More than a thousand Hondurans gathered on Friday in a torchlight march to demand the resignation of the country’s president, Xiomara Castro, following the release of a video related to drug trafficking that implicates her government, and the reinstatement of the extradition treaty with the United States.
During the peaceful march, led by opposition politicians and the Citizens’ Peace Army, which left from a boulevard east of the Honduran capital, protesters demanded the “resignation now” of Castro and his family.
Dressed in white, blue and national team shirts, the protesters chanted slogans such as “Out with the family,” “This is not Venezuela,” “Free never again” and “Yes to extradition,” and carried a large banner with Castro’s image and the message “Resign now.”
Fernando Anduray, leader of the National Party, the main opposition force, told reporters that 9 out of 10 Hondurans “are willing to remove the Libre Party from power.”
“If Xiomara (Castro) resigns, the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces would also have to resign, and if she resigns it is because she accepts that she is involved in drug trafficking,” Anduray stressed.
On Tuesday, the US-based organization InSight Crime released a video showing Honduran drug traffickers negotiating bribes with Carlos Zelaya, Castro’s brother-in-law and brother of former president Manuel Zelaya, who was overthrown in June 2009.
In this video, Devis Leonel Rivera Maradiaga, a former leader of the Los Cachiros cartel, proposes a bribe to the Liberty and Refoundation Party (Libre), to which Carlos Zelaya responds that “half is for the commander,” referring to former president Zelaya.
Carlos Zelaya admitted on August 31 to having met with drug traffickers who offered him money for the Libre Party campaign, and that same day he announced his resignation as deputy and secretary of the Honduran Parliament.
The Honduran president on Friday condemned the “deplorable error” of her brother-in-law Carlos Zelaya for meeting in 2013 with drug traffickers to negotiate bribes for the Libre Party campaign and reiterated that a coup d’état is being planned against him.
“We understand that a member of our party made a deplorable mistake, without informing the coordinator, the candidate and the party, he did it behind our backs. We deplore any action or any negotiation between politicians and drug traffickers, we do not accept that and we will not allow it,” Castro stressed at a public event.
Restore extradition to the US
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- 1 What are the main reasons behind the recent protests in Honduras calling for President Castro’s resignation?
Among those taking part in the demonstration was Romeo Vásquez, retired general who led the coup against Manuel Zelaya, who urged Hondurans to unite to prevent the country from “falling further into the mud.”
He stressed that the torch he carried symbolizes “the light against the darkness in which this Government has us, the truth against lies, the path to freedom and justice, and the fight against drug trafficking because this Government is a narco-government.”
The protesters also demanded the restoration of the extradition treaty with the United States, an agreement that has allowed Honduras to extradite some 50 Hondurans, mainly for drug trafficking.
“The Zelaya family has done worse than they previously criticized, because they eliminated extradition and left the route free for drug traffickers,” said the president of the organization “Una sola voz por Honduras,” Rashid Mejía.
The Honduran government notified the U.S. Embassy on August 28 of its decision to “terminate” the extradition treaty between the two countries after U.S. Ambassador Laura Dogu expressed her country’s concern over the meeting of Honduran defense officials with sanctioned Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López.
The mobilization ended near the Presidential Palace, which was guarded by elements of the National Police.
Caracas / EFE
#Honduran #president #called #resign #drug #video #reinstate #treaty
2024-09-09 05:40:13
What are the main reasons behind the recent protests in Honduras calling for President Castro’s resignation?
Honduras in Chaos: Protests Erupt Demanding President’s Resignation and Reinstatement of Extradition Treaty with US
Honduras is witnessing a surge in protests and unrest, with thousands of citizens taking to the streets to demand the resignation of President Xiomara Castro and the reinstatement of the extradition treaty with the United States. The protests come on the heels of a video released by InSight Crime, a US-based organization, which implicates the Honduran government in drug trafficking.
Massive Protests and Blockades
On Friday, over a thousand Hondurans participated in a torchlight march, calling for President Castro’s resignation and the reinstatement of the extradition treaty with the US. The protesters, led by opposition politicians and the Citizens’ Peace Army, chanted slogans such as “Out with the family,” “This is not Venezuela,” “Free never again,” and “Yes to extradition.” The march was peaceful, but the demand for change was clear.
