing the causes, actors, and motives behind the coup is extraordinarily difficult. A number of theories have been put forward on why Zelaya was forced from office. Those in favor of the coup generally claim one or more of the following (and deny that Zelaya’s removal was a coup):

.................. LONG ARTICLE and ANALYSIS..........

Whom the gods would destroy, part 1: the crisis in Honduras
Tue Nov 24, 2009 at 05:30:12 PM PST - http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/11/24/807775/-Whom-the-gods-would-destroy,-part-1:-the-crisis-in-Honduras

[madrchsod]

9. at least they are not stock piling machetes....

more of the same old thing in central america.

[L. Coyote]

10. Leading voices in Britain call for non-recognition of Honduras coup elections

his from a useful BLOG for Honduras Updates.

======================
Leading voices in Britain call for non-recognition of Honduras coup elections
Fri, 11/27/2009 - 07:53 — AP - http://www.quotha.net/node/585


The letter below was published in The Guardian today, Friday 27 November, and can also be seen at the website of the Emergency Committee Against the Coup in Honduras.

Latin America faces the greatest threat to its democracy in decades. The military coup that overthrew elected president Manual Zelaya and seized power in Honduras in June is now seeking to legitimise its illegal government through the international recognition of elections on 29 November. Such recognition would give a green light to opponents of democracy throughout the continent that military coups will be tolerated. Free and fair elections on November 29 are impossible. Human rights, freedom of assembly and of the press have all been under attack in Honduras. Repression under the coup regime has seen at least 20 people killed, more than 600 people injured and 3,500 people detained.

The legitimate Honduran president, Manual Zelaya, has called for supporters of democracy not to recognise the elections under the military coup regime. Nearly all of Latin America's governments have declared that they will not do so. Worryingly the US has indicated it will recognise these illegitimate elections. We call on all governments, including the Obama administration, to not recognise the elections on 29 November under the military coup regime.

* Colin Burgon MP Chair, All-party Parliamentary Group on Venezuela
* Jon Cruddas MP,
* Ken Livingstone,
* Baroness Gibson Chair APPG on Latin America,
* Brendan Barber General secretary, TUC,
* Jamie Hepburn MSP (SNP),
* Adam Price MP (Plaid Cymru),
* Caroline Lucas MEP Leader, Green party,
* Bruce Kent,
* David Hare,
* John Pilger,
* Lowkey (Musician),
* Brian Eno,
* Dr J Buxton Centre for International Co-operation and Security, University of Bradford
* Tony Lloyd MP Chair, Parliamentary Labour Party
* Doreen Massey, Professor of Geography at the Open University
* Johan Harri, commentator
* Ann Cryer MP
* Brian Simpson MEP
* Colin Challen MP
* Clare Short MP
* Dave Anderson MP
* David Chaytor MP
* David Drew MP
* David Martin MEP
* David Taylor MP
* Diane Abbott MP
* Gordon Prentice MP
* George Galloway MP
* Harry Cohen MP
* Hywel Williams MP
* Ian Davidson MP
* Jeremy Corbyn MP
* Jean Lambert MEP
* John Battle MP
* John Battle MP
* John Hemming MP
* John McDonnell MP
* Lord Nic Rea
* Mark Fisher MP
* Martin Caton MP
* Michael Cashman MEP
* Neil Gerrard MP
* Nigel Griffiths MP
* Paul Flynn MP
* Paul Holmes MP
* Rob Marris MP
* Steve Pound MP
* Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson Joint general secretaries, Unite the Union
* Sally Hunt General secretary, UCU
* GMB union
* Alan Ritchie General secretary, Ucatt
* Luke Crawley Assistant general secretary, Bectu
* Mick Shaw President, FBU
* Matt Wrack General secretary, FBU
* Gerry Doherty General secretary, TSSA
* Bob Crow General secretary, RMT
* Steve Hart - Unite London & Eastern Regional Secretary
* Chris McLaughlin Editor, Tribune
* Sam Tarry National chair of Young Labour
* Chris Weldon Labour party NEC
* Kaveh Moussavi University of Oxford's Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, Head of the Public Interest Law Programme
* Professor Keith Ewing
* Professor Mary Davis
* Dr Steve Ludlam Department of politics, University of Sheffield
* Diana Raby Senior fellow, Latin American studies, University of Liverpool
* Barry Cannon Postdoctoral fellow, school of law and government, Dublin City University
* Hazel Marsh School of politics, social & international studies, University of East Anglia
* Dr Michael Derham School of arts and social sciences, Northumbria University
* Rod Stoneman Director of the Huston school of film & digital media
* Dr Stephen Wilkinson Director, Centre for Caribbean and Latin American research and consultancy, London Metropolitan University
* Professor Ernesto Laclau University of Essex
* Cuba Solidarity Campaign
* Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign
* Venezuela Solidarity Campaign

