ITF condemns Honduras coup, organises protests

29 June 2009

Global union federation the ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) has condemned the military coup d’etat in Honduras and is working with its member unions and other democratic institutions to resist it.

The Federation’s first steps have been to call on the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) and the President of the Honduran Congress to declare the military’s action illegal and indefensible, and to issue an urgent action alert to the ITF’s 656 member trade unions asking for their support in backing those trying to reestablish democracy in the country – including fellow ITF member unions within Honduras. The alert also mobilises the ITF’s worldwide membership to protest against the illegal grab of power and seek the support of their own governments.

Antonio Fritz, ITF Inter-American Regional Secretary, explained the background to the coup: “President Zelaya wanted to have a referendum for the population to vote on whether or not to modify the constitution, despite army and parliamentary opposition. His answer to them was that in a democracy it was for the people to decide. The military’s response has been to take power at gunpoint, make widespread arrests and kidnap and deport the President. We have also been informed that in an attempt to legalise the coup, an illegal decision of parliament has been taken, nominating a usurper, a puppet replacement for the genuine head of state.”

“Our colleagues in Honduras have called a general strike and are demonstrating everywhere against this coup, but the army are making widespread arrests, switching off phones and imposing a curfew. Trade unionists are preparing to strike and thousands have been out on the streets since yesterday, despite the torrential rain. We are obviously deeply worried for the safety of all those legally protesting against this blatantly criminal takeover. Our fear is that the army will attack them and the wider civil society.”

In his letter to the emergency session of the OAS and the Honduran Congress (available in Spanish on request from Dawson_sam@itf.org.uk), ITF General Secretary David Cockfort stated:

“We want to make the strongest protest against the cowardly acts taking place in Honduras, where a group of officers and some politicians, presumably corrupt, have violated the rule of law.

“As an international trade union federation we believe in democracy, in the right of people to choose their representatives, in the right of to self determination and to lay out laws in a democratic manner, as the government of President Zelaya was planning to do.

“This illegal and immoral act must be internationally condemned.

“We have also been informed that there will be an attempt to legalise the military coup through an illegal decision of parliament to remove the president from his role in a way that it not only immoral but also violates human rights, and which can only be understood in the context of parliamentarians acting under the threat of being kidnapped (as has happened to ambassadors of other countries and to ministers of state) leading them, through fear, to accept this action which rides roughshod over the nation’s constitution.”

ENDS

For more information contact ITF press officer, Sam Dawson.
Direct line: + 44 (0)20 7940 9260.
Email: dawson_sam@itf.org.uk

International Transport Workers' Federation - ITF:
HEAD OFFICE
ITF House, 49 - 60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DS
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7403 2733
Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7375 7871
Email: mail@itf.org.uk
Web: www.itfglobal.org

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