Honduras 2009 6/29
A Few Thoughts on the Coup in Honduras – Jeremy Scahill Junne 29, 2009 “Rebel Reports” –
There is a lot of great analysis circulating on the military coup against Manuel Zelaya in Honduras.
I do not see a need to re-invent the wheel. (See here here here and here). However, a few key things
jump out at me. First, we know that the coup was led by Gen. Romeo Vasquez, a graduate of the
US Army School of the Americas. As we know very well from history, these “graduates” maintain ties to
the US military as they climb the military career ladders in their respective countries.
That is a major reason why the US trains these individuals.
Secondly, the US has a fairly significant military presence in Honduras.
Joint Task Force-Bravo is located at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras.
The base is home to some 550 US military personnel and more than 650 US and Honduran civilians:
They work in six different areas including the Joint Staff, Air Force Forces (612th Air Base Squadron),
Army Forces, Joint Security Forces and the Medical Element. 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment,
a US Army South asset, is a tenant unit also based at Soto Cano.
The J-Staff provides command and control for JTF-B.
The New York Times reports that “The unit focuses on training Honduran military forces, counternarcotics
operations, search and rescue, and disaster relief missions throughout Central America.”
Significantly, according to GlobalSecurity, “Soto Cano is a Honduran military installation and home of the Honduran Air Force.”
This connection to the Air Force is particularly significant given this report in NarcoNews:
The head of the Air Force, Gen. Luis Javier Prince Suazo, studied in the School of the Americas in 1996.
The Air Force has been a central protagonist in the Honduran crisis.
When the military refused to distribute the ballot boxes for the opinion poll, the ballot boxes were stored
on an Air Force base until citizens accompanied by Zelaya rescued them.
Zelaya reports that after soldiers kidnapped him, they took him to an Air Force base,
where he was put on a plane and sent to Costa Rica.
It is impossible to imagine that the US was not aware that the coup was in the works.
In fact, this was basically confirmed by The New York Times in Monday’s paper:
As the crisis escalated, American officials began in the last few days to talk with Honduran government
and military officials in an effort to head off a possible coup. A senior administration official,
who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity, said the military broke off those discussions on Sunday.
While the US has issued heavily-qualified statements critical of the coup
—in the aftermath of the events in Honduras—the US could have flexed its tremendous economic muscle
before the coup and told the military coup plotters to stand down.
The US ties to the Honduran military and political establishment run far too deep for all of this to have gone
down without at least tacit support or the turning of a blind eye by some US political or military official(s).
Here are some facts to consider: the US is the top trading partner for Honduras.
The coup plotters/supporters in the Honduran Congress are supporters of the “free trade agreements”
Washington has imposed on the region.
The coup leaders view their actions, in part, as a rejection of Hugo Chavez’s influence in Honduras and with
Zelaya and an embrace of the United States and Washington’s “vision” for the region. Obama and the
US military could likely have halted this coup with a simple series of phone calls.
For an interesting take on all of this, make sure to check out Nikolas Kozloff’s piece on Counterpunch, where he writes:
In November, Zelaya hailed Obama’s election in the U.S. as “a hope for the world,” but just two months
later tensions began to emerge. In an audacious letter sent personally to Obama, Zelaya accused the
U.S. of “interventionism” and called on the new administration in Washington to respect the principle
of non-interference in the political affairs of other nations.
Here are some independent news sources on this story:
School of the Americas Watch
NarcoNews
Eva Golinger’s Postcards from the Revolution
© 2009 Jeremy Scahill
Comments (41)
@ http://informationclearinghouse.info/article22944.htm
At least two leaders of the coup launched in Honduras today were apparently trained
at a controversial Department of Defense school based at Fort Benning, Georgia
infamous for producing graduates linked to torture,
death squads and other human rights abuses.
http://www.southernstudies.org/2009/06/key-leaders-of-honduras-military-coup-trained-in-us.html
Military Coup in Honduras www.SOAW.org
From CISPES: Here are statements by other members of the Organization of American States:
(http://americasmexico.blogspot.com/2009/06/oas-countries-back-zelaya-calls-for.html).