[L. Coyote]

12. Day 151 of Resistance: Despite state terror, resistance continues

November 26, 2009 - http://hondurasresists.blogspot.com/2009/11/day-159-of-resistance-despite-state.html
Day 151 of Resistance: Despite state terror, resistance continues


The campaign of terror carried out by the dictatorship against the popular sectors is coming to be just as predicted and denounced by Andrés Pavón, president of the Honduran Human Rights Commission (CODEH), a few weeks ago. ....

Today is the burial of the body of the teacher Luis Gradis Espinal, a teacher from the resistance of the south of the country. His body was found yesterday, tied and executed, after having been reported disappeared by his family. Witnesses are sure that he was detained by the police and military in one of the many search operations taking place around the whole country.

In the city El Progreso, the police are carrying out intense operations in the homes of the leaders of the Resistance, and they claim to have found a small arsenal of arms in the house of a teacher, arresting even a German citizen. Among the arms they report several founds of nails that according to the police spokesperson would be used to make traps to puncture the tires of cars and stop the trucks carrying electoral material. In the same zone, the communities Tacamiche and Silím report that they are surrounded by hundreds of military soldiers.

In the city Danlí, several young people were kidnapped by the army causing terror among the population who fears for their lives. According to the denunciation from the family members, they have been recruited forcefully for military service. At the same time, in the same city, a human rights investigator was placed under arrest for hindering the work of the justice operatives.

..........................

=============================
http://hondurasresists.blogspot.com/
Latest News

* 7am - Thurs 11/26 - University students have taken over the National Autonomous University and reached an agreement with the rector for there to be no more classes. The University was to be a center for voting and is now under control of the Resistance.
* Channel 36, the only television channel that has continued broadcasting the truth about the coup in Honduras, has been taken off the air again in the run-up to the elections.
* Several Honduran hospitals preparing extra beds for emergency medical attention to people who end up wounded on election day. Some surgeries are being postponed to ensure hospital personell are ready.
* Resistance in Intibucá shut down a campaign rally that was supposed to take place for Liberal Party candidate Elvin Santos in La Esperanza, Intibucá.
* President Zelaya writes letter to Obama denouncing human rights violations, declaring himself unwilling to accept a reinstatement that "just serves to cover up the coup," and saying that "when a people decides to struggle peacefully for its ideas, there is no weapon, no army, no maneuver that can stop it."
* Independent candidacy and many other candidates officially pulling out of Honduran elections, declaring them a farce and vowing to actively oppose them and expose them as an attempt to legitimize the military coup.
* Rio Group Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Hemisphere calls for unconditional reinstatement of President Zelaya or else will not recognize November 29th elections.
* Zelaya and resistance and most of international community declare Micheletti in violation of agreement, boycott of elections to continue and human rights situation likely to worsen. U.S. State Department now giving signs it will recognize the elections despite Micheletti's lack of compliance with the agreement.
* Thousands of members of the resistance are gathered in Tegucigalpa, they have given Congress an ultimatum of midnight tonight (Thurs 11/5) to approve the agreement reinstating President Zelaya or a complete boycott of and blocking of the electoral farce planned by the coup regime will continue and step into high gear.

[L. Coyote]

13. United Fruit Company: 110 Years of Coups

TRANSLATE: http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http://hablahonduras.com/2009/11/27/united-fruit-company-110-anos-de-golpes/&hl=en


Solo golpes de Estado, muerte y atraso ha traído a la América Latina y el Caribe la transnacional bananera norteamericana Chiquita Brands. Only coups, death and backwardness has brought to Latin America and the Caribbean, the U.S. banana transnational Chiquita Brands.

