Hands off U.S., says Asian Peasants on the coup d’ etat in Honduras

PRESS RELEASE
July 23, 2009

The militant Asian Peasant Coalition (APC) joined the call of the international community against the military-installed Robert Michelleti government on June 28 after the kidnapping and exile of their president Jose Manuel Zelaya.

The peasant group said that the coup d’état in Honduras is a desperate attempt of a pro-US Honduran elite to stop the rising mass movement against neo-liberal globalization and US imperialist intervention in the region.

“We strongly condemn the coup d' etat in Honduras and the ouster of President Zelaya. We are also calling for the U.S. to get their hands off Honduras and let the Hondurans democratically decide on their affairs," said Danilo Ramos, APC Secretary-General.

The APC said that, “as a President, Zelaya raise the minimum wage of workers and teachers' salaries, and increase spending in health care and education. His government signed an energy partnership deal with Venezuela, and then last year joined the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas or ALBA, which seeks to build regional cooperation and aims to curb US imperialist dominance in the hemisphere. He has also established closer ties with Cuba.”

“We are in solidarity with the people of Honduras. We admire their heroic resistance against Micheletti forces who have seized power and are now using violence to suppress the people,” added Ramos.

“We call on all member organizations of APC and its network worldwide to show their strong opposition against the illegitimate Micheletti regime. Let us send messages of solidarity and organize series of protests at US embassies. Let us encourage the people of Honduras and Latin America to continue the fight and further develop their movement for genuine national and social liberation,” ended Ramos. ##