[Marxism] Honduras military mobilized to block democratic vote

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The US claims to be moving heaven and earth to support the many who are
protesting in Iran. Diplomatic engagement is "on hold." Screams for Made in
Washington regime change are rising. There are two strike forces off Iran's
coast. By the way, as a materialist, I believe that there are two US strike
forces off Iran's shores as long as there are two US strike forces off
Iran's shores. That is, as long as one of the US strike forces hasn't
departed from Iran's neighborhood for other parts. Comrades should keep me
informed of when and if that has happened, since--  orders can change quite
suddenly.

Few in this country are aware that at the same time the US is exerting might
and main to "save" the people of Iran, the military of Honduras is carrying
a crass and thuggish intervention to block a democratic vote. They don't
know it because the United States is basically on the side of the military,
and hoping they get away with it. No instructions from the White House to
the military to get back to the barracks and let the people vote as they
will in this case.

And because they have no interest in utilizing "democracy" as a banner to
get back into power in Honduras as they are doing in Iran, because they
still have Honduras although they are being challenged. Here "democracy" is
not their slogan for reaction, which is how they use it, but an obstacle to
their control which must be gotten out of the way.
Fred 


Honduras News [see more links within the IKN posting]
http://incakolanews.blogspot.com/2009/06/honduras-news.html


Posted: 27 Jun 2009 08:05 AM PDT

1. Prez Zelaya has thanked the OAS (ZZZhead honcho Insulza), Mercosur
(ZZZhead honcho Lula I suppose, but don't tell the Argentines) and ALBA
(ZZZhead honcho Hugo, I suppose) for the support offered. The OAS has also
resolved to send an overseeing mission to the country immediately. Right now
the calls are for tomorrow's vote to be suspended, but there's still no
clear resolution.

2. Boz has a couple of good posts that sum up the situation
nicely-concisely. Read part one here and part two here. And methinks we'll
get a further update later today so maybe just going to Boz's main page is
the best idea.

3. The Mex Files also puts in a very informative post (RG wrote it...normal
high standard), giving background to Zelaya and the people that oppose him.

=============================

Close to the edge? Honduras
27 June 2009 · Leave a Comment

http://mexfiles.net/2009/06/27/close-to-the-edgehonduras/

There may or may not be a referendum in Honduras this weekend. Then again,
there may or may not be a coup d?etat, too. It?s hard to tell, and everyone
outside Honduras is more than a little confused by the situation.

The outgoing president, Jose Manuel ?Mel? Zelaya, has called for a
non-binding referendum on calling for a constitutional convention. Fears
that a new constitution would allow for re-election of the president
(Zelaya?s term ends in January 2010) have led to extreme oppositon.

The Honduran Supreme Court ruled that the referendum was illegal, and the
Army ? which normally oversees voting in that country ? has refused
presidental orders to ignore the court and distribute ballots. Last
Wednesday, Zelaya sacked Army chief Romeo Vásquez Velásquez, who disobeyed
the President. Zeleya supporters have seized the ballots, and the Army has
taken to the streets to prevent the referendum.

Short of a military coup, Congress may take action. Honduras, like several
Latin American countries, allows for Congress to vote on the president?s
mental fitness to hold office. Zelaya wouldn?t be the first Latin President
whose congress decided he was loco.

Nearly all English-language reports have claimed the point of the referendum
was to extend Zelaya?s tenure in office, but ? given that the referendum is
simply a non-binding resolution designed to nudge the Honduran Congress into
taking up the issue, and any new constitution wouldn?t be finished before
next January ? these reports make no sense. The only two sources to have the
story right that I?ve seen are Al Jazeera?s English language service and the
Caracas-based Latin American Herald-Tribune. While Zelaya is considered an
ally of Hugo Chavez and part of the ?axis of Evo?, it should be noted that
the Latin American Herald-Tribune is generally considered a ?conservative?
publication, and is considered ?anti-Chavista?.

Other than providing immigrants and as a transit point for Colombian
cocaine, Honduras is not particularly important to the United States.
Although largely spared the worst of the civil wars of the 1980s, Honduras
?hosted? a large U.S. military presence ? it was the base for Oliver North?s
?Contra? operations, and was used for training rebel Nicaraguan units.
Although the EXISTING Honduran Constitution forbids permanent foreign troops
on Honduran soil, Sota Cana Air Base has been operational since 1981, used
by the United States Air Force.

Zelaya, whose background is as a land-owner and business-man, came to office
on a ?law-and-order? platform, and has succeeded in doubling the number of
police officers, which cracking down on organzied crime, specifically the
Mara Salvatruca gangs that infest Central America. However, crime has
increased during his tenure, and his foreign policy has cost him support
among the ?traditional elites? who favor better relations with the United
States.




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