| GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Caribbean Community (CARICOM) governments have joined in the global condemnation of the military coup that removed Honduran President Manuel Zelaya from office on Sunday.
The Guyana government in condemning the coup against the Honduran president called for his early reinstatement to office.
“In accordance with the principles of democracy and the tenets of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, the government of Guyana is concerned with the breakdown of the constitutional order in the Republic of Honduras that has occurred as a result of the coup d’etat,” the foreign affairs ministry here said in a statement on Monday evening.
The release added that the government is also concerned that the events in the Central American country may jeopardize the political institutional process.
“The government of Guyana also joins in the condemnation of all acts of violence and detention of the government ministers and urged their early release,” the statement continued.
The ministry says it support the convening of the special OAS general assembly on Tuesday for the purpose of taking appropriate decisions according to the organization’s charter, international law and the provisions of the Inter-American Democratic charter.
The Cuban embassy here also held a media conference where the actions against the Honduran president were also condemned.
Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning called for the return of Zelaya, who was flown to Costa Rica hours before a disputed constitutional referendum that could have allowed him to seek re-election as head of state.
“In keeping with the Inter American Democratic Charter, the situation in Honduras today clearly affects the development of that country’s democratic political institutional process and the legitimate exercise of power,” Manning said in a brief statement.
Grenada’s Prime Minister Tillman Thomas also condemned the military action in Honduras saying “the will of the Honduran people must be respected.”
“We also call on the military to exercise restraint and allow the people of Honduras to freely express their sentiments,” Thomas said in a statement, which also called on the military not to use force against the people who might take to the streets to condemn the coup.
The OAS Permanent Council was meeting in an emergency session in Washington on Sunday and Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin condemned the removal of Zelaya, saying, “We do not recognise any other government or President being put in place.”
“There is a strong demand for the immediate and unconditional return of President Zelaya… to resume his duties as president of the country and if that does not happen the call has been made for a special General Assembly as soon as possible,” he told reporters, adding that he expected that gathering to take place within a matter of days.
The Surinamese diplomat said further that the body was expected to issue a resolution later in the day.
“The government of Barbados views with grave concern and therefore condemns the interruption of the democratic process in our sister state of Honduras. The government of Barbados therefore calls for the reinstatement of the democratically elected government…” said, Ricardo Kellman, Barbados’ alternate representative to the OAS.
Meanwhile, Belizean permanent representative to the OAS, Ambassador Nestor Mendez, said his country’s government joins in rejecting “in the strongest possible terms”, the military coup and stands ready to work with the Organisation of American States to undertake any actions necessary
Similar condemnation came from The Bahamas and Jamaica
Zelaya said he would attend a scheduled meeting of Central American leaders in Nicaragua on Monday. |