Jun 29 2009
Military Ousts Honduran President Zelaya
Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was ousted in a military coup and taken to Costa Rica early Sunday morning. His ouster took place on the day of a planned referendum on constitutional reforms which was opposed by the Honduran Congress. Roberto Micheletti, the head of the Congressional Assembly and second-in-line to the Presidency has taken over as acting president and claims that it was not a coup-de-etat, rather that he had reached the presidency “as the result of an absolutely legal transition process”. Manuel Zelaya met with other Latin American leaders including Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in a joint emergency meeting in Nicaragua yesterday where they condemned the act and warned against a “return to the past.” Cuba has also condemned the coup. The Organization of American States has planned a meeting at its head quarters in Washington DC with the OAS Secretary General issuing a statement calling on the international community to “join forces against this grave disturbance of the democratic process.” US President Barack Obama has expressed deep concern and urged a peaceful resolution without outside interference. The Inter-Press Service is reporting that there has been an electricity and internet black-out throughout the Honduran capital, Tegucigalpa, since yesterday, with military planes and helicopters circling. There is also a general media blackout in the country with only music being played by the few operating radio stations. Still, protesters have reportedly gathered on the streets demanding to know what has happened to their president, and the police have used tear gas to disperse the crowds.
GUESTS: Larry Birns, Director of the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, James Sugget, reporter for VenezuelaAnalysis.com.
There will be a press conference in MacArthur Park at 10 am on Monday (Park View St. and 6th Street in LA).
There will be a protest at the Honduran Consulate (3350 Wilshire Blvd, LA — Near Wilshire and Normandie) at 11 am on Monday.
4 Responses to “Military Ousts Honduran President Zelaya”
[…] Since the coup took place, military planes and helicopters have been circling the city, the electricity and internet has been cut off, and only music is being played on the few radio stations that are still operating, according to IPS News. […]
[…] Since the coup took place, military planes and helicopters have been circling the city, the electricity and internet has been cut off, and only music is being played on the few radio stations that are still operating, according to IPS News. […]
[…] Since the coup took place, military planes and helicopters have been circling the city, the electricity and internet have been cut off, and only music is being played on the few radio stations that are still operating, according to IPS News. […]
[…] Since the coup took place, military planes and helicopters have been circling the city, the electricity and internet has been cut off, and only music is being played on the few radio stations that are still operating, according to IPS News. […]