Honduras, everything on the line

[Lizard_King]

Just got back home, didn't get far. As I write there are choppers flying at low altitude and military/police forces moving trough the streets of my colonia or neighborhood.

We had a peaceful demonstration and yet again we got attacked. I took a stick to the back and it mostly pisses me off when I feel the little pain but I am otherwise ok. I'm uploading the videos I got right now into Youtube. Head hurts a bit but that's cause of the gas grenades I guess.

EDIT: the martial law that started yesterday at 4pm has been extended until tomorrow at 6am. There is a LOT of people who will not have food or potable water in their homes.

It sounds like you're winning. It's probably small comfort, but it seems clear that you're dealing more with school-of-the-americas level strategic planning rather than genuinely Machiavellian opponents. I am not surprised by their level of incompetence, but it's still shocking to see from your firsthand perspective. Stay safe.

[Juan Rayo]

This is the first little video I made right now, as we just started. Now keep in mind all these people are braving the curfew and martial law.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E2RxhBGvN8

Guys another person has been shot and killed, this time in my colonia. The whole city is in uproar, but we have no weapons other than rocks. I have this feeling in my chest frustration and rage.

[Juan Rayo]

Same march as in the video above gets attacked by police
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3tqG7sOG08

[Lizard_King]

Guys another person has been shot and killed, this time in my colonia. The whole city is in uproar, but we have no weapons other than rocks. I have this feeling in my chest frustration and rage.

The moment you take up weapons other than rocks, you're fucked. It's not fair, but it's the truth based on the history of civilians vs the military. Keep the pictures and vids coming, they are your deadliest weapon. IMO.

[RyanMichael]

Keep the pictures and vids coming, they are your deadliest weapon. IMO.

This is so true. You need to be tweeting these, putting them online everywhere you can, and making sure everyone is re-broadcasting them and hopefully the news networks will do their FUCKING JOBS and pick up on what's happening.

Either way, you need to document what is actually happening or else the truth will be lost to whoever ends up in power.

[Brandon Clements]

"Stay safe" == "Jesus Christ, man, I can't imagine what it must be like over there. Were our roles reversed, I hope I'd be doing what you're doing, and standing up for what's right, despite the very real risk of personal harm. I have enormous respect for your willingness to put your very life on the line -- but for fuck's sake, be as careful as you can while you're out there, and don't get bludgeoned to death or shot or run over by a tank, because, well, to be perfectly honest, selfish as it may be, I'd rather you stick around here as one of my QT3 internet friends than become a martyr.

"Tonight, I'll be sitting on my couch playing 360, while you're taking to the streets to stand up for your country. While this makes me grateful that I live in a stable, peaceful place, I feel a sense of unease because I feel I really should try to do something to help people like you that aren't, but, as I'm just a guy thousands of miles away, I feel powerless that anything I tried wouldn't make a difference anyway.

"So, I don't really know what to say; while I'm worried about what might happen to both you and your countrymen, keep fighting for what's right. As I'm at a loss for words here, I'll just say 'stay safe' and hope you know what I mean. What you're doing -- you're one of my heroes. Seriously. Please don't get killed."


... at least, that's what I'm thinking when I say it.

I can't say it better.

[Juan Rayo]

Hey guys I just came back from yet another fight 2 blocks from my house. This time my luck ran out and I took a beating, everything hurts and I'll need stitches in my forehead. It's all been taking care off now, but my camera finally died to a police baton, freaking thing exploded.

We gave them fucking hell tho.

I can't describe what I feel, pride, rage, fear, we just look at each other in a barricaded street and that makes us feel brave and willing to take the extra step.

Curfew has been extended to 6pm tomorrow. That's 2 days in curfew and martial law, and RIGHT NOW people are fighting all over the city. Fucking making me proud as I've never been in my life.

Going back out, just came home to fill some cans with water for all the people that need to wash their faces off the god damn tear gas.

[RyanMichael]

I'd like to echo Talisker's thoughts. Seriously man, don't get yourself killed, you can't do anything from 6 feet under ground. If there's anything we can do, any websites we should disseminate or any people we can lobby on your behalf, you name it man.

