Rights Action invites you to join an

EMERGENCY DELEGATION TO HONDURAS, MAY 27-30, 2011

PRESIDENT MANUEL ZELAYA RETURNS TO HONDURAS!

Join a Rights Action delegation to Honduras, May 27-30, 2011, during a national mobilization to celebrate the return of Honduras' last legitimate president, Manuel Zelaya.  The Frente Nacional de Resistencia Popular, FNRP, announced earlier this week that on May 28, 2011, President Mel Zelaya will return to Honduras.

After the June 28, 2009 military coup, when masked soldiers forced Zelaya into an airplane at gunpoint in the early morning hours, Zelaya and other members of his administration were prevented from returning to Honduras through fraudulent legal charges brought against him by Honduran public prosecutors, and it was clear that if they returned to Honduras they would be imprisoned.  Since that time, Honduras has been one of the most repressive countries in the Americas.

Throughout the almost two years since the military coup, diplomatic efforts, many led by the Organization of American States (OAS) Sec
retary General Insulza, have failed to achieve the return of Zelaya to Honduras.  Zelaya's return was a condition many South American nations demanded before considering lifting the suspension of Honduras from the OAS.  Finally in April 2011 a dialog between de facto regime leader President Pepe Lobo and Zelaya emerged, with the assistance of, and formally mediated by the Venezuelan and Colombian governments.

On May 2, 2011 charges against Zelaya were suspended, bettering conditions for his potential return to Honduras.  However, the charges have not been definitively dropped - it is possible cases against him could be reopened when he enters the country.

There are many expectations surrounding Zelaya's return to Honduras, and the US has made it clear that it expects Zelaya's return to lead to the readmission of Honduras to the OAS.  However a series of conditions were set out by Zelaya and by the Latin American nations that oppose lifting the suspension, most of which are still being debated.

WHAT WILL DELEGATION DO?

During this delegation, we will observe the pro-democracy people's movement welcome President Manuel Zelaya, speak with human rights organizations about the ongoing human rights crisis and the political persecution of the Frente Nacional de Resistencia Popular, speak with organizations preparing for the June 28, 2011 launch of the self-convoked national constituent assembly.

WHO LEADS THE DELEGATION?

Led by Annie Bird of Rights Action (co-director since 1995), this trip will enable participants to learn first-hand about the struggle for real democracy in Honduras, about the US and Canadian role in perpetuating the lack of democracy, and about how North Americans can be involved in activism and organizing to support democracy in the hemisphere.

COST: US$425

This fee covers: 5 nights of hotel; 2 meals a day, for 4 days; transportation in-country; trip organization, guiding, translation; honorariums for some people we meet with; etc. Participants pay for their own travel to and from Honduras.

DATES?

Arrive in Tegucigalpa on Thursday, May 26; depart on Tuesday, May 31. There are no delegation activities planned for these dates.

FOR INFORMATION: annie@rightsaction.org, 202 680-3002

* * *  Please re-post this information, all around * * *