WON’T TAKE IT ZELAYA-N DOWN

Last Sunday (5th) saw a tense stand-off in Honduras as President Manuel Zelaya attempted to defy military threats to arrest him for treason by returning to the country after being ousted in a military coup the Sunday before (28th) (See SchNEWS 682). Zelaya was supported in his attempt by hundreds of thousands of protesters demonstrating for his return.

Although a few hundred protesters managed to reach Tegucigalpa airport in the early afternoon, the police and the military attempted to prevent the main body of marchers by blockading access roads. However, the blockades didn’t last and by the time Zelaya’s plane was entering Honduran airspace, a reported 500,000 had surrounded the airport.
As the plane approached it became clear that the military was blocking the runway with vehicles. Protesters tried to force their way into the airport on the southern side, resulting in violent clashes with rocks hurled at the police, who responded with tear gas and live rounds. A number of protesters managed to break through the lines and spilled onto the runway, but were cleared with gunfire. The clashes saw the first confirmed death of the uprising when a 19 year old student, Isis Obed Murillo, was shot and killed by police gunmen. 

With military aircraft in the flight path and soldiers and military vehicles still blocking the runway, Zelaya’s plane was forced to re-ascend after circling the airport several times. It eventually landed in Nicaragua.

Daily protests have continued ever since, although they have been severely hampered by the military imposed curfew, was has been brought forward three hours and now starts at 6pm. A teachers strike, which began the day after the coup, has also continued. The teachers union has claimed that teachers have faced heavy pressure from the authorities to return to work.  

Speculation - fuelled by Zelaya - is rife that he will attempt another return in the coming week – possibly by land. But any return will have to wait for the conclusion of mediations between Zelaya and coup “President” Roberto Micheletti, which are now underway in Costa Rica. 

* For more information see http://www.narconews.com