Uno de los presidentes de la United Fruit, Sam Zemurray, es el autor de una frase de principios del siglo XX, que refleja la temprana calaña de la compañía: “En Honduras es más barato comprar un diputado que una mula”. One of the presidents of the United Fruit, Sam Zemurray, is the author of a phrase from the early twentieth century, which reflects the early breed of the company: "In Honduras is cheaper to buy a deputy that a mule." Su primer golpe de Estado fue precisamente en ese país, para imponer la reposición del presidente exilado Manuel Bonilla, lo cual logran en 1912. His first coup was precisely in that country, to enforce the reinstatement of exiled president Manuel Bonilla, which he achieved in 1912. Bonilla pagó el “favor” al otorgarle 10 000 hectáreas libres de impuestos. Bonilla paid the "favor" by giving 10 000 hectares tax free.

En esos años en Costa Rica, la United Fruit apuntalaba sus negocios con Cleto González, el que fue derrocado por un golpe de Estado en 1917. In those years in Costa Rica, United Fruit shored up its business with Cleto Gonzalez, who was ousted in a coup in 1917. En apoyo a la compañía, el gobierno estadounidense no reconoció al nuevo presidente. In support of the company, the U.S. government did not recognize the new president.

En Colombia, la United Fruit pidió al Ejército reprimir a 3 000 trabajadores de la empresa que llevaban un mes en huelga en 1928. In Colombia, the United Fruit Company asked the Army to suppress 3 000 employees of the company that took a month to strike in 1928. Se les calificaba de comunistas. They were described as Communists. El cónsul de EE.UU. The U.S. consul en el país reportó casi 600 víctimas. in the country reported almost 600 victims.

Cuando el presidente Jacobo Arbenz nacionalizó en Guatemala las propiedades de la United Fruit, el golpista elegido Castillo de Armas, estaba vinculado a la compañía. When President Jacobo Arbenz in Guatemala nationalized the properties of United Fruit, the coup elected Castillo de Armas, was linked to the company. No es casual que partió desde plantaciones de la United Fruit en Honduras. It is no coincidence that departed from the United Fruit plantations in Honduras. “Restablecido” el orden en Guatemala en 1954, la transnacional también cedió allí sus terrenos para que la CIA organizara la invasión a Cuba en 1961. "Restore" the order in Guatemala in 1954, the multinational also gave their land there for the CIA to organize the invasion of Cuba in 1961. Quería recuperar sus más de 100 000 hectáreas. I wanted to recover more than 100 000 hectares.

Ya para esa etapa, directivos de la United Fruit se rotaban los más altos cargos en el gobierno y la CIA. By that stage, executives at United Fruit rotated the highest positions in government and the CIA.

[L. Coyote]

14. Military troops deployed to oversee election Protesters arrested

Honduras coup: troops deployed to oversee election
Protesters arrested and patriotic messages broadcast as de facto government looks to cement overthrow of Manuel Zelaya
* guardian.co.uk, Friday 27 November 2009 18.34 GMT - http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/27/honduras-election-troops-deployed-zelaya


Thousands of soldiers have been deployed across Honduras to oversee a controversial election which will cement the overthrow of President Manuel Zelaya.

The de facto government has militarised the capital, Tegucigalpa, and other cities to deter pro-Zelaya protests and ensure that Central America's first coup since the end of the cold war prevails.

The authorities blanketed media with patriotic footage of army manouevres and football matches – Honduras recently qualified for the World Cup – to try to stir passion for what it termed an "electoral fiesta".

......

Security forces have suppressed dissent by beating and arresting hundreds of Zelaya supporters in recent weeks, leaving an edgy calm. A state of emergency has been declared for the vote and 5,000 army reservists mobilised.

...........................

[Kolesar]

15. thanks for keeping us apprised...eom

[L. Coyote]

16. Costa Rica: Honduras vote must be backed if fair - Lobo would include Zelaya

Costa Rica: Honduras vote must be backed if fair
By ALEXANDRA OLSON (AP) – http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jAkMGKIUDg_ngUiZboxQbYj5_DPwD9C85RM06


TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Costa Rica promised Friday to restore ties with Honduras if its presidential elections are clean, joining other nations in rejecting ousted President Manuel Zelaya's insistence that recognizing the vote would legitimize a June coup.