[Juan Rayo]

Thanks Ryan, everyone.
It's over. I got back to the street from my block and everyone was gone haha, spontaneus protests can surprise even the participants I guess.

So then I realized how tired I was and how much I'm hurting all over so I just came back home to try and write some things and send them to whoever I can. We are not stopping tho.

Interesting fact: when Zelaya was first ousted, we did NOT see this level of rebellion, at ALL. in little under 90 days, the golpistas have managed to turn so many people against them that now we have a ton of people in civil disobidience. They are doing his work for him.

[Raife]

Fuck, I'll pitch in for a new camera. Shoot me a PM with your email.

[Juan Rayo]

At leat 10 dead today guys.
Fucking hurts so much.

[Juan Rayo]

[Juan Rayo]

[Juan Rayo]

This is how MY city sounds right now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83Y2hIcRgVE

[Brian Rucker]

I'm trying this again. Linking this thread and some exposition and sending it to MSNBC's Rachel Maddow this time. With Senator Webb all I got was an automated response about...healthcare?

[Houngan]

I'm trying this again. Linking this thread and some exposition and sending it to MSNBC's Rachel Maddow this time. With Senator Webb all I got was an automated response about...healthcare?

Good idea, I sent it to my congressman. I would have sent it to my senator, but I don't think fucking Mitch McConnell would do a lot about it.

H.

[Brian Rucker]

Quick update. I walked down to Senator Webb's Richmond office, they referred me to his DC office. I called and spoke to a staffer about my concerns there and they took down my information. I was actually surprised at how easy it was to get through.

Senator Webb's website (Webbsite?) doesn't have any information on his position regarding Honduras at all. What the lady could tell me was that he believes in "a peaceful resolution in accordance with Honduras' Constitution." Which didn't tell me much. I asked her to tell me what proactive solution Jim Webb is pursuing or, if his hands are understandably full these days, which Senator is working on a solution to this problem. I may or may not hear back.

[Tortilla]

Quick update. I walked down to Senator Webb's Richmond office, they referred me to his DC office. I called and spoke to a staffer about my concerns there and they took down my information. I was actually surprised at how easy it was to get through.

Senator Webb's website (Webbsite?) doesn't have any information on his position regarding Honduras at all. What the lady could tell me was that he believes in "a peaceful resolution in accordance with Honduras' Constitution." Which didn't tell me much. I asked her to tell me what proactive solution Jim Webb is pursuing or, if his hands are understandably full these days, which Senator is working on a solution to this problem. I may or may not hear back.

You got a line from a script, a script prepared from a staffer for calls just like yours. So the downside is you got fed a line of bs. The upside is that your call and issue were entered into a database and if enough calls on the same issue come in, the senator's handlers will alert him that this is an issue of concern to constituents and prod him into at least thinking about doing something more meaningful.

[Nellie]

Well I know that the Beeb and Sky are actually covering this in some detail in comparison to the US media by the sounds of it, but I linked this thread to all the UK media outlets I could anyway.

[Juan Rayo]

Thank you all!
I totally overslept today, it's now 9:30 am and curfew has been suspended from 10am to 4pm so "the population can get food". It starts again at 4pm.

We are of course taking this chance to get some supplies.. and to gather the resistance again, in about an hour. Last night finally tally of injured and death will be incoming, the regime is saying NOBODY died and "34 people presented minor injuries country wide".

Micheletti says now "he agrees to a dialogue with Zelaya provided the ex-president recognizes the incoming elections". I would call it a sign of weakness, but with these crazy bastards it's hard to know now what they are thinking.

[Juan Rayo]

Wow
So my priority early today was to get water and supplies for my family. We got together with some friends, water is IMPOSSIBLE to find, markets, stores, gas stations have huge lines, traffic is a swamp even in my trusty motorcicle.

All this with police/army flying around all the time and military troops moving around.

[ElGuapo]

Juan, can you receive mail? As in packages? Is the postal service still working?

This is the most interesting thread that's ever been on QT3. Stay safe man.

