Honduras: Call for Urgent OAS Intervention

Honduras: Call for Urgent OAS Intervention for Reinstatement of President and Restoration of Democracy and Human Rights

Brussels, 3 July 2009 (ITUC OnLine): The ITUC has called on José Miguel Insulza, secretary general of the Organisation of American States (OAS), to intervene urgently to protect democracy in Honduras and for the reinstatement of President Manuel Zelaya, who was detained and forcibly transported out of the country in the June 28 military coup.

In a letter http://www.ituc-csi.org/IMG/pdf/Carta_CSA_al_SG_OEA_-_Honduras03072009.pdf to Insulza, Victor Baez, general secretary of the ITUC Regional Organisation for the Americas (TUCA), called for immediate measures to ensure protection for more than 20 Honduran trade union leaders who have received threats to their liberty and physical safety following trade union support for mass protests against the coup.

“This military coup, a completely unacceptable affront to democracy, risks a dangerous destabilization in the region, and threatens the very institutions and systems which have been put in place to assure democracy, peace and stability. President Zelaya must be reinstated and the suspension of key constitutional rights and guarantees must be reversed forthwith. The OAS, with the United Nations, must play a central role in bringing this about,” said Guy Ryder, ITUC general secretary.

“We have received information from Honduras that there are lists of trade union leaders threatened with detention and whose personal safety is at risk. The situation is deteriorating, with the military ignoring representations from the OAS and the UN, and instead appearing to move towards generalized repression against those who continue to respect the legitimate authority,” said Baez.

The ITUC and its affiliates from across the Americas and around the world have been calling on governments and intergovernmental bodies to reject the coup and to add to the growing pressure for the return to office of the legitimately-elected president.

“We continue to monitor the situation very closely, with our Honduran member organisations, and will take every possible step to protect the safety and security of our trade union colleagues and bring about a rapid return to democracy,” said Ryder.

ENDS

© Scoop Media