This piece was reprinted by OpEd News with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.
"The Honduran government has failed to exert necessary oversight over the national police, who are responsible for investigating these crimes," the parliament and executive allocating no resources for it, and "Diplomats and journalists say police have also been infiltrated by criminal gangs."
As a result, crime elements operate freely in a government-created "climate of lawlessness," protecting oligarchs, drug lords, and other privileged Hondurans against the people, especially anyone publicly critical.
Post-coup 2009, the Organization of American States (OAS) expelled Honduras. A year later, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton demanded re-admittance at its scheduled July 30 meeting, saying last year's "free and fair elections....should qualify the country."
Institutionalized persecution and violence against human rights workers, campesinos, pro-democracy groups, independent journalists, and other outspoken critics proves otherwise.
A final note. OAS cancelled its meeting because of disagreements between the ousted Zelaya government and coup regime. As a result, support to reinstate Honduras weakened. A two-thirds majority is needed, yet the organization traditionally operates by consensus.
Nonetheless, Honduran media reports claim a ruling, when made, will be by majority. If so, it will violate longstanding policy under Obama administration pressure. However, Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza assured Manuel Zelaya representatives that a decision would be by consensus. The situation bears watching.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/.
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
4
3
3