The front-runner in Sunday's elections, Porfirio Lobo, welcomed the decision by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, saying in an interview with The Associated Press that he expected other Latin American countries gradually to follow suit.

"Some who are saying today they won't recognize the vote have told me they will recognize the elections," he said.

Lobo also promised that if he wins, he would include Zelaya in a national reconciliation talks and suggested that the ousted leader would be able to leave his refuge inside the Brazilian Embassy without fear of arrest. Zelaya has been holed up there since sneaking back into the country in September.

.............

[L. Coyote]

17. Honduran main presidential candidates deny connection between elections and coup

Honduran main presidential candidates deny connection between elections and coup
www.chinaview.cn - 2009-11-28 12:15:49 - http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-11/28/content_12554102.htm


TEGUCIGALPA, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- The two main presidential candidates in Honduras on Friday denied any connection between the general elections to be held on Nov. 29 and the country's political crisis, ignited by the military coup against ousted President Manuel Zelaya five months ago.

Elvin Santos, presidential candidate for the right-wing Liberal Party, told reporters that the elections were a constitutional mandate issued every four years for the Honduran people to choose their president and deputies to the National Congress.

"They are not summoned by any ousted, temporary, or de facto president, but by the Electoral Supreme Tribunal," Santos said.

Meanwhile, Porfirio Lobo Sosa, the candidate from the right-wing National Party, also ruled out a connection between the elections and the coup, saying the November elections were summoned on May 28, 2008, and by December 2008, all the presidential candidates have already registered.

Lobo also called on countries not to reject the elections, ..............

[L. Coyote]

18. Honduran Coup Foes Proclaim “People’s Curfew” for Election Day

Honduran Coup Foes Proclaim “People’s Curfew” for Election Day
http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=348157&CategoryId=23558


TEGUCIGALPA – The Resistance Front representing opponents of the June 28 coup that ousted President Mel Zelaya are urging Hondurans to remain in their homes Sunday and boycott the presidential election presided over by a repressive de facto regime.

“It’s a people’s curfew in protest of the coup d’état and the electoral fraud put on by the putschists,” a coordinator of the front, Rafael Alegria, told Efe on Friday.

“The day of the elections,” he said, “police, soldiers and army reservists will be pointing rifles at the population.”

Alegria said the Resistance Front was preparing a protest for Monday outside Congress to demand Zelaya’s reinstatement.

The front announced its plans a day after Zelaya filed a protest with the Organization of American States about “contradictions” in Washington’s position on the coup and ...............

[L. Coyote]

19. Brazil won't recognize new Honduran government

Brazil won't recognize new Honduran government
2009-11-27 19:17 BJT - http://english.cctv.com/program/worldwidewatch/20091127/104614.shtml


Brazil says it will not recognize the new Honduran government that will emerge from Sunday's election. It says the turnouts can't be recognized unless ousted Honduran President, Manuel Zelaya, reclaims the presidency.

Brazilian President, Luis Inacio Lula da Silva ,says this is the common position of much of the Latin American and Caribbean region.

[L. Coyote]

20. Unasur calls on Europe not to recognize Honduras Sunday election

Unasur calls on Europe not to recognize Honduras Sunday election
Friday, November 27th 2009 - 11:17 pm UTC - http://en.mercopress.com/2009/11/27/unasur-calls-on-europe-not-to-recognize-honduras-sunday-election


The Union of South American Nations, Unasur will not recognize Sunday’s presidential election in Honduras organized by the de facto regime, announced in Brussels Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa who called on the European Union to adopt a similar attitude.

“The Unasur decision has already been taken: we are not going to recognize elections held under the de facto regime of Roberto Micheletti”, which nevertheless will be accepted by the administration of President Barack Obama, Panama, Costa Rica and allegedly Peru if they are held with all basic democratic guarantees.

“I hope the European Union” adopts a similar attitude to Unasur said the Ecuadorian leader who is also the pro tempore president of the twelve South American nations alliance. President Correa is on an official visit to Belgium.

“Now we will be able to see who is who, who supports democracy and who doesn’t”.

.............

Correa criticized US passivity towards the coup that ousted elected president Manuel Zelaya at the end of June and insisted that “if Washington is truly committed, it can easily solve the crisis tomorrow, in 24 hours”, by simply withdrawing its support to Honduras Armed Forces.

