Another anti-coup
national strike in Honduras
TEGUCIGALPA, July 30.—Another national strike in
the state sector, marches, and the taking of
highways and public institutions characterize
Honduras today on the 33rd day of popular resistance
to military coup.
The
48-hour strike was called last Sunday by the three
main labor union groups at the end of an assembly of
the National Front against the Coup organized to
adopt strategies for the restitution of
constitutional order.
The six national education colleges will be part
of today’s and Friday’s demonstrations. In a
strategy aimed at recovering days lost in the school
year, teachers are returning to the classroom for
the first three days of the week. Teachers and
professors maintained a strike for three weeks after
the coup on June 28.
In the last three days, members of the Front have
closed access to the city’s principal luxury
shopping malls and stores in reaction to business
sector support for the coup leaders.
Yesterday, the protest affected Metro Mall, part-owned
by the former president of Panamanian origin,
Ricardo Maduro.
The army and riot policy closed in on the
demonstrators and caused moments of tension, given
the fear of another attack with arms, averted by
march leaders, who insisted on the peaceful nature
of the demonstration.
Meanwhile, the de facto government has
re-extended the state of siege in the eastern
department of El Paraíso, which has been subjected
to this order for six days, thus provoking a
humanitarian crisis in the area.
Army troops and police are still mounting
roadblocks on the Pan-American Highway to Las Manos,
on the border with Nicaragua, in order to prevent
the crossing of thousands of people who are hoping
to join up with President Manuel Zelaya, who is
preparing his return to the country.
Zelaya’s mother, Hortensia Rosales; his wife,
Xiomara Castro; and their daughter Xiomara, have
been detained at these military posts since last
Friday in their effort to reunite the family.
Popular vigils at the Venezuelan embassy and the
Radio Globo radio station continued tonight for the
sixth consecutive day in an effort to protect them
from police action.
A deportation order hangs over the Venezuelans
diplomats. They rejected this order because they do
not recognize the de facto government. The radio
station has been broadcasting constant coverage of
the popular resistance against the coup leaders.
(PL)
