[HCCN] fw: A vigil in Honduras

[Judith Robbins]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2009
4:01 PM

CONTACT: School of the Americas Watch
Dan Kovalic 412-335-6442
Father Joe Mulligan: 504-32-12-13-18

US Human Rights Activists Stand Vigil in front of the United States  
Embassy in Honduras
HONDURAS - July 9 - A delegation of U.S. citizens from School of the  
Americas Watch will be standing vigil in front of the U.S. embassy in  
Honduras to call upon their government follow through with actions  
consistent to their acknowledgment of a coup in Honduras. Earlier  
this morning, the group had a meeting with the U.S. ambassador to  
Honduras Hugo Llorens.

The U.S. embassy vigil will take place today, Thursday, July 9 at 2 p.m.

While applauding the fact that the Obama administration initially  
used the term "coup" to define the overthrow of Honduras'  
democratically elected president Manuel Zelaya, recent statements  
from high ranking State Department officials have backed away from  
describing it as such.

The delegation will call upon the U.S. government to:

1. Join the international community and call for the unconditional  
return of President Manuel Zelaya to his rightful position as president
2. Withdraw the U.S. ambassador from Honduras
3. Suspend all U.S. aid that could be channeled towards supporting  
the de facto regime of Roberto Micheletti.
4. Withdraw all U.S. troops in the Soto Cano/Palmerola base and all  
other military bases (over 600 troops).
5. Close down the School of the Americas (Western Hemisphere  
Institute for Security Cooperation) in Ft. Benning, Georgia.

The military coup was lead by graduates of the School of the  
Americas: Chief of Staff Commander General Romeo Vasquez and Air  
Force Commander General Luis Javier Prince. Several SOA graduates  
have been appointed to positions in the coup regime: Nelson Willy  
Mejia, Director of Immigration; Hernan Banegas, Minister of FHIS, and  
Billy Fernando Joya Améndola, Ministry Assessor.

Those participating in the vigil are:

Rev. Roy Bourgeois, founder of the SOA Watch movement
Rev. Joseph Mulligan, S.J., Christian Base Communities, Managua  
Nicaragua
Dan Kovalik, Senior Counsel, United Steelworkers, AFL-CIO
Kent Spriggs, SOA Watch Counsel
Lisa Sullivan, Latin America Coordinator, School of Americas Watch

###

SOA Watch is an independent organization that seeks to close the US  
Army School of the Americas, under whatever name it is called,  
through vigils and fasts, demonstrations and nonviolent protest, as  
well as media and legislative work.
School of the Americas Watch Links: Homepage SOAW (Press Center) SOAW  
(Action Center)


Article printed from www.CommonDreams.org

URL to article: http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2009/07/09-17
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