[Marxism] Hondurans protest "neoliberal" attacks, demand US troops out

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Honduras : Massive protests include demand for Removal of U.S. troops
From: info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
July 2, 2004

[Prepared by Andres Thomas Conteris]



Thousands of protesters in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, have
been
protesting their government policies and have shut down the city for
hours at a
time.  The headline in today's El Heraldo says, "Tegucigalpa, Capital of
Chaos"

The National "Coordinadora" for Popular Resistance, a coalition of
progressive organizations, popular movements, indigenous and unions has
issued a set of
12 demands,  including the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country.
Honduras is home to the largest U.S. military presence in Central
America, with a
number of bases including Palmerola, officially known as Soto Cano.  The

teachers unions who have been especially visible in recent days
demonstrating for
just treatment have been joined by the Bloque Popular, the Coordinadora,
and
COPINH, an indigenous group of Lenca activists.

The demand of the removal of foreign troops has been longstanding among
indigenous and popular organizations but has recently intensified and
gained
strength by becoming part of the growing national movement of resistance
to economic
and social injustice.  The 12 demands:

1) Immediate withdrawal of the U.S. military from Honduras
2) lower taxes on petroleum
3) change laws governing water
4) respond to the demands of the pro-environmental March for Life
5) remove intermediaries from the transfer of remittances (currency from

abroad)
6) reject the Central American Free Trade Agreement and the Free Trade
Area
of the Americas
7) approve a just land reform law
8) stop the privilege for the elite in fiscal policy
9) justice for corrupt political leaders, former and current
10) pass laws that give justice to workers
11) Comply with Convention 169 of the ILO stipulating rights for
Indigenous
and Black peoples
12) Abolish the the tax code degree which benefits the wealthy.

In addition to these demands the broad-based coalition urges an end to
the
agreements with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.



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