In a move calculated to remind dissidents of the torture that took place in the Santiago stadium in 1973 where, among other things, Víctor Jara was tortured and killed, the nonviolent protestors from all the jails and prisons in Honduras have been rounded up and taken to the stadium.
The human rights organization, COFADEH, with which we work closely, has just reported that their offices have been attacked with tear gas. Prisoners are being are being taken to the national stadium. The Brazilian Embassy is militarized and being buzzed with helicopter over flights.
Today the Quixote Center Accompaniment Delegation struggled in the midst of a state of siege to reach hospitals where wounded are being treated and to the stadium where detained are being held prisoners.Tonight they report that they can hear explosions from protests that are being repressed in neighboring barrios and tear gas and smoke from burning tires is filling the air.
We’ve heard from our partners within the Brazilian Embassy that Honduran troops have cordoned off a 6 block perimeter around the Brazilian Embassy. They’ve cut communications lines and have tear-gassed those inside and nearby.
The Frente Naciónal Contra el Gólpe reports that about five police stations have been taken by the Resistance. Meanwhile, in the Kennedy, in Tegucigalpa, the police are using live bullets and teargas against the crowds. Our delegation is in a nearby neighborhood and can hear chanting – “Adelante, Adelante – la lucha es constante. Forward – forward – the struggle is constant.”
According to COSIBAH, the Honduran banana worker federation, there are some two thousand people detained in front of the Dippsa gas station in the Villa Nueva community.
COSIBAH was informed that the military stopped these citizens while they were traveling to the capital from the surrounding towns to show their support for the returned president.
Source: http://tinyurl.com/ldmjrp
Another person shot at the demonstrations at the Hato de Enmedia about 2 hours ago, according to our partners.
The nonviolent protestors of Tegucigalpa maintain their hold of the streets and highways, despite the repression.
U.S. citizens should contact the U.S. State Department and their Congressional Representatives to demand that the U.S. government:
