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Secretary of State Hilary Clinton last week reaffirmed U.S. support for the Honduran government and for Honduras’ possible readmission into the Organization of American States. During a phone call with Honduran President Porfirio Lobo, Clinton praised his administration for working together with the Honduran people to resolve, “political and citizen safety challenges.” Since a coup ousted President Manuel Zalaya on June 28, 2009 the Central American nation has been in turmoil. The post-coup election in November 2009 that seated President Lobo has been hailed as “free and fair” by the Honduran and U.S. governments. However many Hondurans, along with the governments of Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay, refuse to recognize the current regime as legitimate. Readmission into the 35-member Organization of American States, (OAS) may be unlikely any time soon. The body condemned ongoing human rights abuses under President Lobo during a series of hearings held in late March. The OAS heard testimony from Honduran and International human rights advocates supporting allegations of political oppression and state sponsored intimidation and violence. Activists have been kidnapped, tortured, and disappeared by government forces. In 2010, Honduras was named the most dangerous country for journalists. Rural farmers resisting land takeovers by big agribusiness report being terrorized, and many have been brutally murdered. Coinciding with the OAS hearings in March, teachers, students, families and other Hondurans protested against their government’s efforts to privatize the public education system. Universities and schools were occupied. The peaceful protesters were met with a violent crackdown by military and police that included beatings, heavy doses of tear-gas, rubber bullets, and unlawful arrests. One prominent activist, Ilsa Ivania Velasquez, was killed after a tear-gas canister hit her in the head. Another well-known leader, Miriam Miranda, was beaten and detained during a protest after reportedly hearing security forces single her out of the crowd.

GUEST: Gerardo Torres, representative of the International Commission of the National Front of Popular Resistance of Honduras, General Secretary of the Political Organization Los Necios/Las Necias (Organización Politica Los Necios – OPLN). Torres is also a member of the Analysis Commission of the FNRP and Ideological Education of the National Front of Youth Movements in Resistance of Honduras

Visit the National Front’s website at: www.resistenciahonduras.net

Visit the National Front’s Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/RESISTENCIA-HONDURAS/333208935796

Gerardo Torres recommends the work of Jesse Freeston at The Real News Network (www.therealnews.com).