[R-G] Fwd: URGENT: TELESUR TEAM IN HONDURAS TAKEN PRISONER BY MILITARY FORCES

[Anthony Fenton]

> Telesur, which has been the ONLY media outlet to provide non-stop  
> coverage on the coup in Honduras since yesterday, has just been the  
> victim of violent repression in Honduras. During the beginning of  
> the meetings taking place this afternoon in Nicaragua with all heads  
> of state from Latin America, Telesur abruptly interrupted coverage  
> to broadcast the words and cries of Adriana Sivori, Telesur  
> correspondent in Tegucigalpa, denouncing she was being detained,  
> along with her cameraman, by military forces in Honduras under  
> orders by the coup dictatorship. There is massive repression  
> underway in Honduras right now. The Telesur team has been detained  
> by armed forces and placed under arrest in clear violation of  
> international law. Their identification documents have been  
> confiscated by the military and they have been kidnapped.
>
> Roberto Micheletti is the name of the dictator in Honduras, who  
> illegally took over yesterday after the military coup kidnapped and  
> forced into exile the democratically elected president Manuel  
> Zelaya. Remember his name for he should be tried for human rights  
> violations.
>
> SECRETARY OF STATE CLINTON TODAY STATED THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT  
> WAS NOT READY TO LEGALLY CALL THE DEVELOPMENTS IN HONDURAS A COUP  
> D'ETAT, BECAUSE DOING SO WOULD REQUIRE WASHINGTON TO CUT OF ECONOMIC  
> AID TO THE CENTRAL AMERICAN NATION AND BREAK RELATIONS, WHICH THEY  
> ARE STILL HESITANT TO DO BECAUSE THOSE THAT ILLEGALLY TOOK POWER  
> YESTERDAY IN HONDURAS ARE GROUPS AND POLITICAL PARTIES THAT RECEIVE  
> US GOVERNMENT FUNDING FROM USAID, NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR DEMOCRACY,  
> INTERNATIONAL REPUBLICAN INSTITUTE AND NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE  
> FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS. ADDITIONALLY THE HONDURAN MILITARY IS  
> HEAVILY FUNDED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND PENTAGON.
>
> CALL ON THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO IMMEDIATELY DEMAND THE RELEASE  
> OF THE TELESUR CORRESPONDENTS IN HONDURAS:
>
> State Department: 202-647-4000 or 1-800-877-8339
> White House: Comments: 202-456-1111, Switchboard: 202-456-1414