Pretzel logic in Honduras
The Micheletti regime, about 4 am this morning, violently dislodged the protesters outside the Brazilian embassy with tear gas, pepper spray and water canons. Radio Globo reports THEY SUSPENDED THE CONSTITUTION and declared a state of emergency. Among the rights suspended are the right of free circulation and assembly.
So much for the argument that the “de facto government” was merely upholding the country’s hastily written 1982 Constitution.
Hermano Juancito was able to post at his usual time (about 7:30 in the evening his time):
Earlier today a military convoy sent to shut down the Jesuit-run Radio Progreso in Yoro but people came and defended the station nonviolently.
There are some other nonviolent efforts. I heard on Radio Globo (operating for a while on generators) that a few legislators opposed to the coup may be initiating a hunger strike on the grounds of the Congress building.
I pray and hope that this continues to be nonviolent. I believe that the Resistance is now committed to nonviolence but what about the military and police?
The military (or at least their leaders) have not yet heard from Brother Juanito and the Jesuits friend in high places:
Honduras Coup’s early morning post adds:
There are many people hurt, and reports of at leaast one death as a result. Update: Adrienne Pine, reporting that police are surrounding the hospital where the wounded were brought, says there were “17 critically injured patients (3 already dead)”. Vos el Soberano reports that the police have surrounded the hospital with the injured and are removing them to an unknown location.
A friend who lives a couple of kilometers from the Brazilian embassy wrote at 4:30 this morning to report hearing gunshots:
We can hear gun shots and more from our house, about 2km from the Brazilian Embassy. There are hundreds injured. We can hear many gunshots.
This as Martha Lorena Alvarado, of the de facto regime, denies that any shots were fired.
[Military head] Romeo Vasquez Velasquez said “we will maintain the order no matter what the cost. “
The military has occupied the Boulevard de los Proceres closing it, and surrounds the Brazilian embassy. They have stationed a military truck with loudspeakers outside the Brazilian embassy and are broadcasting the National Anthem at full volume. They’ve stationed sharpshooters on top of the buildings around the Brazilian embassy.
Jornada published this photo of the police outside the Embassy:
The plant lady from La Ceiba (whose prior to the coup had not, as she claimed, posted regularly on news and culture… unless you count a couple of posts on her servant problems as political news) — but is mentioned as a “reliable source” by several right wing U.S. sites, is asking her English-speaking readers to skew opinion polls at Spanish language sites like Univision.
Radio Globo is still on the air (though it doesn’t have power throughout the country, and the internet connection is off and on), calling for non-violent resistance.
Quotha.net has updates on the violent crackdown:
What began yesterday with a popular surprise party, following the unexpected arrival of President Zelaya to national territory, has become a savage persecution extending throughout the city against the women and men of the resistance.
mexfiles.net 