November 2020 Honduras Coup, Hurricanes and Pandemic Update (tags)
Not only do Hondurans continue to suffer the repression and impoverishment of living under the JOH dictatorship for years following previous coup regimes, and suffer through the pandemic while the regime redirects resources meant for health care and public health to the pockets of politicians and big business; Hondurans are now additionally suffering from two hurricanes that have devastated them. The regime and politicians - who just a week before were visiting communities with their political campaigns - not only are largely absent in rescue, refuge and rebuilding efforts, but actively impeded Hondurans who autonomously organised to help with rescue and food, and equally impeded the entry of donations and rescue volunteers from neighbouring countries. Hurricane Eta arrived in Honduras on 4 November 2020, and Hurricane Iota followed in on 16 November 2020. Amidst the disasters, flooding, and heavy winds that ravaged the people and land and crops, political persecution did not rest in this time; hitmen made an attempt on the life of CNTC (National Confederation of Campesino Workers) treasurer of the Santa Barbara branch, only to five days later assassinate the son of an organiser of the same branch of CNTC. Also in November, ex political prisoner Raúl Alvarez was stabbed by attackers, having been released on bail in August 2019 after imprisonment for 18 months together with Edwin Espinal and towards the end with Rommel. Meanwhile, there have been some absolute heroes this month within communities in Honduras with their autonomous actions of solidarity in both rescue and sharing what they can. All this and more: https://sydneywithhonduras.wordpress.com/2021/01/13/november-2020-honduras-coup-hurricanes-and-pandemic-update/
July 2020 Honduras Coup Update (tags)
This July 2020 in Honduras we saw many killings and disappearances against activists and we saw many COVID-19 deaths including of a political prisoner, an organiser, health care workers and jorunalists. Living under a dictatorship regime where global and national capital, together with regime leaders, continue to profit through laundering and exploiting the people and the land – when you put a pandemic into that equation it’s a disaster, as we can see in Honduras. Government offers no protection for its poor majority, the money officially designated for healthcare doesn’t translate into actual healthcare, and there is no welfare to enable people to stay home, but the military is controlling the streets and spreading the illness. Communities and organisations continue to campaign for the ‘Where is the money?’ campaign, with voices reverberating from zoom conferences, to managing to stage large letters across highways, printing the question on roads for drivers to see, and on walls for passers-by – people must have found holes in the militarisation. They paint their pained words about losing increasing numbers of fellow Hondurans to death from COVID-19, lives lost due to government’s greed and lies. This July 2020 we saw many attacks against people and organisers, and we continue to see that on the other hand, big businesses that don’t even have environmental permits are free to move around, operate, and act in ways that are harmful to people and environment. And similar to discourse familiar to all of us worldwide about balancing the economy over staying home, this regime, like others, is broadcasting that the nation only has a chance of surviving the pandemic, if ‘development (mega) projects’ of mining, logging, energy etc go ahead and if people also put up with low wages (not to mention threats, killings, and arrests to impose opposed projects) so that large profits can be made from them. International development finance organisations also continue to ignore the violence meted out by capital and by the regime and fuel this fire, passing loans to the regime and ignoring cries from communities who dream of a different kind of ‘development’. https://sydneywithhonduras.wordpress.com/2020/08/30/july-2020-honduras-coup-and-pandemic-update/
May 2020 Honduras Coup and Pandemic Update (tags)
In May 2020, a lot have happened in Honduras under the pandemic and dictatorship. Confirmed cases upsurged a lot this month. Workers continue to struggle a lot. There had been a lot of state repression against people just for being out on the streets, trying to earn a living or get something done. The prison began known COVID-19 outbreaks with two prisoners dying of COVID-19 under custody. Political prisoners continue at risk, in terrible conditions, locked up. There had been also attacks from angry police and the criminal rich, against people on the community who either self organised or were obligated, to watch the entrances and exits of their communities in attempt to keep their communities safe from COVID-19. One such community protector, who is black Garífuna, was murdered. Another Garífuna man was murdered inside a thermoelectricity plant. News about all this and more, see the update https://sydneywithhonduras.wordpress.com/2020/06/25/may-2020-honduras-coup-and-covid-19-update/
January and February Honduras coup update (tags)
This January and February in Honduras, another indigenous leader was disappeared and found dead, after two other cases, in different parts of Honduras. There continues to be political prisoners in prison, one in psychiatric hospital, another two on bail after a long time have updates on their court dates. Many others, especially enivironmental defenders, threatened with prison, charged, arrested. Two campesina organisations in different parts of the country were broken into and had information and equipment stolen. A new migrants caravan set out for the US in thousands. This and other news, see here https://sydneywithhonduras.wordpress.com/2020/04/01/january-and-february-2020-honduras-coup-update/
June 2019 Honduras coup update (tags)
28 June 2019 is the 10 years anniversary date of the atrocious military coup in Honduras. Throughout June 2019, the strike and barricades of the education and healthcare sectors that began at the end of April 2019 continued, accompanied by the heavy cargo transport sector, paralysing the highways across the country and drying out petrol and electricity, driving into desperation the JOH (Juan Orlando Hernández – second term president by electoral fraud in 2017) dictatorship regime; this regime which only wants to keep privatising and repressing. This desperation translated into severe repression where gunshots were fired in many barricades on different dates and places wounding and on several occasions killing protesters.
