Violence escalates against peaceful protesters in Honduras

September 29th Day of Action

Chemical Weapons Directed Toward Brazilian Embassy

National Day of Action In Solidarity with the People Of Honduras Tuesday, September 29th

IFCO has received disturbing accounts from Honduras indicating that the level of aggression by the coup regime against Zelaya supporters is escalating throughout the country.

Dr Luther Castillo, secretary of communications for the National Resistance Front Against the Coup in Honduras, reports that peaceful protesters are exhibiting respiratory symptoms days after being sprayed with unknown chemicals in the streets of the capital.

President Manuel Zelaya Rosales, his wife, and the rest of the people who are accompanying the President inside the Brazilian Embassy reported that they are vomiting blood, urinating blood, experiencing nosebleeds, severe headaches, weakness, diarrhea and other symptoms indicative of neurotoxin agents. Even President Zelaya is exhibiting symptoms of fever, chills, headache and stomach pains.

According to scientific investigators and physicians, it appears that Celsium 130 was introduced into the Embassy. This chemical is manufactured for military purposes only and its use against civilians is prohibited by international law.The Brazilian Embassy is housed in a small one-story building. The 313 people who entered the Embassy to escape repression by coup military forces are not being permitted to leave. Electricity and water have been cut off since Tuesday 9/22 when President Zelaya arrived. Neither human rights organizations nor the OAS have been permitted to enter the building to bring food or water or to monitor the critical situation. The very small quantity of donated food that has been permitted to enter the building has to pass through the hands of the military, and there is no way to know whether those supplies have been tampered with, especially now that everyone in the building is experiencing symptoms of illness.

The military has been shooting military-grade tear gas into the Brazilian Embassy and on the streets in an effort to force President Manuel Zelaya, the constitutionally elected president of Honduras, from the embassy where he has been granted asylum. Witnesses also reported that ultra-sound waves from what appeared to be satellite dishes were aimed at the embassy to disrupt communications.

The U.S. government has been conspicuously silent during all of this escalating violence.

Despite all of the U.S.’ claims about defending sovereignty and human rights, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has yet to denounce the coup regime’s illegal power grab or step forward to condemn the use of internationally banned weapons against peaceful protesters.

We are witnessing the creation of conditions that could result in a regional conflict involving the progressive forces of Latin America against outside U.S. intervention. Despite numerous requests, President Obama has not met with President Zelaya in the six times that he has visited the US since the coup.

We must not allow the media and others to distort what is happening in Honduras by portraying Zelaya as the “once-proper president” who has “lost it” and is nor longer capable to govern.

For the last three months, peaceful mass demonstrations have continued to grow throughout the country. While Hondurans are being killed in the streets in defense of their right to have a representative democracy and resist the coup, we dare not be silent.

Dr Castillo said, “The time has come for our friends in solidarity in the United States to call for an end to this bloodshed and provocation.”

Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) has written a strong letter to President Obama calling for his administration to “reject and denounce the repression by this illegitimate regime,” and telling the President that “this action on your part will save lives.”

Now more than ever, the people of Honduras need our solidarity in denouncing this situation and encouraging President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Clinton to immediately use the influence and power of the U.S. government to:

· Unequivocally support the return to power of elected President Manuel Zelaya

· Full economic and trade sanctions on the coup regime

· Pressure the illegitimate coup regime of Honduras to cease all violence against peaceful protesters, human rights organizations, the Brazilian Embassy and the people of Honduras

· Pressure the illegitimate coup regime to cease its repression of the freedom of expression and information.

President Barack Obama 202/456-1111 www.whitehouse.gov

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton 202/647-9572 [email protected] 

Also call your Congressional representatives in the House (switchboard 202/224-3121) Senate (switchboard: 202/225-3121); ask them to reach out to President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton — and to sign on to Rep Grijalva’s letter asking President Obama to take the necessary steps to restore democracy and end repression in Honduras.

Important: September 29th Day of Action – Nationally coordinated protests, vigils and other actions in solidarity with the people of Honduras are being organized. We encourage you to join in with the actions in your community or organize one if there is nothing yet planned. Call or email for more information. Let us know if you are organizing an event in your area!

Contact: Alison@ 212- 926-5757 or email [email protected]


Articles by: Global Research

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