TUCA condemns the coup in Honduras
The Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA) vigorously condemns the coup d'état in Honduras, carried out by militaries forces on the 28th of June that had destitute from power and subsequently expelled from the country the elected president Manuel Zelaya. As a continental trade union organization, committed to democratic values, human rights, peace and the self-determination of the people, we demand president Zelaya immediate restitution to power as the supreme executive authority of the country, as well as the full respect to the popular will in the Republic of Honduras.
We have no doubt in reaffirming that the coup is the result of traditional methods used by hegemonic groups to impose their will upon the legitimate interests of the people. This violent action intends to prevent the possibility that, through popular democratic participation, necessary changes may be conducted to overcome the inequality and injustices of a system that for decades has favored oligarchic interests.
The coup perpetrated by the military is the last chapter on the confrontation between political forces in the country, triggered by president Zelaya´s decision to carry out a popular non-binding referendum to preside over the eventuality of a constitutional process that would allow the renewal of political structures in Honduras. The referendum should have been put into effect on the 29th of June and had been ruled illegal by the legislative and judicial powers that have impelled the military intervention to halt its realization. The action was articulated by the traditional parties, the economic groups and the mass media that urged the intervention of the military forces based on a supposed protection of institutional processes. This has led to a dangerous rupture of the democratic state.
We call the international community and in particular the Organization of American States (OAS) and the United Nations (UN) to act immediately over the institutional crisis in Honduras. The TUCA also urges all governments in the Americas to isolate this attempt against democracy and popular will and asks for the activation of all mechanisms at their reach to avoid that repression and violence may be utilized by the military to contain social unrest.
Likewise, we express our solidarity to the Honduran people, the trade union and social movements in their struggle for the reestablishment of democracy. Our affiliated organizations in the country, CGT, CUT and CTH have expressed their commitment to the referendum and have supported the democratically elected president. The trade union leaders in Honduras have denounced that since the military coup, a supposed “black list” of social and political leaders targeted for arrests has been produced due to their commitment to the referendum. This could trigger a very serious repression situation with unpredictable consequences.
We request the international trade union movement and in particular the organizations affiliated to the TUCA across the continent to be ready in expressing the utmost solidarity with our trade union brother and sisters in Honduras. The trade unions are asked to send condemning notes against this anti-democratic state of affairs and to put pressure over their own governments to undertake the necessary actions to reestablish democracy and peace in this fraternal Central American country.