Honduras: Golpe de estado - The Seventh Day

[BorderExplorer note: This repost is a report from an American Catholic lay minister who is blogging the coup. It's dateline is 7/4/2009 at 9:18PM.]

Today, about 9:00 am, national radio and television channels were interrupted for a statement by Cardinal Oscar Rodríguez, archbishop of Tegucigalpa.

He first read a statement issued in the name of all the bishops of Honduras. The statement virtually accepts the new government as legitimate.

"Each and every one of the documents which have come into our hands shows that the institutions of the Honduran democratic state are valid and that what it has executed in juridical-legal matters has been rooted in law. - The three powers of the State - Executive, Legislative, and Judicial - are legally and democratically valid in accord with the Constitution of the Republic of Honduras."

In the statement, the bishops do raise questions about the forced expatriation of President Zelaya and they reiterate their statement of June 19 that "all of us are, to a greater or lesser extent, responsible for a situation of social injustice."

They call for dialogue, for solidarity, political participation, and social justice. They pointedly call on the Organization of American States to take account of illegal actions before Zelaya was removed from office and to condemn the warlike threats against Honduras.

In speaking to the international community they take a very strong stand for national sovereignty: "we declare the right we have to define our own destiny without unilateral pressure of any sort, seeking solutions which promote the good of all. - We reject threats of force or blockades of any sort which only make the poorest suffer."

They end by call for embarking on a new path of dialogue, consensus, and reconciliation and for intensifying prayer and fasting.

The statement is quite different in tone and style than the rather prophetic statement released on Thursday by the diocese of Santa Rosa de Copán, which was very critical of the coup.

After reading the statement agreed to by the 11 bishops of Honduras Cardinal Rodríguez added his own remarks. Most notably he asked President Mel Zelaya not to return to the country to prevent a bloodshed.

A demonstration for peace and democracy

This morning there was a demonstration for peace and democracy in the Plaza Libertad here in Santa Rosa. This demonstration was one of many with the same theme being held throughout the country. There were probably between 400 and 600 people filled about half the street by the park. It was hard to get an accurate count because since so many were wandering through the park. But it was fairly easy to spot them. They all wore white shirts. Many had white shirts emblazoned "peace and liberty" with "I {heart} Honduras" on the back. (I saw no one selling them and so I guess the sponsors were providing people with them.)

As I walked toward the demonstration, I ran into a former politician I vaguely know. He's one person whom I would call nearly incorruptible who has bravely stood up for his stance. He's no fan of President Mel Zelaya - nor Micheletti. He mentioned that he wasn't going to the demonstration; he believed that many had come with good will, but he was concerned that these demonstrations were being used by the right wing. A neighbor also told me she stayed away for the same reason.

I think he might be right. As I approached the square I heard one speaker, the president of a local bank, strongly criticizing Zelaya. Some other speakers were very general in their remarks, though others made it plain that they supported the coup and the interim government. There was a very strong nationalist sentiment, that didn't want anyone interfering in Honduras' affairs. The issue of national sovereignty is definitely a strong theme being advocated in these demonstrations. To a small nation this is a theme that can appeal to people's deeply felt concerns. But such nationalism can be very problematic.

The banners and the signs were mostly very innocuous - peace and democracy, but there were a few that were fairly pointed. One, in English, read, literally, "International Comunity to respect the Honduran determination." another in Spanish said, "OAS [Organization of American States], better sanction than to live in prison. NO to Communism."

The latter refers to the visit yesterday of the OAS Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza, with an ultimatum for the reinstatement of Zelaya as president; if not Honduras would face removal from the OAS. He spoke to the Supreme Court and others, but there was no movement.

The OAS was to meet today to decide whether to expel Honduras. But, to beat the OAS to the punch, the interim government declared that it was pulling out of the OAS on its own. The response was that since the government was not recognized by the OAS it couldn't withdraw.

It's a shame that there were not efforts to try to break down the barriers which seem to be becoming more fixed and immovable.

A test will come soon. Today Mel Zelaya was supposed to return and there are many of his supported gathered in Tegucigalpa to welcome him back. On the other hand, the present government is threatening to arrest him when he returns. He has put his return off until tomorrow. We shall see what happens.

In the meantime, the government extended the 10 pm to 5 am until Tuesday morning.

And so, I am continuing to try to get what information I can and to listen to people I trust.

Final thoughts

One thing is becoming clearer to me, that might not be apparent to people outside Honduras. This is a land plagued by corruption, plagued by a great breech between the few rich and the many poor, and a bipartisan political system that serves to keep the poor in misery because many politicians are in it for personal gain and power, worshipping the gods of "power and wealth."

I also feel very firmly that people need to be brought to justice, not just Zelaya and Micheletti who has a somewhat murky history, but also those members of the economic and political power elite that deceive the people and try to keep the poor from having a real say in society.

The coup, I fear, will not bring democracy to Honduras, nor would the poll have done it. Major structural changes are needed as well as major empowerment of people in their villages and neighborhood. It's a long struggle - but I hope to see some steps in that direction. I intend to stay here and try to help, as long as I am able and as long as God wants me here.

Pray for us.