Honduras Coup not News???
http://www.opednews.com/populum/diarypage.php?did=13629
New Honduran leader sworn in
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8123513.stm
Honduras names new leader after president ousted in military coup
http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Honduras-names-new-leader-after.5408957.jp
Honduran president overthrown, new leader voted in
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/honduran-president-overthrown-new-leader-voted-in-20090629-d1fb.html
Honduras Supreme Court says it ordered presidents’ ouster
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/29/content_11616407.htm
Exiled Zelaya insists he is rightful Honduran president
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/exiled-zelaya-insists-he-is-rightful-honduran-president-20090629-d1en.html
Protests erupt after coup in Honduras
http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/protests-erupt-after-coup-in-honduras-2810235
Honduran President Is Ousted in Coup
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/29/world/americas/29honduras.html
Honduras Zelaya calls for peaceful resistance to coup
http://theusdaily.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=786669&type=home
Costa Rica calls on int’l community to condemn Honduras coup
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/29/content_11616377.htm
Ecuador says not to recognize any new Honduras govt
http://www.forexyard.com/en/reuters_inner.tpl?action=2009-06-28T173730Z_01_N28339621_RTRIDST_0_HONDURAS-PRESIDENT-ECUADOR-URGENT
US seeks return to power of deposed Honduran leader, and safety of his family meantime
http://www.canadaeast.com/news/article/712696
Ecuador, Venezuela condemn Honduras coup
http://english.cctv.com/20090629/101301.shtml
President.Zelaya.in.Costa.Rica
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wbfo/news.newsmain/article/0/0/1523223/World/Honduras.President.Zelaya.in.Costa.Rica.report (Reuters)
June 28th:
Postcards from the Revolution http://www.chavezcode.com/
UN General Assembly To Meet On Honduras Unrest Monday-Spokesman
http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=200906281959dowjonesdjonline000374&title=un-general-assembly-to-meet-on-honduras-unrest-monday-spokesman
Cuba condemns Honduras coup as ‘criminal, brutal’
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN28348369
Coup in Honduras?
Soldiers arrested leftist President Manuel Zelaya Sunday as he planned
to carry out a controversial referendum to extend presidential term limits,
despite a Supreme Court ruling that the vote would be illegal.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0628/p06s07-woam.html
Should Honduras constitution be changed?
http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6660&edition=2&ttl=20090629021348
Lalin scores to help Honduras beat Panama 2-0
http://www.waaytv.com/Global/story.asp?S=10608899&nav=menu635_3
Troops oust Honduran president in feared coup
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/troops-oust-honduran-president-in-feared-coup-20090628-d1cf.html
Honduras court says ordered army to oust Zelaya
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/6/29/worldupdates/2009-06-28T230315Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_-406531-1&sec=Worldupdates
Honduran Leader Pushes Ahead With Divisive Vote
http://abcnews.go.com/International/WireStory?id=7948541&page=1
Zelaya vows to go ahead with controversial Honduras vote
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/zelaya-vows-to-go-ahead-with-controversial-honduras-vote-20090628-d137.html
Honduran President Zelaya Ousted in Coup by Military (Update2)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aRbH.AbdAgUA
Background on Military Coup in Honduras
http://www.dollarsandsense.org/blog/2009/06/background-on-military-coup-in-honduras.html
In pictures: Honduran president ousted
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/8123314.stm
Honduran military to pick interim president (Vid)
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2009/06/2009628141859453757.html
European Union condemns military coup in Honduras
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/166142/European-Union-condemns-military-coup-in-Honduras
Argentine President says military coup in Honduras is “a return to barbarism”
http://www.telam.com.ar/vernota.php?tipo=N&dis=1&sec=1&idPub=151669&id=299617&idnota=299617
