Honduras Resists: Current Situation One Year After the Coup d’état

The organization Resistance Honduras NY/NJ and the international community in solidarity with the People of Honduras, march from Times Square to the Honduran Embassy on 48th Street and 1st Ave., on Monday, June 28th, starting at 4:00PM. Participants will denounce before the world the impact of the June 28th, 2009’s coup d’état on the People of Honduras.

One year ago, Honduras’ constitution and the will of the people were shaken by a civil-military Coup d’état. Today, the population continues living under a regime controlled by the Armed Forces of Honduras and a limited group of businessmen. Sadly, the media which is controlled by the oligarchy prevents that the world from finding out what really happens in this Central American country.

Within one year, 34 people have been murdered for political reasons and more than 60 people have died violently for “strange” reasons. Ironically, as a common factor, each of these people had been affiliated with the popular resistance movement against the current regime. A total of 127 persons from the resistance have been denounced by the regime, accused and processed for political offenses.

Under Porfirio Lobo as the new head of the Regime, it is important to note that the political murders have become more violent as time progresses. Case in point was the death of Manuel Flores, a teacher who was sprayed with bullets in front of his students during an hour recess in the school where he taught. Furthermore, Oscar Flores, a 16-year-old boy was sprayed with bullets by a uniformed military person early this week.

The problem of femicide is a real issue in Honduras. Currently, a woman is killed almost every 48 hours without any notable response from the regime, or anyone with authority. Women and human rights organizations have presented before the District attorney’s office 42 cases of human rights violations of various types, 43 resource protection, 26 habeas corpus, and 10 resources of unconstitutionality cases. Interestingly, not a single case has been followed up on by the appropriate regime legal institution.

Since the inauguration of Porfirio Lobo in January 2010, 310 cases of human rights violations have been identified; 21 persons of the resistance movement have been murdered; 53 unlawful arrests have been made, and more than 23 homes of people affiliated with the resistance have been searched by security forces. One of the most impacted sectors is that of lesbian, gay, transvestite, transsexual and Bisexual (LGTTB) community, with 26 of the most recognized activists murdered after receiving tortures. On the other hand, 12 women have been violated by one, or more, elements of the police while they were captured and detained.

The violation to human rights spreads in all of its expressions as the progressive mass media has been attacked by the regime in order to control the freedom of expression in Honduras. In two months, nine journalists have been murdered and neither the government, nor any safety and security organism (not even the College of Journalists) have said anything. It is known that if this had happened in any other part of the world, an enormous scandal and uproar would have been generated. However, these violations are not known to the world as very little (to no) balanced information comes from Honduras. “The Honduran people fight bravely on the streets. In the beginning, a lot was said about human rights violations in our country, but little by little lies are being propagated to believe otherwise and diffuse the problem, when in fact more people from the resistance are being killed. Military forces continue to control the country while businessmen in the country plunder our wealth” said Gerardo Torres – in charge of relations with the People of the United States at the National Front of Popular Resistance (FNRP).

The state funds were plundered by the Coup d’état actors, leaving the country without national reserves and in debt of approximately 3,647.8 million dollars, registering the most intensive period of debt in the country’s history.

The Supreme Court of Justice as being an active participant in the coup is now going through its worst crisis. Nine justices were dismissed for the simple reason of not wanting to sentence members of the resistance to prison while the coup actors remain free. These justices invoked a hunger strike as a protest; however, they suspended the strike as threats on their lives were publicized by assassins and paramilitary.

Currently, the National Congress legislates only for the interests of the oligarchy and it’s controlled completely by businessmen’s organizations that seek to privatize all the institutions of the State and to deliver enormous quantities of land for private exploitation. The executive branch is controlled by the armed forces as Porfirio Lobo, upon assuming power, appointed the heads of the military who executed the coup as members of his cabinet. Now, from the telecommunication systems to the service of national migration are controlled by military personnel camouflaged as civilians.

All that and the support of the North American Embassy in Honduras, has sold a condition of exponential improvement in Honduras to the world. The US Ambassador, Hugo Llorens, other than being an international diplomat in Honduras, appears as another secretary to the Regime. As a result, Honduras’ population has become divided between “golpistas”(coup supporters) and resistance; thereby, deepening even more the crisis which has plagued the country over the years – the violence of poverty.

Although Honduras has suffered the impact of enormous violations this year, it has created a Popular Resistance that has turned out to be exemplary to the world. The resistance movement has managed to link regions and sectors within the country as it resists vulnerability to provocations while maintaining a peaceful democratic struggle from the National Front of Popular Resistance (FNRP)’s platform.

The FNRP initiates this new year with a very clear exposition based on five key points. 1 – To ignore and denounce Porfirio Lobo as the president of Honduras. 2 – To create a True Commission. 3 – To seek popular support for the National Constituent Assembly. 4 – To seek recognition for the FNRP as the political and social platform to oppose the regime. 5 – To proclaim June 28 as day of the resistance, and this year as the beginning of the refoundation of Honduras.

From New York and New Jersey, we support this position as we join the People of Honduras in support of the effort initiated by the Resistance in the refoundation of Honduras for a just and democratic society.