Honduran coup widely condemned
Paraguay: Countries, leaders and movements throughout the Americas
condemn the Coup d’Etat in Honduras and demand the return of
constitutional President Manuel Zelaya.
Ecuador’s Democratic Popular Movement (MPD) rejected on Monday the
coup in Honduras against the legitimate government of President Jose
Manuel Zelaya Rosales.
In a communique, MPD’s national leader Luis Villac¡s Maldonado
expressed solidarity with the Honduran people and refuted the
unpatriotic behavior of the National Congress in Honduras in appointing
Roberto Micheletti as a de facto head of State.
The document says the coup was perpetrated by ruling economic power
groups, Honduran oligarchy aided by the Army and with the complicity of
the US State Department, which are trying to avoid the advance of
current processes of change in Latin America. Maldonado called on all
Ecuadorians to mobilize in support of their country’s democracy and
self-determination.
Meanwhile, in Panama, the government defended on Monday the
restoration of executive power in Honduras, a process that implies the
restitution of constitutional President Manuel Zelaya.
In remarks to local radio stations, Panamanian Foreign Minister
Samuel Lewis ratified his country’s strongest condemnation of the coup
against Zelaya.
MERCOSUR condemns Honduras coup
Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo affirmed that the South Common
Market (MERCOSUR) does not recognize the naming of Roberto Micheletti as
Honduras new president following Sunday military coup against President
Manuel Zelaya.
Speaking as MERCOSUR pro tempore president, Lugo said the bloc
categorically rejects a president other than Zelaya, who was elected by
the Honduran people in free, democratic elections. He said his
government is in permanent contact with the presidents of the MERCOSUR
member states, and there is a common stance against any event that
endangers the constitutional order and the Honduran people’s will.
He said they all rate as unacceptable “violent situations against
diplomats who are doing their functions in that country.” Lugo
highlighted the chancellery of MERCOSUR (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and
Paraguay) was told to design joint measures allowing Zelaya’s immediate
restitution.
The president also called for the full reestablishment of democratic
institutions as the only alternative to solve the conflict, so “we will
recognize no other authority.”
Asuncion, Prensa Latina
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