Honduran President denies Resignation. Chavez "We Will Mobilize"

by utilaeastwind | June 28, 2009 at 07:31 am

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The President of Honduras is reported to have left the Country along with his most loyal aides amid confusion. Local TV and news services have not been broadcasting and internet connections not operating.

Today was set to be a referendum that would allow the President to continue on after his mandate expires and install a Bolivarian Constitution designed in Venezuela. The Courts deemed this Referendum illegal, the Congress unanimously supported the Courts, 100,000 protesters marched against the illegal Referendum and the Military refused to deliver the Ballots.

Faced with such strong opposition, Zelaya did not yield. With a troop of his supporters the president entered the Air Force Base stating he had conformation from the Commander that the voting boxes (that were delivered from Venezuela) would be released to Zelaya.

This did come to pass.

It was yesterday reported on Telesur that all ballot boxes were in place and polling stations across the country were ready for Sunday’s Ballot thanks to the work of 45,000 Volunteers.

Here on Utila, which is part of Honduras, there were neither polling stations nor ballots. However, early Saturday, a small airplane circled the island releasing propaganda asking people to stay at home safe with their families and to avoid the illegal ballot.

In interviews with island residents there was no support found for the President and great fear since Hugo Chavez weighed in calling for Mobilization in favor of President Zelaya and promising to fight for the Revolution in Honduras.

It is not clear what is really happening in Honduras. Has the President been arrested? Seeing the failure of his Ballot, has he escaped using his contacts in the Airforce, or is this a great ploy to start an armed Revolution in Honduras initiated by Chavez in Caracas.

All we have now is a perception of what is happening. It will become more clear through the events of the day.

UPDATES

La Presna has just reported that The President of Congress , Roberto Micheletti will be sworn in as President of Honduras later today.

It is now reported that the Venezuelan, Nicaraguan and Cuban Ambasadors have been arrested along with Forign Minister Patricia Rodas.

Hugo Chavez is calling for an extraordinary meeting of the ALBA in Nicaragua this evening with plans to reinstate the deposed and deported President Zelaya.

The Congress submitted Manuel Zelaya's official letter of resignation and as per the Constitution Richardo Micheletti is now the president of Honduras.

Deposed President Zelaya denies signing resignation and plans to Travel to Nicaragua as Preesident of Honduras where an emergency meeting with the ALBA heads of state plan to meet this evening in Managua.

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amyjudd

flagged this story as Eyewitness Report

at 09:22 on June 28th, 2009

This is an eyewitness report from the NowPublic member utilaeastwind who was on the scene.

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Amy Judd

at 09:22 on June 28th, 2009

Hmm, so what happens now?

Barbara McPherson

at 12:25 on June 28th, 2009

Carla Poublanc (not verified)

at 13:38 on June 28th, 2009

This is so crazy! Thank you for the info.

rahul

at 14:25 on June 28th, 2009

Another alternative and updated view on the coup may be found at the following story at nowpublic: Honduras President Mel Zelaya Kidnapped in Military Coup

Babel-Fish

at 18:26 on June 28th, 2009

I think that it was democratically right as Zelaya was trying to change the term of office rules, as he was not executed and just deported and exiled and it was the supreme court behind the Coup on the surface this may be the best option, but if it leads to a dictatorship then that could be bad for Honduras. The fact that a leftist opposition party leader has been said to of been executed by the military leave a bit of intreage in political motives concerning the present situation. Time will tell

Uwe Paschen

at 20:31 on June 28th, 2009

There two stories here with two opposite views on what is happening, One defending the Venezuelan Presidents intention to interfere and the other seeing it from with in Honduras.

It think this is great News coverage. Well done.

DNA Solutions

at 08:49 on June 29th, 2009

I think someone needs to put a stop to Chavez foreign politics strategy of messing with others and bully them. in the other hand if the People of Honduras wants a new president and agree with the coup, the rest of the world should let them be, after all the politicians are elected by the people for the people...most of them forget that.

mag (not verified)

at 20:20 on June 30th, 2009

may be, just may be this problen in Honduras is only a divertion. if I am not wrong, I read that Iran is acting as observer to ALBA and the events happening in Honduras, may be this is only a problem solver for another nut, the prime minister of Iran, is this a way to take the world eyes from the opresion that people of Iran are suffering at the hands of murderes?, is this may be a way to keep the support divided for those women in Iran that have no rigth to vote and are consider second class citizens?. May be the people of the world need to open the eyes and see that also europeans have interest in keeping this situation the way they are?. we are not guilty of this problen however we are responsible of it.