The Ecuadorian president said that certain sectors from Ecuador, Bolivia and Venezuela “if given the chance they would emulate the Honduras coup but thank goodness these governments have an overwhelming support from their peoples”.

[boppers]

21. Tear gas?

Really?

Up next:
"Amnesty International has learned that authorities in Honduras.... have guns!"

But, never mind, I'm sure you have to get back to astroturfing the topic and bumping with new articles into the thread, rather than engaging with others.

[L. Coyote]

24. "the de facto authorities in Honduras have stock piled 10,000 tear gas cans"

Yes, tear gas. There it is in the OP, "the de facto authorities in Honduras have stock piled 10,000 tear gas cans," in case you missed it.

Why would a militarized nation of 7 million order 10,000 tear gas cannisters? NOT to defend itself from invasion!

Have you even asked "Why order one tear gas cannister per 700 people?" Because they use that much of it!

[L. Coyote]

27. YES, the authorities in Honduras.... have guns! They shoot demonstrators point blank!

And the tortured bodies of the dead are turning up in road ditches, in case you missed the post above!

You might want to refresh your history a bit.
The right-wing killing leftists in Central America is not something new.
This will aid your education on this issue, and show you what they do with their guns:

On 20th Anniversary of Killings of 6 Jesuit Priests by US-Backed Salvadoran Forces,
Thousands to Protest “School of the Assassins” at Ft. Benning
VIDEO: http://i3.democracynow.org/2009/11/20/blase

The problem is not guns, the problem is that murderers use guns to control politics!

[boppers]

31. Anybody can look at a thread's contributors.

This thread is no different.

That being said, until the rabid left, and rabid right, stop arming people, there will be death.

[L. Coyote]

34. Anybody can look at a thread's content

and see if the content is meaningful dialogue or just bullshit rhetoric, disruption, and distracting baiting.

Your comment, "until the rabid left, and rabid right, stop arming people, there will be death" is just another example of your typical, meaningless content.
You do not identify who you are speaking of, provide any actual examples, and just throw out a generality of no real use to anyone.

Those of us who have years of experience in Latin America, who bear physical scars of many wounds inflicted there, are not dealing in generalities.
Those of us who have friends with bullet holes in their heads do not joke about death squads or make light of the situation.
When they throw liberals from our village out of planes over the jungle or ocean, maybe you will understand how serious this is.

You need is a backpack, fluency in Spanish, and an overland trip to Chile. Thereafter you might have a slight clue about what your are posting about.

As a Portlander, this should have meaning to you: Viva Ben Linder! Even if you are entirely heartless about far-away people getting killed.

When you write "Up next: 'Amnesty International has learned that authorities in Honduras.... have guns!' "
do you think the families of the dead and disappeared appreciate your humor? I think it is just SICK!

[boppers]

36. The cycle of violence is perpetuated by ignorance, and weapons.

Linder's story is an excellent example, especially in the backdrop of FSLN, FDN, UDEL, (etc.) and the whole alphabet soup of latin politics intertwined with his murder, all the way up to the CIA and KGB abusing the people of the Americas to advocate violent revolutions, resistance, and counter revolution and resistance.

What makes it worse is when people justify the crimes of their given side, because it's supposed to be for some "greater good"... it's okay for *their* leader to "declare an emergency", squelch speech, or murder political prisoners, but it's not okay for some opposition leader to do the same. Until the left and the right stop doing this, nothing will change.

[L. Coyote]

37. George Bush justified Ben Linder's execution saying "He was on the wrong side"

An American President offered a political excuse for mercenary terrorists killing an American citizen.
Bush advocated as justifiable the homicide of an American because he was a liberal!! We must never forget that!!!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2459135

[L. Coyote]

26. Honduras: an election made in Washington

Honduras: an election made in Washington
by Calvin Tucker / November 28th 2009 - http://21stcenturysocialism.com/article/honduras_an_election_made_in_washington_01936.html


On Sunday, a minority of Hondurans will cast their votes for a new president in an election which can only be described as farcical.

The legitimate President Manuel Zelaya is imprisoned in the Brazilian embassy surrounded by riot police, having re-entered the country after being overthrown in a military coup last June.