In recent months, Honduras has seen a rise in protests and blockades, with demonstrators taking to the streets to express their discontent with the government. In June, protesters blocked the CA-13 Highway near Tocoa [[1]], while in April, demonstrators blocked the CA-5 Highway near El Durazno [[2]]. These protests have led to concerns about security and transportation in the country.
Government Implicated in Drug Trafficking
The video released by InSight Crime shows Honduran drug traffickers negotiating bribes with Carlos Zelaya, President Castro’s brother-in-law and brother of former president Manuel Zelaya. The video has sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for President Castro’s resignation.
In response to the video, President Castro condemned her brother-in-law’s actions, calling them a ”deplorable error.” However, she reiterated that a coup d’état is being planned against her.
Restoring Extradition Treaty with US
One of the key demands of the protesters is the reinstatement of the extradition treaty with the United States. The treaty, which was previously in place, allowed Honduras to extradite some 50 Hondurans, mainly for drug trafficking. Since the treaty was eliminated, drug traffickers have been able to operate with impunity in the country.
Romeo Vásquez, a retired general who led the coup against Manuel Zelaya, joined the protests, urging Hondurans to unite to prevent the country from “falling further into the mud.” He stressed that the government is ”a narco-government” and that the fight against drug trafficking is essential to freedom and justice.
State of Emergency
The current situation in Honduras is dire, with the country teetering on the brink of chaos. The government has declared a state of emergency, and the crisis is being monitored closely by international organizations [[3]].
As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the people of Honduras are demanding change, and they will not be silenced. Whether President Castro will heed their calls and resign, or whether the government will take steps to address the issues of drug trafficking and corruption, remains to be seen.
In the meantime, the international community is watching Honduras with bated breath, hoping that a peaceful resolution can be found to the crisis that is threatening the stability of the country.
What events led to the protests demanding President Xiomara Castro’s resignation and the restoration of the extradition treaty with the United States?
Protests Erupt in Honduras: Thousands Demand President Castro’s Resignation and Restoration of Extradition Treaty with the US
Over a thousand Hondurans took to the streets on Friday, marching in a torchlight procession to demand the resignation of President Xiomara Castro and the reinstatement of the extradition treaty with the United States. The protests come on the heels of a video release implicating the president’s government in drug trafficking and highlighting the need for accountability and justice in the country.
Background of the Protests
The protests were sparked by a video released by the US-based organization InSight Crime, which showed Honduran drug traffickers negotiating bribes with Carlos Zelaya, President Castro’s brother-in-law and brother of former president Manuel Zelaya. The video has sparked widespread outrage and calls for accountability, with many Hondurans demanding the president’s resignation and the restoration of the extradition treaty with the US.
Demand for Resignation
During the peaceful march, protesters chanted slogans such as “Out with the family,” “This is not Venezuela,” “Free never again,” and “Yes to extradition.” They also carried a large banner with President Castro’s image and the message “Resign now.” Fernando Anduray, leader of the National Party, the main opposition force, told reporters that 9 out of 10 Hondurans “are willing to remove the Libre Party from power.”
Restore Extradition to the US
Another key demand of the protesters is the restoration of the extradition treaty with the United States. This agreement has allowed Honduras to extradite some 50 Hondurans, mainly for drug trafficking, and is seen as a crucial step in the fight against organized crime and corruption. The protesters believe that the reinstatement of the extradition treaty will help to hold corrupt officials accountable and bring an end to the country’s drug trafficking problems.
Government Response
President Castro has condemned the “deplorable error” of her brother-in-law Carlos Zelaya for meeting with drug traffickers to negotiate bribes for the Libre Party campaign. However, she has also reiterated that a coup d’état is being planned against her, which has been met with skepticism by many Hondurans.
Protests Continue
The protests in Honduras are likely to continue in the coming days, with many Hondurans determined to see justice served and accountability in their government. As seen in recent protests, such as those on [1], [2], and [3], the people of Honduras are willing to take a stand against corruption and demand a better future for their country.
Conclusion
The protests in Honduras are a clear indication of the people’s desire for change and accountability in their government. With the release of the video implicating President Castro’s government in drug trafficking, the restoration of the extradition treaty with the US, and the demand for the president’s resignation, the situation in Honduras is likely to remain tense in the coming days. One thing is clear, however – the people of Honduras will not stand idly by while corruption and organized crime continue to plague their country.
