Honduran army guns down protesters at Tegucigalpa airport
Three killed as tens of thousands gather to welcome Zelaya
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Three people were shot to death at the Tegucigalpa airport and many wounded on Sunday, July 5, as they gathered to welcome the plane carrying President Manuel Zelaya who was overthrown in a coup one week ago by the oligarchy-controlled military. There has been worldwide condemnation of the coup. The U.S. government continues to keep its military base “Soto Cano” in operation.
Upwards of 120,000 people had marched to the airport on Sunday, despite the closing of the airport by the coup plotters. The Honduran military fired numerous times upon the peaceful protesters, minutes before Zelaya’s plane entered the airport’s airspace. At least three people were killed, including a 16-year-old youth.
Zelaya’s plane was blocked from landing by military troops blocking the airstrip. It finally landed in San Salvador. Presidents Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua and Hugo Chávez of Venezuela have denounced the Honduran coup leaders’ attempts to accuse Nicaragua of trying to interfere along the Nicaraguan-Honduran border as a means of diverting attention from the fascist coup.
3:43 p.m. Honduras time
Despite military and police encirclement and closure of Tegucigalpa’s airport, some 120,000 demonstrators are struggling to take over the airport. The police have withdrawn, leaving the military trying to maintain its blockade. There are reports of several people wounded by the military. Zelaya’s plane is flying over Honduras. Report from Nehemias Rivas.
2:30 p.m. Honduras time
Eyewitness Honduras: With Honduran President Manuel Zelaya’s plane about to land in Tegucigalpa, Nehemias Rivas, a longtime community activist in Honduras, called the author of this report from Tegucigalpa to give news of the massive march heading to the Tincontón International Airport to await the arrival of illegally-deposed President Manuel Zelaya.
“We are 500,000 people strong, even with the attempts by the police to stop us on different routes to the city,” Rivas reports by cell phone as the march was just about to reach the airport.
As we speak by telephone, the marchers are up-to-date on what is taking place, with the the Honduran military trying to prevent Zelaya’s plane from landing. In a desperate action against the determination of Zelaya to land, the coup plotters announced the closing of Tegucigalpa’s airport for three days, diverting planes to San Pedro Sula.
Accompanying Zelaya on his plane is U.N. General Assembly president Miguel D’Escoto. In a second plane also headed for Honduras are presidents Cristina Fernández of Argentina, Rafael Correa of Ecuador, Fernando Lugo of Paraguay and OAS President José Miguel Insulza.
Rivas says: “We are marching peacefully, and assuring that there are no confrontations. All of the people are here, trade unions, social organizations, the people are saying, these gorillas [goriletis], as we call them, we are letting them know that we’re in complete disagreement with their actions, their coup d’état and their attempts to hold back the progress of our country. We have declared them traitors to the homeland.
“We have a saying in Honduras, maybe it is in other parts too, ‘there is no person blinder than the one who refuses to see.’
“With everything that has happened, the repression by the military and police, the interference with media and telephone communications, photographing our actions, seven leaders who are imprisoned in San Pedro Sula, kidnapping and conscripting youth into the military, with all this the people are awakening from their ignorance. They know now the nature and brutality of the coup d’etat. There is a great deal of frustration and anger about the coup and most of all, determination to return Zelaya.”
An animated Rivas continues: “There seems to be a lot of discussion among the groups in power, because they are very worried with the people demanding democracy. This is not so much a demonstration for the president, it is more about democracy, a demand of respect for the constitution.
“Through our struggle and with the process in the continent, the people here are learning about other cultures and are inspired by the progress in other countries in Latin America.”
As we ended the call, Rivas asked us to give a message of solidarity by cell phone, amplified through megaphone. We gladly told the marchers: “There are many, many people in the United States, in the progressive and anti-war movements, in unions, who are in complete solidarity with you. In San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington and other cities, there have been several protests in front of the Honduran embassy and consulates, demanding an end to the coup. Even the main union federation, AFL-CIO, officially denounced the coup.
“We are demanding an end to the U.S. government aid to Honduran military, and we will stand side-by-side with you. Long live your struggle!”
