As the illegal Micheletti regime in Honduras continues to defy the entire world community, indications are that an ugly physical confrontation may take place tomorrow, Sunday July 5 at the international airport. President Zelaya, who continues to be recognised as such by the entire membership of the United Nations and by the OAS, has announced that he will return to his country in the company of several Latin American leaders and several other international personalities; among them Presidents Christina Fernandez of Argentina and Rafael Correa of Ecuador. He has called on the population–”peasants, housewives, communities, indigenous people, youth, workers, businessmen and political friends in all the nation including mayors and deputies” to come out to the airport in his support, emphasising that that they should not carry arms; adding that he holds the “golpistas” (those responsible for the coup) responsible for every life that may be lost.

The de facto Honduran regime, having turned down an ultimatum delivered in person by the OAS Secretary General, Jose Miguel Insulza, to reinstate the ousted president or face suspension from the OAS, has responded by announcing their country’s withdrawal from that organisation (an action which the OAS says is invalid since the regime is illegitimate).  They have reportedly stated their intention to arrest President Zelaya on his return to the country. According to a report in The Miami Herald of July 4, Col. Herberth Bayardo Inestroza, ‘the top legal adviser’ to the Honduran armed forces, declared that the military knows “that a crime has been committed” by the removal of Zelaya but that it would be difficult or impossible for them  “to have a relationship with a leftist President”.

Other information coming to us is that amongst the repressive actions taken by the armed forces is the closure of the Jesuit run  Radio Progreso but that this station is still operating  on line at http://radioprogresohn.com. “Videos include the military invasion of the radio station and Fr. Moreno’s agreeing to close the station down to avoid further confrontation, also disturbing videos of the repression now taking place in Tegucigalpa which we are not seeing on CNN abd the BBC. Please share any update info coming out of Honduras that the main line media is not carrying with Mike and Maria James diazjames@rogers.com.”

As noted by Maximilian Forte in a comment on this blog, “Should a coup take place, or an attempted one take place again, in Trinidad” (or any other Caricom country)”…some may regret the time they could have been more vocal about the coup in Honduras”.

Report: Honduran military snipers photographed at Airport awaiting Zelaya’s arrival