Guatemalan Civil Society Denounces Coup in Honduras

  The convergence of Human Rights and social organizations in Guatemala express their strong comdemnation of the coup that is developing in the Republic of Honduras beginning in the early hours of the morning, June 27, 2009 by Honduran Armed Forces moved by the interests of Conservatives and oligarcies.

The rupture of Honduran institutional order is not only against the legitimate regime, but also against the history of peaceful and democratic order of our communities. It shows a grave regression that a dispute between the State and factious powers cannot be resolved through dialogue, or nonbiased institutional channels, but rather by means of force. A case in point is the abduction of the elected official who, in public declarations Friday, said that he did not have intentions to modify the Constitution to get reelected.

Acts of violence occurring as a result of this coup are condemnable; acts that include the detention of the Ambassadors of Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela who appear to have been beaten while detained. Likewise, the disapearance of Chancelor Patricia Rodas.

The negative precedent now established by the Honduran military and politicians opens a door in the region for the return of authoritarianism and dictatorship. The region is in danger without a clear and strong return of democracy.

Guatemalan human rights organizations fear for the security of human rights workers, other champions of human rights, all citizens that fight for democracy in Honduras, who in recent months have been suffering a wave of threats and murders.

In response to theses acts, the Convergence of Human Rights and Social organizations demand:

1. The General Secretary of the United Nations immediately call on the Security Counsel to condemn the coup of the Honduran state.

2. The Organization of American States (OAS) intervene immediately utilizing the Carta Democratica.

3. The Guatemalan government immediately denounce the coup, demand for the return of Honduran constitutionality and to call on Central American Presidents to articulate responses and for the call for nonviolence and non aggressive treatment of citizens.

4. To the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights, the Special Narrators of Human Rights and international human rights organizations, we call them to extend their power to guarantee the security of citizens that use their right to resist and of defenders of human rights that allow these individuals to do their work.

Likewise, we extend solidarity to the people of Honduras from the people of Guatemala.

Convergence of Human Rights organizations and defenders:

Centro para la Acción Legal en Derechos Humanos

Centro Internacional para Investigaciones en Derechos Humanos

Fundación Sobrevivientes

Instituto de Estudios Comparados en Ciencias Penales de Guatemala

Oficina de Derechos Humanos del Arzobispado de Guatemala

Asociación Seguridad en Democracia

Unidad de Protección a Defensoras y Defensores de Derechos Humanos -Guatemala

Organizaciones Sociales:

Centro de Análisis Forense y Ciencias Aplicadas

Fundación Rigoberta Menchú Tum

Asociación Cristiana de Jóvenes de Guatemala

Movimiento Monseñor Gerardi