The coupsters are in charge of counting the votes, but they can't lose anyway, because their opponents have withdrawn from the contest and the resistance movement is calling for a boycott of the poll.

Human rights abuses and killings mount up.

The US, almost alone in the world, has said it will recognise the result. But what is less well known, at least outside Honduras, is that the terms of this election were decided in a back-room deal between the hard right of the US Republican Party and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Four weeks ago, it all looked very different ..................

[L. Coyote]

28. Honduras to Have “Free and Fair” Elections with DISRESPECT for Human Rights

Honduras to Have “Free and Fair” Elections with Disrespect for Human Rights
Sunday’s Vote to Take Place Under a Cloud of Intimidation, Torture, Illegal Detentions and in Extreme Cases, Assassinations
By Tamar Sharabi - Special to The Narco News Bulletin - November 27, 2009


TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS, NOVEMBER 27, 2009: The National Front Against the Coup D’état has taken many different approaches to overthrowing the de facto government. On June 28 when people were scheduled to vote on the non-binding referendum, it was word of mouth that brought people to the presidential palace, in confusion and with conviction. The very first night the country was put under curfew.

Within one week, farmer’s organizations, teachers unions, indigenous groups, students and also people without any affiliation organized and came together on July 5 for the largest march the country had ever seen. Soon people would begin to strategically close down major highways, occupy national institutions and temporarily even close down ports. While the activities have had an eclectic mix of participation, depending on the atmosphere of repression, there are some people who have made it a priority never to miss a day despite the obvious risks.

One of those people is Oscar Flores. A 54 year old man from San Pedro Sula, he has designated himself to remind the resistance movement how many days they have overcome. He arrives at every activity holding a sign, tallying the number of days since the coup d’état and the number of days Zelaya has been held prisoner in the Brazilian Embassy.

On Tuesday November 24 after approximately 60 candidates officially withdrew from the elections from the Supreme Tribunal Electoral (TSE), Oscar left on his way to the central park. When he got off the bus, a police patrol car (with both the soldiers and police) ordered him into the back of a pick up truck. They questioned his participation and if he was a leader of the resistance movement. Oscar actually holds no ‘official’ position aside from providing the moral support his constant presence bears. Arriving at a gas station in Comayaguela minutes away, Oscar was able to convince the police to let him use the restroom. A veteran from the military from 1973-1977, Oscar then escaped and was even able to retrieve his sign. Even though he fell running and is now limping on a bruised knee, he was still standing proud with the resistance front outside Congress the very next day.

Clearly, many people visibly in support of the constitutional return to power of President Zelaya are not as lucky to outrun the police, especially when the security forces are not identified or when they do house visits to targeted leaders of the resistance.

On November 8, Elvis Tejada was visited by armed men that forcefully entered his home through the roof. Putting a shot into this bed, they threatened; “We are going to kill you.” While the neighbors called the police, Elvis was being tortured for 25 minutes in his own room, ............................

[L. Coyote]

29. Military Bullying ahead of Elections ="greatest military and police deployment ever"

Military Bullying ahead of Honduras Elections
Saturday, 28 November 2009 16:20 Prensa Latina - http://www.solvision.co.cu/english/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=739:military-bullying-ahead-of-honduras-elections&catid=3:internationals&Itemid=120


Honduras heads towards the Sunday elections amid the greatest military and police deployment ever in Honduras, with popular and democratic sectors strongly rejecting the voting. The armed forces have reinforced their presence nationwide... even asked over 5,000 army reservists to close ranks.

The chief of the joint general staff, Gen. Romeo Vazquez, affirmed that Special Forces are even ready to be taken in choppers to any place of the country if necessary.

Police spokesman Orlin Cerrato said that body is intensifying its operations, with higher presence on streets and jointly working with the Armed Forces.

The National Front against the Coup ..... yesterday called upon the population to stay in their homes and not to attend the voting.

Leaders from that alliance of social and political forces such as Juan Barahona and Rafael Alegria explained during a demonstration Friday that "it would be a popular curfew."

Alegria added the measure will also prevent Hondurans from being repressed by the nearly 30,000 military and police agents positioned in the country.

.................

[Judi Lynn]

30. That's an expression which stays with you: "popular curfew".

I have heard some people are also afraid of staying in their homes, due to the fact the criminal golpistas have authorized all their police and military to kick down doors and go in after everyone, which they've been doing with gusto already. They even go into hospitals and re-seize people they've battered already, drag them out, and attack them all over again.

