Global Exchange is asking all U.S. citizens to act today to insist that the US State Department speak clearly, honestly, and urgently about the explosive situation in Honduras.
¨As you may have read, the crisis in Honduras moved to a new and more volatile stage yesterday with the clandestine return of President Manuel Zelaya to the capital, Tegucigalpa. Zelaya's successful repatriation came after two prior attempts failed. It took the de facto government -- that came to power as a result of the June 28th military coup -- by surprise, but was hailed by a crowd of thousands who quickly surrounded the Brazilian Embassy where Zelaya and his family have been granted sanctuary.
Early this morning (Tuesday Sept 22), riot police attacked the peacefully assembled Zelaya supporters gathered outside the embassy, violently dispersing them with tear gas, truncheons, and concussion grenades. Dozens of citizens were detained and several serious injuries were reported. At the time of writing, the de facto government has closed the country's airports and land borders.
Please call Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's office at 202-647-5291. Tell the State Department that the US must take forceful and immediate actions to stop the violence against citizens and civil society organizations and to negotiate a handover of power to the democratically elected leader, President Zelaya.
More State Department and Congressional Contact Information:
State Department Honduras Desk: Maria Gabriela Zambrano, 202-647-3482
Office of Central American Affairs: Director Christopher Webster, 202-647-4087
Contact the US State Department Switchboard: 202-647-4000
Find your Congressperson's Contact Info Here:
Congressional Switchboard: 202-224-3121
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt
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For more information about the immediate situation please see:
"Rally for Ousted Honduran is Dispered," The New York Times -- http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/world/americas/23honduras.html?hp
For background analysis and information about US policy:
"Clinton, Speak Clearly Now to Avoid a Massacre in Honduras," The Americas Policy Program -- http://americasmexico.blogspot.com/2009/09/clinton-speak-clearly-now-to-avoid.html?utm_source=streamsend&utm_medium=email&utm_content=6247961&utm_campaign=Clinton%2C%20Speak%20Clearly%20Now%20to%20Avoid%20a%20Massacre%20in%20Honduras
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Thank you, as always, for your work on behalf of peace & justice,
Global Exchange
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