DAY 73 - HONDURAS COUP RESISTANCE = “4 PETTY THIEVES IN THE PROTESTS”
Photo-essay by Grahame Russell (Rights Action), September 8, 2009
Again, today, thousands of Hondurans marched for four hours through the streets of Tegucigalpa.  Beginning at the San Felipe hospital, near the US embassy, the march wound through a number of poor, marginalized barrios on the edge of the city, before ending up back where it started.
Roberto Micheleti, leader of the illegal military-oligarchic regime, is quoted as saying that all one finds, on a daily basis, are “4 petty thieves (vandalos) in the protests”.
Much has been written about the amazing pro-democracy movement of the Honduran people - and there is much more to investigate and write about (for any aspiring reporters, we have some ideas) - but for today, again, we present this photo-essay.

A recent strategy the regime uses is to send 100s of police and soldiers marching with the anti-coup marchers.  One excuse I heard for today was that the march was going into the poorer barrios, and the police and soldiers were there to protect the marchers from gangs!

It makes for a crowded start to the march, squishing by the “security forces”.  Near by, one finds the armored, anti-riot water cannon truck, that can also fire tear-gas, … also to protect the pro-democracy movement?

The marchers mostly ignore the soldiers and police, or crack jokes with them, knowing that their only role will be to repress the marchers if and when they receive orders from above.  Also, the people muse, high ranking army and police officials send their troops out to help get them in shape.

THE STORIES OF RESISTANCE ARE WRITTEN ON THE WALLS … AN ON T-SHIRTS, AND IN ART
Knowing that the coup regime has close to 100% control over the means of mass communication (TV, radio, newspapers), the pro-democracy is educating itself and the Honduran people with their own clandestine radio programs and publications they hand out on the streets.

This man has made art work (“Martyr of the Popular Struggle”) of how soldiers and police opened fire, July 5, 2009, on a huge march by the Toncontin airport.  That day, a number of people were killed, including Isis Obed Murillo.  That brutal killing depicted here, “Isis Obed Murillo is present, is alive, and the struggle continues.”

Here, Catholic Cardenal Oscar Rodriguez (“I am a coup supporter”) waves a pro-“goriletti” (coup perpetrator) flag, standing by Roberto Micheletti (“what shame”) by the “throne” of a “coup supporter”.

“Cardenal Rodriguez, coup supporter, traitor.”

Written on walls, grafitti, chanted during marches, put to music, everywhere one hears and reads: “They are afraid of us, because we are not afraid.”
The pro-democracy people are not afraid.  They know they are right to fight for their democracy, for accountability, for respect for human rights for all Hondurans … even as they know the soldiers and police have already cracked down ferociously on previous marches and pro-democracy activities, and will probably do so again, soon.

High schools students are participating in growing numbers – openly, publicly ...

… with their own high school bands.

COPINH (Council of Indigenous and Popular Organizations) is a founding member of the National Front Against the Coup.  COPINH is one of the most respected popular organizations in Honduras, struggling and fighting for democracy, rule of law, human rights and the environment since the early 1990s.  Their banner: “Here, no one is giving up.”

A family marches together, the father sporting a “4 urna, camino a la democracia” t-shirt.  On June 28, the regime “justified” the military coup by arguing that President Zelaya was going to carry out a non-binding opinion pole to ask the Honduran people whether they would like to vote (the “fourth ballot”) for the establishment of a National Constituent Assembly, that would enable all Hondurans to discuss, debate and then decide on a new constitution for Honduras.
The oligarchic-military regime fears real democracy in the streets and at the ballot box.

Even Avon, the global cosmetics company, and Hollywood “star” Reese Witherspoon, are against the coup.  Rights Action cannot confirm this, though we believe it to be true – and encourage the press to contact Avon and Reese directly.

Again demonstrating its fear of the people, the illegitimate regime illegally rescinded the nationality of Catholic priest Jose Tamayo – the short man in the middle, with a white sombrero and a big smile.
Salvadoran born Tamayo has lived in Honduras for over 20 years, fighting for respect of human and indigenous rights and for protection of the environment, la madre tierra.  Even with the threat of being illegally kicked out of his own country, Father Tamayo walks on.

“Father Tamayo, true son of Morazan.” The Honduran people will defend the rights of Father Tamayo from the illegal actions of the regime.
“FOUR PETTY THIEVES” IN THE POOR BARRIOS
Everyday, the National Front Against the Coup chooses a different neighborhood to walk through.  This is happening across the country.  The Honduran people are coming out in ever greater numbers, making this struggle for democracy their own, making the National Front Against the Coup their own.
Cheering on the pro-democracy movement, here are people from the poor barrios the regime fears and dislikes.

The young woman holding the “Resistencia” publication.

The little girl wears a head band: “The victory is for everyone – Mel” – clamoring for the return of President “Mel” Zelaya.


How afraid are the powerful elites of so many Hondurans, like this woman? And why?
* * *
Rights Action is privileged to accompany, report on and help support this amazing movement for democracy. Thank-you for your on-going support for our work and for this struggle.
FOR INTERVIEWS
Grahame Russell, in Honduras: 011 [504] 8865-2527, info@rightsaction.org
Karen Spring, in Honduras: 011 [504] 9507-3835, spring.kj@gmail.com
SPEAKING TOURS: “RESISTANCE TO MILITARY COUPS & GOLD MINING DEVASTATION IN HONDURAS & GUATEMALA”
In October, activists with Rights Action will be on speaking tours in Ontario, Quebec and eastern Canada, and parts of north-east USA, showing slides and short documentaries and speaking about the on-going pro-democracy, anti-coup movement in Honduras and about indigenous and community resistance to Goldcorp Inc.’s open-pit, cyanide leach mines in Guatemala and Honduras.  Karen Spring will be travelling in Ontario; Francois Guindon will be travelling in Quebec and eastern Canada; Grahame Russell will be in the north-east USA.  For more information: info@rightsaction.org.
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WHAT TO DO
AMERICANS & CANADIANS should contact our members of congress, senators & members of parliament every day, day after day, send copies of this information, and demand:
* an immediate suspension of the release of all international funds and loans to the regime
* unequivocal denunciation of the military coup
* no recognition of this military coup and the regime of Roberto Micheletti
* an end to police, army and para-military repression and respect for safety and human rights of all Hondurans
* no recognition of the November 2009 elections, that candidates from the traditional Nationalist and Liberal parties are campaigning for, even as the country is militarized and repression is widespread
* unconditional return of the entire constitutional government of President Zelaya
* concrete and targeted economic, military and diplomatic sanctions against the coup plotters and perpetrators
* application of international and national justice against the coup plotters and perpetrators
* reparations to the victims for the illegal actions and rights violations committed during this illegal coup
TO DONATE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE FUNDS to the peaceful, people’s pro-democracy movement in Honduras, make check to “rights action” and mail to:
UNITED STATES:  Box 50887, Washington DC, 20091-0887
CANADA:  552-351 Queen St. E, Toronto ON, M5A-1T8
CREDIT-CARD DONATIONS:  http://rightsaction.org/contributions.htm
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