After the failed talks in San Jose, President Zelaya has been determined to return to his country and fight alongside his people to regain his presidency and restore constitutional order to the country. The coup regime maintains a stronghold on power in the country and is not budging. Deals made with Colombia, Panama & the United States have enabled the illegal, repressive regime to maintain itself in power now for almost one month, and it's clearly set to remain in position until the November elections.
Today, President Zelaya, accompanied by a caravan of supporters and international journalists, is nearing the Honduran border from Nicaragua, where he has been during the past week. Thousands of his supporters and protesters against the coup have been traveling all across Honduras since Wednesday to meet him at the border crossing.
The coup regime has imposed an even more violent, repressive state than during the past month, declaring a national curfew from 12 pm (noon) today, with no definite hour of conclusion. The police and the Honduran army have set up checkpoints throughout the country, particularly the routes heading to the Nicaraguan border, and are attempting to prevent the Zelaya supporters and anti-coup protesters from reaching the border. Earlier today, a group of thousands broke a police barrier and were able to continue on their route. There is fear of major violence since the police and army in Honduras have orders to act against the people and especially President Zelaya, should he enter the country.
President Zelaya has denounced evidence of plans to assassinate him once he reaches Honduran territory.
These events are taking place after almost one month of an escalating crisis in the regime. The coup has been condemned by almost every country around the world, yet has been tacitly supported by Washington. High-level officials from the Department of State called President Zelaya this morning and told him not to go back to his country. The Obama-Clinton administration has acted from the beginning to prevent Zelaya's return to power, instead stalling out his return by pushing for a "negotiation" and "dialogue" with the violent coup criminals, which although it failed, provided the regime with time to consolidate itself in power and to realize the support it enjoys from the United States.
Today, a delegation of US Congress members, led by Republican Connie Mack (FL) is heading down to Honduras to express its support for the illegal violent coup regime. Clinton lawyer and friend Lanny Davis continues to lobby on behalf of the coup regime in Washington, to gain its widespread acceptance.
Meanwhile, Washington is intensifying its attacks on Venezuela, increasing military presence in neighboring Colombia and claiming Venezuela is supporting the FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia) by providing them with Russian weapons and cash, and is facilitating drug trafficking coming out of Colombia, destined for the US. Earlier this week, the General Accounting Office of the US published a report, solicited by Senator Richard Lugar, stating Venezuela under Chávez is a major player in the drug trade. Frankly, this is a a bunch of bullsh*t. Both the drug and FARC (terrorist group, per the USA) charges have been falsified by US sources since about 2005, as a way to discredit and demonize the Chávez administration, therefore justifying US aggression against Venezuela. Venezuela's efforts to counteract the drug transit that comes from neighboring Colombia - which is occupied by US forces, and still is the largest drug producer in the hemisphere - have actually improved since 2005, when the Venezuelan government suspended cooperation with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) of the US, which it found was sabotaging its anti-drug work. Since then, Venezuela has captured and extradited 34 major drug traffickers (before 2005, it had captured ZERO), and has confiscated hundreds of drug shipments coming from Colombia.
The demonizing of Venezuela and Chávez is also being used as a justification for the coup in Honduras against President Zelaya. On Monday, the Department of State confirmed that the coup was a "lesson" for Zelaya and others to not follow the "Venezuelan model".
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