REPUBLIC GONE BANANAS

Against the background of continuing nationwide direct action, the deposed president of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya, finally returned to Honduran soil on Friday (24th). Zelaya, however, only made it as far as a ‘Welcome to Honduras’ sign before turning tail and retreating to the safety of Nicaragua.

After the failure of US brokered talks between Zelaya and coup ‘president’ Roberto Micheletti, Zelaya had announced his plans for a triumphant return coinciding with the birthday of Latin American folk hero, ‘The Liberator’, Simon Bolívar. But, with thousands of Zelaya supporters dispersed in clashes with riot police several miles away from the crossing, and with the military and riot police waiting on the border with orders to arrest him, Zelaya’s liberation march was considerably shorter than that of Bolívar. He instead opted to do a couple of quick interviews before returning to exile rather than risking arrest.
 
While Zelaya has continued his symbolic hopping back and forth over the border throughout the weekend, those that are now living under a military dictatorship, the Honduran people, continue to risk their liberty and safety by challenging the regime on the streets with daily mass demonstrations, strikes, school and workplace occupations and road blocks.

There are now also a number of international solidarity campaigns underway, including the International Transport Workers Federation which has called on its 4.5 million members worldwide to refuse to handle Honduran goods for as long as the coup regime remains in place.

Zelaya has proved once again that he is no real-deal revolutionary. The social movement that has arisen as a result of his removal however, continues to grow in strength and it looks like they won’t back down quite so easily.

* For recent history from the original banana republic see SchNEWS 682,683,684.

* See www.upsidedownworld.org www.narconews.com