CTindex - Christian Today Australia Interactive Catalogue
Missions

Churches aid group strongly condemns Honduras Coup De Etat

By: Robert Williams
Christian Post Correspondent
Thursday, 2 July 2009, 8:56 (EST)
Font Scale:A A A
Share |
Church-based international aid agency actively working in Honduras has strongly condemned “Coup d’etat” in the country, it says it is “not the way to solve the political conflict.”

It has asked for the reinstatement of ousted Honduran President Jose Manuel Zelaya.

"We strongly condemn this Coup d'etat, and question the legitimacy of the democratic institutions and the civil mechanisms for the resolution of political and social conflicts,” says a statement from the Action by Churches Together (ACT) Forum Honduras.

ACT Forum Honduras is part of Action by Churches Together (ACT) International, a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide.

ACT is currently engaging in helping the victims of the recent 7.1 Richter scale earthquake that hits the Atlantic coast of Honduras on 28 May killing seven persons, injuring dozens of people apart from destroying 132 houses and 409 damaging others. It also severely affected roads and transportation, and is on course of recovery from the earthquake.

In these moments, it is most urgent to request those who today are in possession of the power to respect the Human Rights and all the constitutional guarantees of Honduran citizens," the statement says.

On Sunday, 28 June Mr. Zelaya was expelled to Costa Rica by the Honduran army after he decided to go ahead with a referendum. The president had been at odd with the Congress and the Supreme Court who had termed the referendum illegal. Referendum was to amend the constitution such that a president can be re-elected for another four year term. Roberto Micheletti was installed as Provisional Honduran President.

In the statement of ACT Forum Honduras underlines that the official declarations of the Organizations of American States (OAS), the United Nations, the European Union and the International community all coincide with the need to reestablish the State of Law and that President Zelaya return and continue his constitutional mandate.

“In the light of these events, as members of the ACT Honduras forum, we declare our rejection of the method that has been used to try to solve the political conflict and which means a serious and dangerous backward step for the democratic system in the country, violating the Constitution of the Republic,” the statement said.

The Copenhagen Initiative for Central America and México (CIFCA) – a network conformed by 40 European organizations from 11 countries has sent a statement to the European Union.

The Organization of American States passed a resolution early Wednesday saying that Zelaya should be returned to power within 72 hours. The United Nations unanimously passed a similar resolution Tuesday afternoon.

Ousted Honduran President Zelaya said Wednesday he will not return to his home country until at least Saturday, after a three-day international deadline to reinstate him.

Meanwhile, Hondurus’ Attorney General Luis Alberto Rubi said Zelaya would be seized "as soon as he sets foot on Honduran soil" and face 20 years in prison on charges that also include abuse of authority. With no international support but a significant following at home, the new Honduran leadership called thousands of flag-waving people into a downtown plaza.

Soldiers fenced off the area around the presidential palace, where security forces used tear gas and water cannons Monday against Zelaya supporters, injuring and arresting dozens, according to the Associated Press.

ACT Forum Honduras has been involving in various development and humanitarian works in Honduras.


More articles