Military Using "Brutal" Force Against Anti-Coup Protests in Honduras

The ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya is expected to meet with US diplomats in Washington today before attempting to return to Honduras Thursday, five days after being deposed by a military coup. Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday Zelaya called his kidnapping by the Honduran military and the resulting coup a crime and vowed to return to Honduras as a citizen and as President. The head of the Organization of American States as well as the President of the General Assembly and the Presidents of Argentina and Ecuador will reportedly accompany him back to Tegucigalpa.

A visibly emotional Zelaya described what happened when the military stormed his residence Sunday morning.

The General Assembly unanimously condemned the coup and adopted a resolution demanding Zelaya"s immediate and unconditional restoration. Meanwhile the OAS has given the interim Honduran government set up after the coup three days to restore Zelaya to office or face a vote to suspend it.

Despite the growing threats of international isolation, the interim government has warned that the ousted President risks facing arrest upon his return. On Tuesday Attorney General Luis Rubi told a news conference that the courts had issued an warrant for Zelaya’s arrest.

Meanwhile the streets in Honduras remain tense and the crackdown on the media has reportedly not been lifted. Even as hundreds gathered for an anti-Zelaya demonstration in favor of the coup, protests against the coup continued Tuesday with traffic blockades in various parts of the country and the the teacher’s union announcing an indefinite strike in primary and secondary schools.

We go to Honduras to speak with award-winning human rights activist and doctor, Dr. Juan Almendares. He is the President of the Honduran Peace Committee as well as the past Secretary of the Coordinating Committee of Popular Organizations. He was an opposition candidate with the Democratic Unification Party during the last presidential elections.

Dr. Juan Almendares, Honduran medical doctor and award-winning human rights activist. He is the president of the Honduran Peace Committee, as well as the past secretary of the Coordinating Committee of Popular Organizations. He was an opposition candidate with the Democratic Unification Party during the last presidential elections.

Related Democracy Now! Stories

• Coup in Honduras: Military Ousts President Manuel Zelaya, Supporters Defy Curfew and Take to the Streets (6/29/2009)

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