Honduran Doctor Visiting U.S. Warns of Escalating Violence by Coup Regime
by IFCO - Pastors for Peace
 A new wave of repression has been unleashed by the coup regime in Honduras on September 22nd following the return of President Manuel Zelaya. More than 40,000 people had gathered peacefully around the Brazilian Embassy in Tegucigalpa where President Zelaya and his wife have been staying.
Armed military arrived and attacked the crowds with tear gas, rubber bullets, water tanks, and pepper spray. At least two people were killed and more than 40 people were reported injured.
Dr Luther Castillo, secretary of communications for the National Resistance Front Against the Coup in Honduras reports that Zelaya supporters have spent 86 days in the streets in peaceful demonstrations calling for the return of the democratically elected president.
An unknown number of people have been arrested and detained since June 28th.
Dr. Castillo, a young Garifuna [African- and indigenous-descendant] physician from the Atlantic Coast region of Honduras brings eyewitness testimony about the strength and breadth of the people's movement in opposition to the coup.
The Front is calling for a boycott of the Honduran elections on November 29th. "These elections are illegal because they were called by an unconstitutional government. They were set up to legitimize the illegal coup against the constitutional government Manuel Zelaya " said Dr. Castillo.
"What we do know," said Dr. Castillo "is that hundreds of non-violent protesters are being held in stadiums across the country. There is a high level of concern about the possibility of an attack on the Brazilian Embassy and more bloodshed."
The National Front of Resistance Against the Coup is calling for international support for the restoration of their constitution and their duly elected government, for formation of a constitutional assembly to forge the future that they want in their own country, and for the immediate end to violence and repression by the coup regime.
Dr. Castillo is in Washington DC for several days and is available for interviews.
from: IFCO Pastors for Peace ellenb@igc.org
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Ellen Bernstein 646-319-5902
Dr. Luther Castillo, spokesperson for the Honduran Resistance Movement,
in Washington DC this week and available for interviews in English, Spanish and Garifuna.
|