[Ezdaar]

Hi Juan,

If you can find water that you don't think is clean you can always use some plastic bottles to do a decent job purifying it by filling them and leaving them in the direct sunlight. It is becoming a very popular way of getting drinking water in Africa and other parts of Central/South America.

Here is a link: http://www.sodis.ch/methode/index_EN

Also, as others have said much better than I can, thank you for your constant updates and please stay safe.

[Miramon]

Yeah, I'm sure it's not very useful in the current circumstances, but if it's feasible for Juan to establish an account, I certainly wouldn't mind clicking on a paypal link to send a few dollars his way to help defray his revolutionary expenses or put food on his family or whatever....

[Kalle]

I can just see the headlines now.

"INTERNET GAMING FORUM FUNDING LATIN AMERICAN TERRORIST MOVEMENT"

[ReptileHouse]

I can just see the headlines now.

"INTERNET GAMING FORUM FUNDING LATIN AMERICAN TERRORIST MOVEMENT"

Isn't that what Red Faction has been indoctrinating us to do all along?

[Dave Markell]

Yeah, I'm sure it's not very useful in the current circumstances, but if it's feasible for Juan to establish an account, I certainly wouldn't mind clicking on a paypal link to send a few dollars his way to help defray his revolutionary expenses or put food on his family or whatever....

Same, although I think I'd rather put food IN his family. Just seems more useful, unless Hondurans have developed advanced osmotic digestive techniques.

[Miramon]

Same, although I think I'd rather put food IN his family. Just seems more useful, unless Hondurans have developed advanced osmotic digestive techniques.

Another Bush malapropism reference.

[Dave Markell]

Another Bush malapropism reference.

Ah. There were so many, I never even tried to keep track of them.

[Talisker]

Juan has mentioned some stuff people can do to help in a couple posts upthread.

Firstly, contact your senators/congressmen, as per the second quoted bit below.

Secondly, if you have a spare video camera:

Before I leave, couple of organizations called GLOBAL EXCHANGE and Nonviolence international are going to try to gather some video camaras to send to people in Honduras so the can documento the stuff going on. While videocamaras might seem weird, the fact is police and army have broken so many of ours that we DO kinda need them.

If any of you can try and help that, it'd be appreciated, I don't know much about the organization itself, so you guys decide if you feel you can trust it.

Their websites

http://nonviolenceinternational.net/?page_id=25
http://www.globalexchange.org/

After discussing it with the National Committee (the coordination of the National front against the Coup in Honduras) I have told them I will NOT ask for monetary donations directly to us, but rather ask people they donate to organizations helping us out, if they so wish.

Thirdly, if you have spare money:

If any of you guys and gals are interested, from Rights Action:

WHAT TO DO

AMERICANS & CANADIANS should contact our members of congress, senators & members of parliament every day, day after day, send copies of this information, and demand:

unequivocal denunciation of the military coup
no recognition of this military coup and the ‘de facto’ government of Roberto Micheletti
an end to police, army and para-military repression and respect for safety and human rights of all Hondurans
no recognition of the November 2009 elections, that candidates are campaigning for, even as the country is militarized and repression is widespread
unconditional return of the entire constitutional government of President Zelaya
concrete*and targeted economic, military and diplomatic sanctions against the coup plotters and perpetrators
application of international and national justice against the coup plotters and perpetrators
reparations to the victims for the illegal actions and rights violations committed during this illegal coup
TO DONATE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE FUNDS to the peaceful, people’s pro- democracy movement in honduras, make check to “rights action” and mail to:

UNITED STATES:* Box 50887, Washington DC, 20091-0887
CANADA:* 552-351 Queen St. E, Toronto ON, M5A-1T8
CREDIT-CARD DONATIONS:* http://rightsaction.org/contributions.htm

For foundations and institutional donors, Rights Action can (upon request) provide a full proposal of which organizations and people we are channeling funds to and supporting.

FOR MORE INFORMATION & TO GET INVOLVED:

Karen Spring (Rights Action) in Honduras: [504]9507-3835, [email protected]
Grahame*Russell (Rights Action), in USA: 1-860-352-2448,
[email protected]

See Rights Action’s previous Honduras Coup Alerts: www.rightsaction.org