Situation In Honduras Heats Up As Zelaya Tries To Return

by yuls.source | July 5, 2009 at 04:21 pm

393 views | 24 Recommendations | 10 comments

[UPDATE – July 6, 2009]

After a failed attempt to return to Honduras yesterday, President Zelaya pledged to make more attempts to enter Honduras. Meanwhile, he is staying in the capital of El Salvador. In riots that sparked yesterday in the capital of Honduras, two of Zelaya’s supporters who have tried to break down the fences surrounding the airport where Zelaya’s plane was supposed to land have been killed, and some were injured. Micheletti government has initiated a curfew to control the protests. Backed by head leaders of Argentina, Paraguay, Ecuador and Venezuela, Zelaya will meet with the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton this week to discuss the situation in Honduras.

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Manuel Zelaya, the ousted President of Honduras, attempted to return to his country on a passenger jet from Washington, US, on Sunday. The interim government of Roberto Micheletti that took control over Honduras on June 28 has warned that Zelaya would be arrested upon landing in Honduras. The interim government is accusing Zelaya of treason and failing to implement laws approved by country's Congress. Zelaya was accompanied by the President of the UN General Assembly Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann. Meanwhile, another plane with a delegation from the Organization of American States, and the presidents of Argentina, Cristina Fernandez, Ecuador, Rafael Correa and Paraguay, Fernando Lugo was following Zelaya on his way to Honduras to intervene if needed. Some news sources claim Zelaya's plane was deviated to neighboring nation of El Salvador after authorities in Honduras did not allow Zelaya's plane to land. It was reported Honduran army blocked the runway with military vehicles to prevent the plane's landing. Some commercial flights were canceled.

Zelaya's supporters have gathered in the capital's airport where Zelaya was supposed to land. Honduran police tried to disperse the crowd equipped with batons and water cannons. Police were reported firing warning shots and tear gas. The streets surrounding the airport were sealed by police. Authorities in Honduras stand by such drastic measures, saying that they will help avoid the bloodshed that might ensue if Zelaya makes his return to Honduras. So far, there are reports that two people have been killed and multiple injured in clashes with police when the crowd tried to break down the fences to enter the airport.

Earlier today, the interim President Roberto Micheletti has raised the alarm that Nicaraguan army forces were moving towards the border with Honduras. The Nicaraguan authorities deny claims of intrusion, saying the information is "totally false."

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Paschen

at 19:28 on July 5th, 2009

Thank you for the post and update here.

benedicte desrus

at 23:59 on July 5th, 2009

Honduras, July 5 - At least one person was killed and two were badly wounded when protesters demanding the return of ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya clashed with troops at the main airport in the capital

benedicte desrus has contributed a photo to this story.

Concerned Resident of Honduras

at 09:23 on July 6th, 2009

Zelaya knows they won't let him into the country at this time so he deliberatly stirs the pot so he can say, see I told you so, if I was still in power then this wouldn't be happening! Of course if he was, it would be worse as alot of people want him dead for the crimes he has commited against Honduras and it's people!!

wr (not verified)

at 13:32 on July 6th, 2009

Notice that his supporter/s got killed trying to break down the gates of the airport, is says! Is that the bahavior of law-abiding people? I wonder if they were paid by him to do so, to try to make a rally for Zelaya like the communists get people to do faked rallies. Also,...a rally of one or two --- wow, what support he has among the people, and he wants everyone to help force him back on his throne. -- Oops, he didn't get that far, did he. He didn't become a dictator with a throne yet, and I hope he never does!

N-- (not verified)

at 13:35 on July 6th, 2009

What do you think they would do to someone who tried to break down a gate to the white house where Obama lives? -- Or if they did that at a USA airport?

Concerned Resident of Honduras

at 10:02 on July 7th, 2009

Exactly, he knew he wouldn't be let into the country but came anyway just to stir the pot ! The bloodshed is on Zelaya's hands, if he really had the people best interests in mind he would have stayed home in Chavez's back pocket

Concerned Resident of Honduras

at 10:05 on July 7th, 2009

Please check out this artical about the "zelaya return among other things http://my.nowpublic.com/world/zelayas-return-ruse#comment-404223

MiMundo.org

at 16:48 on July 7th, 2009

For photo-essays about the events on July 4 & 5, 2009, Please see:

http://mimundo-jamesrodriguez.blogspot.com/2009/07/mel-our-friend-people-are-with-you.html

http://mimundo-jamesrodriguez.blogspot.com/2009/07/tragedy-at-toncontin-army-shoots-and.html

-JR (www.mimundo.org)

Rick Cain (not verified)

at 10:10 on July 9th, 2009

If Micheletti truly was a popular "president" in Honduras, he wouldn't need tens of thousands of riot police to enforce his popularity.

Concerned Resident of Honduras

at 10:43 on July 9th, 2009

Rick Cain your opinion is typical of people who don't see first hand what's going on in Honduras. The riot police were at the airport to prevent bloodshed as it has been very typical of Zelaya's supporters who have repeatedly spray painted churches, monuments, vandalized businesses and used violence to get their message heard. In the completely opposite direction, the supporters of Michelletti have gathered in groups as large as 50,000 and there has been no violence. If the riot police had not been at the airport Zelaya's supporters would have destroyed it! As it was they broke down the fence and tried to gain access to a secure area that is the olny reason that shots were fired. If a group of people tried to break down the fence of any airport in Canada or USA I'm sure shots would have been fired. So again the riot police were there to keep the peace, not inforce Michelletti's popularity. Please get your facts straight before posting. It's because of people like you that the situation in Honduras has not gotten any better. People who are determined to force on the people of Honduras, a President who has BROKEN THE LAW was removed from power and revoked his citizenship as is decreed by the constitution. Don't be so quick to judge, I for one am very proud of the people for standing up for freedom and democracy and saying NO to a dictatorship!!!