Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RIODEJANEIRO171
2009-06-30 13:48:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Cable title:
Media Reaction, Old Fashioned Coup d'Etat
how-toVZCZCXYZ0003 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHRI #0171 1811348 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 301348Z JUN 09 FM AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4936 INFO RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 1254 RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO PRIORITY 5265 RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
UNCLAS RIO DE JANEIRO 000171
SIPDIS
STATE INR/R/MR; IIP/R/MR; WHA/PD
DEPT PASS USTR
USDOC 4322/MAC/OLAC/JAFEE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC OIIP ETRD XM XR BR
SUBJECT: Media Reaction, Old Fashioned Coup d'Etat
Old Fashioned Coup d'Etat
Center-left Rio daily Jornal do Brasil writes on June 30, 2009,
"Last weekend, in less than 10 hours, Honduras watched the
deposition of its constitutionally-elected president and the
assumption of power by a new ruler, all with the blessing of the
Armed Forces and political elite. The reaction from the
international community came with the same swiftness of the coup
d'tat itself. And the world witnessed one of the very rare
occasions when all the principal actors-of the most different
political nuances-united themselves in one voice, condemning the
anti-democratic act and demanding the return of the legitimate
leader, Manuel Zelaya.
The coup's mentors were not counting on the firm and fast
repudiation from names ranging from Barack Obama and Luiz Incio
Lula da Silva to Hugo Chavez (and his disciples from the Bolivarian
Alternative for the Americas, or ALBA),and organizations such as
the Organization of American States and the European Union. Without
any international support whatsoever and contested by labor unions
and other Honduran civil society representatives, the recently
implanted government in Tegucigalpa is already indicating [an
openness] for dialogue and a return to democratic normalcy.
Meanwhile, the call for retreat grows louder in the country's
capital, and the military apparatus stationed in the streets only
reinforces the feeling of unease that has descended on the nation.
The coup's origins go back to Zelaya's referendum, which aimed to
amend the Constitution and allow for a new term-going against the
decision of the courts and the military and opposition's wishes. The
president's insistence, who scheduled the vote for Sunday, was the
trigger for the uprising. What one saw on the eve of the voting was
a repeat ...of the worst stories...of Central America in the 60's
and 70's...
The military surrounded Zelaya's house at dawn, brought him to an
air base and afterwards dispatched him to Costa Rica. Radio and
television transmissions were suspended, electricity was cut and
public transportation was interrupted. Around noon, the Honduran
congress met in a special session called on by the president,
Roberto Micheletti, who was named the country's interim president.
That night, Zelaya went to Nicaragua (on board a plane lent to him
by Hugo Chavez),and participated in a meeting with other Latin
American presidents. In spite of uncertainties, the deposed leader
remains confident for the future.
In these times of globalization and multilateralism, there is simply
no room for what happened in Honduras. The words of the American
president define well the international community's sentiment: 'Any
existing tensions and disputes must be resolved peacefully through
dialogue free from any outside interference.' Or else, as President
Lula pointed out, 'soon it will become fashionable.' The fact is
that the countries that know the importance of democracy wish to
guarantee the safety of the deposed leader and that of his family,
as well as the restoration of constitutional order and Zelaya's
return to the presidency. All that is left is to find out how much
each side is willing to cede for that to happen."
MARTINEZ
SIPDIS
STATE INR/R/MR; IIP/R/MR; WHA/PD
DEPT PASS USTR
USDOC 4322/MAC/OLAC/JAFEE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC OIIP ETRD XM XR BR
SUBJECT: Media Reaction, Old Fashioned Coup d'Etat
Old Fashioned Coup d'Etat
Center-left Rio daily Jornal do Brasil writes on June 30, 2009,
"Last weekend, in less than 10 hours, Honduras watched the
deposition of its constitutionally-elected president and the
assumption of power by a new ruler, all with the blessing of the
Armed Forces and political elite. The reaction from the
international community came with the same swiftness of the coup
d'tat itself. And the world witnessed one of the very rare
occasions when all the principal actors-of the most different
political nuances-united themselves in one voice, condemning the
anti-democratic act and demanding the return of the legitimate
leader, Manuel Zelaya.
The coup's mentors were not counting on the firm and fast
repudiation from names ranging from Barack Obama and Luiz Incio
Lula da Silva to Hugo Chavez (and his disciples from the Bolivarian
Alternative for the Americas, or ALBA),and organizations such as
the Organization of American States and the European Union. Without
any international support whatsoever and contested by labor unions
and other Honduran civil society representatives, the recently
implanted government in Tegucigalpa is already indicating [an
openness] for dialogue and a return to democratic normalcy.
Meanwhile, the call for retreat grows louder in the country's
capital, and the military apparatus stationed in the streets only
reinforces the feeling of unease that has descended on the nation.
The coup's origins go back to Zelaya's referendum, which aimed to
amend the Constitution and allow for a new term-going against the
decision of the courts and the military and opposition's wishes. The
president's insistence, who scheduled the vote for Sunday, was the
trigger for the uprising. What one saw on the eve of the voting was
a repeat ...of the worst stories...of Central America in the 60's
and 70's...
The military surrounded Zelaya's house at dawn, brought him to an
air base and afterwards dispatched him to Costa Rica. Radio and
television transmissions were suspended, electricity was cut and
public transportation was interrupted. Around noon, the Honduran
congress met in a special session called on by the president,
Roberto Micheletti, who was named the country's interim president.
That night, Zelaya went to Nicaragua (on board a plane lent to him
by Hugo Chavez),and participated in a meeting with other Latin
American presidents. In spite of uncertainties, the deposed leader
remains confident for the future.
In these times of globalization and multilateralism, there is simply
no room for what happened in Honduras. The words of the American
president define well the international community's sentiment: 'Any
existing tensions and disputes must be resolved peacefully through
dialogue free from any outside interference.' Or else, as President
Lula pointed out, 'soon it will become fashionable.' The fact is
that the countries that know the importance of democracy wish to
guarantee the safety of the deposed leader and that of his family,
as well as the restoration of constitutional order and Zelaya's
return to the presidency. All that is left is to find out how much
each side is willing to cede for that to happen."
MARTINEZ