May 2019 Honduras Coup update (tags)
This May 2019 in Honduras, starting with May Day, and culminating in 2 days of general strike in the continued struggle against the privatisation of education and healthcare. Way too many gunshots in different protests, and brutal repression generally. Several killed. Read on for details
March 2019 Honduras Coup Update (tags)
In March 2019, one journalist who has been critical of local mayors and MPs was assassinated, other journalists have been threatened and one was captured. Territory defenders have been shot at with gunfire, or have soldiers attempt to destroy their home. This and other news from this month here. https://sydneywithhonduras.wordpress.com/2019/05/03/march-2019-honduras-coup-update/
June 2018 Honduras coup update (tags)
June 2018 in Honduras marks 9 years of military coup. A gathering against this was met with gases, stones, ferocious beatings and a government vehicle ran over a protester and others in the vehicle went onto cut other protesters. Many attacks against indigenous and environmental defenders continue. Threats of evictions for model cities are coming dribs and drabs. Community leaders, journalists, and protesting truck drivers have faced arrests. Other journalists faced attacks on their bodies and threats. A trans person from Honduras died in US immigration detention on an attempt at migration. The Fyffes company known for labour rights abuses gets a 'fair trade' label. https://sydneywithhonduras.wordpress.com/2018/07/11/june-2018-honduras-coup-update/
February 2018 Honduras Coup Again update (tags)
Much repression continues as the fraud dictatorship JOH regime continues in Honduras as does resistance against it. At least 3 have been assassinated this month, including a 40 years old community leader, a 33 year old organised farmer, and a 16 year old environmental activist. Read on for details about these and other attacks against a people resisting this dictatorship
Part 3: Honduras Coup Repeat Update 15 December 2017 to 31 December 2017 (tags)
https://sydneywithhonduras.wordpress.com/ Its a summary of killings (19th to 31st people killed by current dictatorship within this time period) and other human rights violations for the dates 15 December 2017 to 31 December 2017 Throughout, people are blocking highways everywhere, burning tyres and stopping vehicles from passing through, with the intention of paralysing the economy and Honduran production until the JOH dictatorship regime collapses. Read on to know about the abuses and also of the determination of people to kick out the JOH dictatorship.
Honduras Coup Repeat Update 26 November 2017 to 14 December 2017 (tags)
This is part two of a news summary in Honduras, of the resistance against this again-coup following yet another fraudulent election, the repression is heavy, the military is constantly pulling out and firing their guns at people in barricades and protests, the curfew has been there, and hundreds have been arrested. Despite the danger the resistance and actions are immense and growing. https://sydneywithhonduras.wordpress.com/
August 2017 Honduras coup update (tags)
This August 2017 in Honduras. El Libertador newspaper owners were attempted against with gunfire. Two other journalists had gunshots at their houses when they were sleeping inside. Students struggle continue at the uni, they faced several violent evictions this month, smear campaigns, more charges, more threats and intimidation, and now that strikes have stopped classes for two months, authorities announced that lecturers will no longer be paid. Another blockading struggle against the installation of a hydroelectricity dam has faced massive repression this months including violent evictions and arrests, having their camp burned down, physical and psychological mob attack .. news including about these, see below https://sydneywithhonduras.wordpress.com/
February 2017 Honduras coup update (tags)
https://sydneywithhonduras.wordpress.com/ In February 2017, another indigenous Tolupán activist was murdered, attacks against Copinh and supporters in the calls for justice continue, uni students were attacked again by uni administration, and for asking questions about it a week later, a journalist was attacked. Meanwhile, workers are feeling the squeeze with more dismissed public service workers than ever before, and mining workers fighting for bearable work conditions and pay
November 2016 Honduras coup update (tags)
This November. Another massive repression against uni students, this time at the agricultural national uni in Olancho. In the north of Honduras Garífuna communities organise to take back their land, and doing so they are facing arrests, charges, violence and threats. This month the Guadalupe community was attacked, a number of youths involved had capture orders against them, Medelín was brutally arrested by police and faces charges. To read more on this and other abuses that occurred in November 2016 in Honduras, see the text/link...
October 2016 Honduras coup update – murders and many blatant attacks continue (tags)
October 2016 news in Honduras is here. Two farmers leaders of the Bajo Aguan palm plantations occupations were killed. They also tried to kill two Copinh leaders on two separate occasions on the same date when the sun was not around. Shameless attacks by state against those who protest, especially those of Copinh. Check out Melissa Cardoza's piece about this, that one tried to translate to english, but best to check out the original in Spanish if you hablas español.