[Judi Lynn]

32. Amnesty International denounces intimidation in Honduran elections

Nov 27, 2009, 20:34 GMT
Amnesty International denounces intimidation in Honduran elections

Tegucigalpa - Amnesty International (AI) denounced Friday an atmosphere of intimidation in the run-up to controversial general election in Honduras.

In a statement, AI charged that the de facto government in Honduras has stockpiled anti-riot material such as tear-gas ahead of Sunday's elections.

Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya has rejected the election results and called upon Hondurans to boycott it. Amnesty International is one of the few nongovernmental organizations

AI delegate in Tegucigalpa Javier Zuniga told the German Press Agency dpa that basic voting guarantees were not being respected, due to the limitations on personal freedoms that were imposed in the Central American country since democratically-elected Zelaya was ousted by a military coup on June 28.

Zuniga noted that freedom of opinion, expression and association, among others, were being violated in Honduras.

'Rights like the right to communicate and receive information, which are fundamental for an electoral process so that people have a perspective on what is happening, are constantly suffering limitations,' Zuniga told dpa.

He said that intimidation is particularly significant in the provinces, while conditions are better in the capital, Tegucigalpa.

AI denounced in a statement that the de facto authorities in Honduras 'have stock piled 10,000 tear gas cans and other crowd control equipment, triggering fears of an increased risk of excessive and disproportionate use of force by security forces around the presidential elections.'

'The past misuse of tear gas and other crowd control equipment, together with the lack of guarantees that the purchased equipment will not be used to attack demonstrators and the absence of investigations on past abuses paints an extremely worrying picture of what might happen over the next few days,' Zuniga said in the statement.

More:
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/americas/news/article_1515819.php/Amnesty-International-denounces-intimidation-in-Honduran-elections#ixzz0YHDa8R6Z

[Judi Lynn]

33. Honduras: Coup regime prepares massive repression

Honduras: Coup regime prepares massive repression
28 November 2009

Anti-coup resistance is continuing in Honduras, despite ongoing repression. There are strong indications the regime is preparing for greater repression in the lead-up to the November 29 elections, which it is seeking to use to legitimise its rule.

Elected President Manuel Zelaya was overthrown in a military coup on June 28. Since then, mass resistance from the poor majority, led by the National Resistance Front against the Coup (FNRG), has continued unabated. Zelaya and the FNRG are calling for a boycott of the poll and urging other governments and international institutions not to recognise the outcome.

Honduras Resists blog said: “Channel 36, the only television channel that has continued broadcasting the truth about the coup in Honduras, has been taken off the air again in the run-up to the elections.”

On November 26, it said: “The campaign of terror carried out by the dictatorship against the popular sectors is coming … Today is the burial of the body of the teacher Luis Gradis Espinal, a teacher from the resistance of the south of the country.

“His body was found yesterday, tied and executed, after having been reported disappeared by his family. Witnesses are sure that he was detained by the police and military.”

Honduras Resists said: “In the city El Progreso, the police are carrying out intense operations in the homes of the leaders of the Resistance … In the city Danli, several young people were kidnapped by the army causing terror among the population who fears for their lives …

“The police this week imported a huge arsenal of arms including 10,000 tear gas grenades, 5000 rubber bullets and a new anti-riot tank worth $12 million.”

Popular resistance is continuing. Honduras Resists reported: “University students have taken over the National Autonomous University and reached an agreement with the rector for there to be no more classes. The University was to be a center for voting and is now under control of the Resistance.”

Honduras Resists concluded: “The oligarchy needs to eliminate the political opposition to consolidate its new project of domination, that elimination can only occur through terror, killing and genocide.

“Nonetheless, they once again commit the same error that they committed on the eve of the 28th of June.

“They underestimate the creative capacity, the transformational capacity of the struggle, the combativeness of a people that has identified its enemy and understands, this time even more clearly, that a path towards national liberation, towards the re-founding of Honduras, has begun.”

More:
http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/820/42161

[L. Coyote]

35. New LATEST thread: Honduras denounces plans to boycott presidential election

Honduras denounces plans to boycott presidential election
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4163737