[Marxism] Honduran Via Campesina Leader Rafael Alegria: "Some Battalions Are Refusing to Repress the Population"

[Michael Friedman]

http://americasmexico.blogspot.com/2009/07/honduran-rural-leader-rafael-alegria.html
Jul 1, 2009

Honduran Rural Leader Rafael Alegria: "Some Battalions Are Refusing to
Repress the Population"

The Americas Program spoke with Rafael Alegria, Via Campesina
International leader and a long-time leader of Honduran rural
organizations, this morning about the crisis in his country. Here is
the interview, translated to English:

LC: Can you tell us about the current situation in the country?

RA: The people are gathering throughout the country and in
Tegucigalpa. President Zelaya is not arriving tomorrow, respecting the
resolution of OAS (Organization of American States) that set a time
limit of 72 hours for this group of military and political leaders who
have betrayed the country to deliver the institutions of the country
and deliver executive power to President Zelaya.

We demand that, in the framework of the 72-hour period set by the OAS,
rule of law must be reestablished, to strengthen democratic processes
like the ones being carried out throughout Latin America.

We're asking social movements to come to Honduras and stand by the
social and popular movements that are in the steets, the highways,
throughout the country, demanding a return to institutional law and
the reinstatement of the government of President Jose Manuel Zelaya
Rosales. We are calling on the Social Continental Alliance, churches
and non-governmental organizations that support democracy in our
country and denounce the coup to support us. As we wait for these 72
hours to pass, we're organizing to intensify mobilizations throughout
the country.

LC: Are you experiencing repression?

RA: Yes, there are battalions placed in strategic zones across the
country that don't allow protesters to travel, protesters against the
coup. In the region of Quebracho, in the eastern part of the country,
the military shot out the tires of eleven buses heading for
Tegucigalpa.

They are recruiting young people, ages 12-30 for military service. We
don't know what the purpose is, but they are inciting people saying
there could be a war. They are also calling out reservists and persons
retired from the armed forces... This is the situation we are seeing
now.

There are some individuals from the military who want to talk to the
popular movement but there is a decision on the part of the social
movements that as long as constitutional order and democratic process
is not reinstated, we cannot support or dialogue with people who form
part of the coup in Honduras.

LC: There have been reports that some battalions have broken with the
coup: Is this true? What is the position of the army?

RA: There are battalions that are refusing to repress the population
and basically are against the coup, but they're not saying this
publicly. We believe that it isn't the whole army that is against the
people of Honduras, but the military command (Estado Mayor), in
complicity with the groups holding de facto power who have carried out
the coup. These are the sectors that oppose democratization and
citizen participation in the country.
Posted by Laura Carlsen at 9:47 AM