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Posted By Sasha Burchuk

Crisis In Honduras — What You Need to Know About the Coup d'Etat.

If in ten years we are to remember deposed President Manuel "Mel" Zelaya, it will be because of the current coup d'etat. He did not do anything particularly noble or revolutionary, he does not have the bleakest human rights record in the history of Honduras, and as of last month his national approval rating had fallen to 25%. It's possible that the most notable thing that he had managed to do prior to being ousted was to raise the national minimum wage to $5.58 a day.

That being said, the United Nations and the Organization of American States have unanimously agreed that they will not recognize the legitimacy of the de facto Micheletti government that has illegally seized power. Both organizations have condemned the stand-in government's use of violence against Zelaya's supporters. The OAS has moved to suspend Honduras and the World Bank has "paused" its loans. Other members of the ALBA — a Latin American trade bloc, comprised of Bolivia, Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, Ecuador and Honduras — will be expected to halt trade until Zelaya's power is restored.

Our reports from Honduras at this time are incomplete due to a media blackout. On the morning of June 28th the interim government cut off power to Tegucigalpa for five hours, interrupting all television and radio transmissions. Since returning to the air, most stations have not been able to return to their regularly scheduled broadcasts, and are instead airing soap opera reruns and cartoons. Cellular phone service has been interrupted, and it's been rumored that anyone caught taking photographs of military proceedings is subject to arrest. A number of Constitutional civil liberties have been suspended as well, including freedom from unwarranted search, seizure and arrest and the right to due process. Honduras is operating under Martial Law.

But you could have read that almost anywhere: in the Washington Post, on the BBC.

This Thursday the Portland Central American Solidarity Committee invites you to come attend their forum on the coup in Honduras, where you can hear from people who have direct contacts with Tegucigalpa. Panelists include Lewis & Clark director of Latin American Studies Elliot Young, a representative from the Portland School of the Americas Watch, and three Honduran expatriates who will report on their conversations with friends and family back home.

July 9, 7PM: Liberty Hall is located at 311 N. Ivy Street, in Portland, OR.

Timeline:

The Coup in Honduras: Timeline of Events

28 June Proposed date for vote on non-binding referendum to make amendments to Honduran Constitution; date of coup d'etat. Tegucigalpa loses electricity for 5 hours, cellular phone service and broadcasting interrupted. Zelaya is flown to Costa Rica in exile. Micheletti takes power. A curfew goes in to effect, prohibiting any one from being outside of their home between 9 PM and 6 AM.

29 June World Bank pauses lending to Honduras. The OAS issues a statement demanding that Zelaya be returned to power.

30 June UN General Assembly declares coup illegal

1 July Suspension of certain civil liberties, including the right to protest, freedom from unwarranted search, seizure and arrest, freedom of association, right to due process, and freedom of transit in the country. OAS gives three-day deadline to Micheletti government to restore Zelaya.

2 July The EU removes all of its ambassadors from Honduras.

4 July The OAS passes a vote to suspend Honduras (further actions still pending).

5 July Zelaya unsuccessfully attempts to return to Tegucigalpa but cannot land and returns to the US. A crowd of Zelaya supporters gathers at airport. At least one supporter of Zelaya is killed.

6 July 800 people arrested (771 in Tegucigalpa) since June 28 for violating the curfew.

7 July Zelaya to meet with US Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton.

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Pipeline Posse: Sasha Burchuk has been in Portland for nearly a decade and spends most of her free time reading and writing about Latin American politics. She is also passionate about dancing, theater, music, the arts, trespassing, fireworks, and whiskey.