tagged w/ coups
-
Video not before seen is included covering the coup that ousted former President of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed. The one revelation revealed by him that was a bit of a surprise was that he stated he had proof that resort owners had funded the coup. And it makes sense if you look at it from the view of climate change. Mr. Nasheed's activism regarding climate change and its effect on sea level rise is a threat to the tourism industry. So, they would rather see an extremist Islamic government in place that will do nothing about it instead of actually supporting a democratically elected president who is for the poor people of the Maldives and being vocally active against climate change. There are interesting interviews here with the current president and with those whose motivations make it clear that Mr. Nasheed is indeed a threat to them.Video not before seen is included covering the coup that ousted former President of... more
-
-
The US has brokered a deal between ousted Honduran President Zelaya and his opponents:
The power-sharing agreement reached late Thursday calls for Congress to decide whether to reinstate the leftist Zelaya. While the legislature backed his June 28 ouster, congressional leaders have since said they won't stand in the way of an agreement that ends Honduras' diplomatic isolation and legitimizes presidential elections planned for November.
It's welcome for news for Honduras after the streets of its capital saw weeks of protests like these:
Protestors in Honduras Clash with Police: Raw Video
There will be an election in Honduras on November 29, but the big question mark is whether Zelaya will get to serve out the last of his term. He seems to think it will.
Recently on the Current News Blog:
- The economy grows again - Champagne time yet?
- The Tamil Tigers and innovations in IEDs
- The UN Cuba vote and Sean Penn's scoop
- 86 dead in Pakistan attack; Views from Peshawar
- Seattle crackdown: Child prostitution in the United StatesThe US has brokered a deal between ousted Honduran President Zelaya and his opponents:... more
-
-
Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya remains cooped up in the Brazilian Embassy in the capital of Tegucigalpa. The Associated Press reports on his conditions saying:
Honduras' deposed leader is sleeping on an air mattress. His "roommates" have not bathed, shaved or changed their clothes in three days. Tap water is scarce and dinner is limited to dry biscuits or rice and beans.
We posted this video of protests earlier in the week, and Current.com user Juas, claiming he had recently been in Honduras reported:
"I was there.
We are going towards a civil war. Please keep your eyes on us.
Police are murdering people as I speak right now. We have lost all our constitutional warranties. We have 48 hours or curfew, people are hungry.
The president is in danger.
Please keep your eyes on us."
He also pointed us to a site with few photos from the country. They show a capital in crisis.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="604" caption="From http://voselsoberano.com/"][/caption]
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="From http://voselsoberano.com/"][/caption]
At least one person has died in clashes with the police thus far and with Zelaya refusing to give himself up and the Honduran military agreeing not to storm the Brazilian embassy, the siege looks likely to drag on.
If you, like Juas, have a local perspective, let us know over here on Current News.
Previous post:
- Manuel Zelaya’s triumphant(?) return to HondurasOusted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya remains cooped up in the Brazilian Embassy in... more
-
-
Honduras' ousted President Manuel Zelaya has returned! Shirking a prior speaking engagement at the UN General Assembly, the arguable leader of Honduras snuck back into the country under the cover of night. He's on native soil, but behind the protective gates of the Brazilian embassy in the capital of Tegucigalpa where he has sought asylum. Video of the protests surrounding the embassy below.
Protestors in Honduras Clash with Police: Raw Video
It's been three months since Zelaya was expelled from the country in a nighttime coup, and things have remained tense. Now, with his return, airports have been closed, roadblocks set up and curfew established, all to prevent his supporters from gathering or assisting him. His replacement, Roberto Micheletti, is calling on Brazil to either grant Zelaya asylum within their actual country or give him up to the Honduran authorities.
Comment over here on Current.comHonduras' ousted President Manuel Zelaya has returned! Shirking a prior speaking... more
-
-
Haiti, hit January 12 by a devastating earthquake, is the poorest country in the hemisphere.
The first priority is to get aid to Haiti. Please donate. The Organic Consumers Association recommends the Haiti Emergency Relief Fund, which is focusing its resources on helping Haiti's grassroots organizers -- including those involved in sustainable agriculture projects -- survive the crisis and rebuild. (Facebook users: Donate through Causes and spread the word.)
But, it is also important to understand why Haiti is so poor, and that Haiti did not become poor by accident, but as the result of actions of the US government -- including support for violent coups -- and US complicity in trade and lending policies that have destroyed civil society, crushed democracy, crashed the economy and turned a food exporting country into a food importing country, one where few have money to eat. Democracy Now has covered the effect of US action on Haiti for over a decade. Here are a few enlightening Democracy Now reports:
“Bush Was Responsible for Destroying Haitian Democracy”–Randall Robinson on Obama Tapping Bush to Co-Chair US Relief Efforts
January 15, 2010 We speak with TransAfrica founder Randall Robinson, author of An Unbroken Agony: Haiti, from Revolution to the Kidnapping of a President. On President Obama tapping former President Bill Clinton and former President George W Bush to co-chair US relief efforts in Haiti, Robinson says, “Bush was responsible for destroying Haitian democracy…Clinton has largely sponsored a program of economic development that supports the idea of sweatshops… but that is not what we should focus on now. We should focus on saving lives.”
US Policy in Haiti: “Why Impact of Natural Disaster Is So Severe”
January 14, 2010 We discuss the situation in Haiti following Tuesday’s massive earthquake, as well as the history of Haiti, with two guests who have spent a lot of time there: Bill Quigley, the legal director at the Center for Constitutional Rights, and Brian Concannon, director of the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti.
The US Role in Haiti’s Food Riots
April 24, 2008 As people around the world continue to protest the soaring prices of basic food items, the World Food Program has described the crisis as a silent tsunami.
“The Hidden Battle for the World Food System”
April 08, 2008 Global food prices have risen dramatically, adding a new level of danger to the crisis of world hunger.
U.S. Funding of Coup Leaders in Haiti
March 17, 2004 Part II of Democracy Now's exclusive broadcast of Amy Goodman's interview with Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide aboard his flight from the Central African Republic to Jamaica.
Haiti After the Caribbean Summit
May 14, 1997 Haiti is facing famine that is threatening 300,000 people. Haiti has been the recipient of massive amounts of food aid since 1954, but the aid has reduced Haiti's ability to produce its own food.Haiti, hit January 12 by a devastating earthquake, is the poorest country in the... more
-
-
The US isn't the only country in world where the concentrated power of the military distorts politics. In some countries like Burma, they just run things as an out and out kleptocracy making no bones about stealing at the point of gun.
In Thailand, the military likes to see itself as the savior of the nation, intervening when necessary, to save the country from corrupt politicians.
True enough, that the last Prime Minister sent packing, media mogul Taksin Shinawatra, was outrageously corrupt. The trick is to know when to stay out of the game once you've found yourself to be such a successful player.The US isn't the only country in world where the concentrated power of the... more
-