September 2016 Honduras coup update (tags)
September in Honduras. A barber was assassinated after an angry comment to the president on his own facebook. Farmers setting up occupation were violently evicted. Indigenous leaders forced to go into hiding. Lack of justice continues on the Berta Caceres case, this month with an arbitrary arrest against Copinh, her file was stolen by someone robbing the judge's car, and the finance organisation FMO wrote one of the gross reports that doesn't try much to really look like it cares about human rights. This and other news, read on..
March 2016 Honduras coup update - Berta's life (tags)
News of political murders, persecution and plunder in Honduras this March 2016, with a focus on the life of Berta Caceres
July 2015 Honduras Coup update (tags)
https://sydneywithhonduras.wordpress.com/ The July Honduras coup summary is up... this time a lot of the repression was against hunger strikers, students linked to occupations, journalists and human rights defenders. Things are getting to an impossible point for many and there is some hope about how this rage be channelled.
April 2015 Honduras Coup Update (tags)
In April 2014, assassinations, disappearances, evictions, threats and harrassment continue in Honduras, while privatisations including of cities deepen, and as authorities feel pushed to have a clean human rights image to receive 'development' loans, they denigrate those who speak up about human rights violations, and point to things that don't fix the human rights situation at all as if they were great efforts that will eliminate the violations.
August 2014 Honduras Coup Update (tags)
A monthly update of the political persecution and plunder in Honduras - see archives here: http://sydneywithhonduras.wordpress.com/monthly-news-summaries/
Thoughts at Perhaps the Most Perilous Time in World History (tags)
anti-war
Honduran Junta Murdering Journalists (tags)
Honduran fascism
Next: A Popular Referendum for a New Honduras Constitution? (tags)
"The coup was held on June 28 precisely to stop a non-binding referendum – one that asked if Hondurans wanted the right to vote for or against a new Constitution – but the regime’s own insistence on holding faux “elections” on November 29 inadvertently provides the people with the opportunity to do the very thing the coup was intended to stop: To put up ballot boxes outside of every “official” polling place and survey the people on that original question. Now that the Honduran civil resistance and its diverse social movements are so much better organized in every town and city than ever before, the little bird asked, why not utilize the November 29 date of the regime’s sham “elections” to hold a real referendum? The suggestion is to place a “First Ballot Box” (“primera urna”), outside of every official polling place, that asks the first question anew: “Do you favor convening a national Constituent Assembly to democratically write a new Constitution for the Republic of Honduras?” “Yes” or “No?” That little bird must have likewise carefully listened to the voices from below. We heard it - and reported it to you - from the northeastern cities of Trujillo, Tocoa, and Saba and the nearby farms of Guadalupe Tepayac. We heard it throughout our reporting from coastal La Ceiba and from the Afro-Honduran and Garifuna communities throughout that coast. From the popular barrios of San Pedro Sula and the highway blockades of Comayagua the same central demand was on everyone’s lips: ¡Constituente! From the colonias in resistance throughout greater Tegucigalpa, ¡Constituente!"
Behind the Coup Regime Curtain (tags)
"Providing an example of what else these citizens in civil resistance are up against, the pro-coup media then takes the demonstrators’ attempt to remain within the coup decree’s 20-person limit on public assemblies, and portrays it as a sign that the resistance has lost steam. The daily Heraldo, for example, covered that same demonstration with these dishonest words: “The security lines remain, and an important number of national and international journalists, and, of course, demonstrations, which are already almost insignificant for the number of participants."
Amazing Organizing in Honduras (tags)
“Who led the march?” he asked, then answering: “The young people, and also children and senior citizens did. We went into the streets with our drums. Our drums have accompanied this process since the beginning. Last night at this event’s inauguration the energy was high because our culture was here with us, and with us the voices of the ancestors, as we go forward constructing the new nation, the new community. A better future for the community depends on each one of you.”
U.S. Still Supports the Coup! (tags)
"Agency bankrolling “good governance” programs to ensure the “rule of law in the country” The taxpayer-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation has continued to move millions of dollars into Honduras since the June 28 coup d'état, but it is not alone, Narco News has now confirmed. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is slated to provide Honduras with nearly $47 million in funding in fiscal 2009, which ends Sept. 30, 2009. Nearly all of that money (some $43 million) is scheduled to be delivered as previously planned to Honduras — which is now under the leadership of a putsch regime that President Obama has already described as “not legal.”
Juan and Pedro Enter the Honduras Oil Import Business, Coup d’Etat Follows (tags)
"Padre Fausto later chronicled his own share of detentions, which included being kidnapped by paramilitaries in Honduras in 1981 on charges of inciting guerrilla activity based on his concern for campesino and indigenous rights. In captivity, Fausto was subjected to a schedule of sitting in rooms with torture instruments and being removed whenever someone needed to be tortured physically rather than psychologically. He subsequently spent a number of years in exile in Mexico; as for other Hondurans in exile, Fausto boasted that Zelaya had spoken with him and other Hondurans for four hours the previous day in Managua, neglecting a group of visiting European parliamentarians."
CUBA/USA Solidarity in action... (tags)
Cuban US and Honduran Doctors Work Together on Medical Brigades to Honduras...