[E-rundbrief] Info 842 - Protests in Honduras

[Matthias Reichl]

E-Rundbrief - Info 842 - International Coordination Committee of La Via 
Campesina (Maili): Solidarity with the  Honduran Members of La Vía Campesina
and with the People of Honduras; Matthias Reichl: Kommentar zur 
ORF-Berichterstattung.

Bad Ischl, 29.6.2009

Begegnungszentrum für aktive Gewaltlosigkeit

www.begegnungszentrum.at

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Solidarity with the  Honduran Members of La Vía Campesina
and with the People of Honduras

URGENT CALL

International Coordination Committee of La Via Campesina

For the past few months the grassroots
organizations of Honduras, together with
President Manuel Zelaya Rosales, have been
promoting and preparing for a national
consultation of public opinion on possible
constitutional reforms, to be carried out on June
28, 2009.

At 5 am this morning the armed forces of Honduras
executed a surprise Coup d'Etat against President
Zelaya, thus abruptly interrupting the democratic
aspirations of the Honduran people, who were
preparing to carry out the popular
consultation/opinion poll.

Upon hearing the news, the grassroots
organizations of Honduras, including those
belonging to La Vía Campesina, have taken to the
streets to repudiate the Coup and to demand the
return of the democratically-elected President to
his office and to all the powers that the law
invests him with.

The government of President Zelaya has defended
the rights of working people and peasant farmers,
has joined the Bolivarian Alternative for the
Americas (ALBA), and in general has implemented
policies that have been positive for Honduran
peasant and family farmers.

The events of the past hours are the desperate
acts of the wealthy oligarchy and the retrograde
Right-wing to preserve their interests and those
of international and national capital, and in
particular they serve the interests of giant
transnational corporations.  To these ends they
are making use of the armed forces and other
public institutions, including the parliament,
state ministries, the Neoliberal news media, and
others,

Faced with these reprehensible acts, La Via Campesina International demands:

1.    The immediate reestablishment of
Constitutional order, without bloodshed.

2.    We call on the armed forces to refrain
from repressing the people of Honduras, who are
demanding a return to democracy.

3.    That the physical integrity of social
leaders be respected, including that of Rafael
Alegria, leader of La Via Campesina International.

4.    We demand the immediate return of
President Zelaya to his functions as President.

5.    That the authorities guarantee the right
of the population to the full exercise of
democracy through the popular consultation, and
through any other form of free expression.

In the La Via Campesina we will be closely
monitoring the safety of our member organizations
and leaders in Honduras, and that of the people
of Honduras, during these difficult moments.
We call on all peasant and family farm
organizations, and other social movements, to
protest and to present public letters of
repudiation against the Coup at the Embassies of
Honduras in every country.

We stand in solidarity with our sister peasant organizations in Honduras.
Globalize the Struggle!!  Globalize Hope!!

International Coordination Committee of La Via Campesina

Mali, Africa, June 28, 2009

www.viacampesina.org

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Kommentar zur ORF-Berichterstattung (Stand: 29.6.09, 9:20)

In den ORF-Nachrichten vom 28.6. wurden offensichtlich die vom Militär 
und den konservativen Gegnern des Präsidenten formulierten einseitigen 
Informationen verbreitet. Darin wurde das Bild eines gegen die Mehrheit 
des Volkes regierenden Präsidenten vermittelt. Erst heute (29.6.) morgen 
wurde wenigstens die einhellige Ablehnung des Putsches durch die 
Präsidenten der anderen Staaten erwähnt.

An welchen Informationsquellen orientieren sich die 
ORF-Nachrichtenredakteure? Offenbar an reaktiönären!

Matthias Reichl


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Matthias Reichl, Pressesprecher/ press speaker,
Begegnungszentrum fuer aktive Gewaltlosigkeit
Center for Encounter and active Non-Violence
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fon: +43 6132 24590, Informationen/ informations,
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