Statement From Honduran Women’s Organizations And Feminist Networks Regarding Honduran Coup

Statement from the Central Americal Women’s Network (CAWN) regarding Honduras:
CAWN is seriously concerned about the latest political situation in Honduras, the accusations and actions against the President, Manuel Zelaya, the civil society organisations and in particular the violation of the democracy of Honduras.

CAWN will be taking lobbying and advocay actions in solidarity with the people of Honduras. More information will be soon posted on this website.

Statement From Honduran Women’s Organizations and Feminist Networks:

“On Sunday June 28, the President (of Honduras), Mr. José Manuel Zelaya Rosales, was assaulted, kidnapped and sent to the Republic of Costa Rica in the presidential plane with military guards who claimed he had violated the Constitution…

He had implemented a popular consultation through a public opinion survey, which asked the people whether or not they agreed that on November 29 (national election day) a fourth urn be placed for the people to vote on a proposed National Constituent Assembly, which would develop a new Constitution with the full participation of different social actors in the country.

This consultation was declared illegal by the judiciary, the Public Ministry and the National Congress, to justify the arrest and extradition of the President of the Republic, which has violated the rule of law through the use of brutal force and the lack of respect by the military for his election as President of the Republic by the people.

The National Congress immediately appointed the President of the Legislative Chamber, Mr. Roberto Michelleti, as the Constitutional President of the Republic of Honduras, arguing that President Manuel Zelaya Rosales had resigned, which was denied at a press conference in the Republic of Costa Rica by President Zelaya Rosales. This confirms there has been a congressional coup d’état as legal proceedings, in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic were not implemented and there were no constitutional guarantees in the way he was captured and extradited from the country.

Legal mechanisms exist in the country that are implemented through the courts, if President Zelaya had violated the Constitution, but he was not given opportunity to defend himself or to resort to legal mechanisms. He was brutally removed from his post and banished from the country, as in former times of dictators that governed by the practices of “imprisonment, banishment and burial.”

This political-military coup d’état, which was led by the President of the Congress and the political economical power of the country that control the state and the media, with the support and compliance from the Armed Forces and of some political analysts and the media, has broken the rule of law and constitutional guarantees of Honduran citizens and some diplomats (such as the Ambassadors of Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua).

According to Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution the actions that have been taken constitute the crime of treason. The Constitution establishes that when the rule of law is violated by the authorities, citizens have the right to insurgency, which is what is happening: the people peacefully expressing their repudiation of the coup and demanding the immediate restoration of President Zelaya and to return to the rule of law.

The main cities are militarized, a state of siege has been decreed, there is no international communication, cabinet officials of Manuel Zelaya Rosales’ government are being persecuted, and others have been forced to leave the country in a violent manner; state institutions such as the Presidential Palace, are militarized and many leaders, of social movements and human rights defenders are being harassed and threatened by state security forces, media offices have been intercepted, interrupted and militarized.

In the face of these terrible events we request International Cooperation to demand the return of the rule of law, and an end to the persecution of Cabinet members, government officials supporting Manuel Zelaya Rosales, leaders of social movements and the media. We call for an end to all forms of brutal violence and that fascism is not imposed on our society because the majority of Hondurans advocate for peace, solidarity and respect for human rights. We call for an end to all forms of brutal violence that fascism is not imposed on our society. The majority of Hondurans advocate for peace, solidarity and respect for human rights. We emphatically denounce to the human rights bodies in the region and the international community, the complicity in this whole process by the Commissioner for Human Rights in Honduras, Dr. Ramón Custodio before the human rights mechanisms in the region and the international community.

Signatories:

• Centro de Estudios de la Mujer – Honduras (CEM-H)

• Centro de Derechos de Mujeres (CDM)

• Centro de Estudios y Acción para el Desarrollo de Honduras (CESADEH)

• Red de Mujeres Jovenes (REDMUJ)

• Acciones Para el Desarrollo Poblacional (ADP)

• Red de Mujeres Adultas (REDMUCR)

• Colectivo de Mujeres Universitarias (COFEMUN)

• Marcha Mundial de las Mujeres, Comité Nacional Honduras

• Articulaciones Feminista de Redes Locales

• Movimiento de Mujeres Socialistas, Las Lolas

• Comisión de Mujer Pobladora Articulaciones Feminista de Redes Locales

• Convergencia de Mujeres De Honduras Iniciativa Centroamericana de Seguimiento a Cairo y Beijing

• Feministas Independientes