ALBA representatives reaffirm support to Hondura`s Legitimate Government
http://mathaba.net/news/?x=620928
(the Bolivarian Alliance of the Peoples of Our America)
Obama concerned over expulsion of Honduran leader
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3738299,00.html
Clinton urges condemnation of Honduran action
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/28/AR2009062801032.html
Obama Calls for Order as Honduran Military Arrests President
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/28/obama-calls-order-military-arrests-honduran-president/
Arrest a coup, says Honduras leader
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/feedarticle/8581486
Honduran president calls arrest a ‘kidnapping’
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/28/AR2009062800792.html
Honduras President Zelaya in Costa Rica: report
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wamc/news.newsmain/article/0/0/1523223/World.News/Honduras.President.Zelaya.in.Costa.Rica.report
Honduran president forced to Costa Rica after coup (2nd Roundup)
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/americas/news/article_1486431.php/Honduran_president_forced_to_Costa_Rica_after_coup__2nd_Roundup__#ixzz0JkgrrKbf&D
Honduras: Military Coup a Blow to Democracy
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/HRW/56d116d630d9216a9892fd8f2af18c35.htm
Honduras Zelaya calls for peaceful resistance to coup
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/6/29/worldupdates/2009-06-28T215351Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_-406521-1&sec=Worldupdates
Honduras President Zelaya in Costa Rica – CNN
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/6/28/worldupdates/2009-06-28T210221Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_-406513-1&sec=Worldupdates
Court says Honduras to hold presidential vote in Nov. 29
http://www.worldbulletin.net/news_detail.php?id=44063
Venezuela Threatens Attack On Honduras
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Honduras-President-Manuel-Zelaya-Deposed-In-Coup-Venezuela-Threatens-Military-Attack/Article/200906415321924
Chavez: CIA Behind Coup in Honduras
http://www.lademajagua.co.cu/infgran11257.htm
UPDATE 2-Chavez threatens military action over Honduras coup
http://www.forexpros.com/news/commodities—futures-news/update-2-chavez-threatens-military-action-over-honduras-coup-66974
Venezuelan, Cuban, and Nicaraguan Ambassadors to Honduras Kidnapped
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/4556
Venezuela says troops kidnap diplomats in Honduras
http://www.forexyard.com/en/reuters_inner.tpl?action=2009-06-28T165015Z_01_N28335731_RTRIDST_0_HONDURAS-PRESIDENT-AMBASSADORS-URGENT
Chavez puts Venezuela troops on alert on Honduras
http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-40653020090628
Israelis in Honduras warned to exercise caution amid unrest
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1096197.html
Is Honduras’ Military Junta The Hot New Revolution?
http://gawker.com/5303388/is-honduras-military-junta-the-hot-new-revolution
Honduras Tense After Army Coup – Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124619401378065339.html#mod=rss_Today%27s_Most_Popular
Honduras: Political Crisis Over Controversial Referendum
http://www.petroleumworld.com/sunopf09062801.htm
27th:
Zelaya continues push for controversial Honduras vote
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/zelaya-continues-push-for-controversial-honduras-vote-20090627-d0fl.html
Chavez’s Hollow Pledge on Honduras
http://bellum.stanfordreview.org/?p=1413
26th:
Honduran President staves off coup attempt
http://www.fsrn.org/audio/headlines-friday-june-26-2009/4959
Much has been going on in Honduras this month leading up to this,
from a recent coup attempt (ablove), to an Earthquake, an OAS meeting,
and two important futball games.
7th
Win Over Honduras Keeps U.S. on Track – USA 2, Honduras 1
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/06/AR2009060602623.html?hpid=sec-sports
10th
Honduras edges El Salvador 1-0 in WCup qualifying
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2009-06-10-2132962017_x.htm
2nd
Earthquake shakes Honduras before OAS meeting
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iwUoPU-nOb8Et42KKOKYUa8A43DwD98ILHVO1
http://www.fsrn.org/audio/headlines-friday-june-26-2009/4959
FACTBOX – Key facts about Honduras
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE55R17J20090628