Hondureños por la Democracia

Tell Chlopak, Leonard, Schechter & Associates to Cease its Propaganda Operations for the Honduran Coup Regime

On June 28 the democratically elected President of Honduras Mr Manuel Zelaya was kidnapped and exiled at gunpoint. Swiftly after, a coup regime led by Mr Roberto Micheletti, illegally grabbed power. Since that time there have been hundreds of human rights violations at the hands of the military and police.

The coup regime of Honduras has hired the services of Chlopak, Leonard, Schechter & Associates to clean up its image in the U.S. It is outrageous that in this day and age a US lobbying firm can take up the case of an egregiously violent and repressive regime and serve as a channel to U.S. politicians, newsmakers, and commentators. Chlopak's implicit endorsement of the regime's record of human rights violations is simply unacceptable. It requires a clear and concise response from Hondurans and supporters in the DC area.

September 02, 2010

Subject:

I am appalled that Chlopak, Leonard, Schechter & Associates has registered with the Foreign Agents Registration Unit in order to lobby for the coup regime in Honduras.

Besides a few sectors within the United States and Honduras, it is completely clear to the international community that the de facto government has systematically and brutally suppressed human rights since taking power on June 28. Despite supposedly revoking an unconstitutional presidential decree, the coup government has used the military to forcibly execute and maintain the closure of all opposition media within Honduras. According to Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the OAS's Human Rights commission and a slew of other organizations and states, the police and military forces have systematically detained, beaten, and raped Hondurans without cause, and are responsible for AT LEAST 3 murders. This is surely the tip of the iceberg, and the entire world will understand the full brutality of Micheletti's reign in short time.
 
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has just announced that it is sending a team to Honduras for 3 weeks to investigate the violations of human rights in the country since the coup d'etat of June 28. This comes on the heels of the UN feeling forced to issue a statement denying Honduran media reports that the UN did not consider the ouster of President Manuel Zelaya a coup d'etat. It does. The June 30 vote was 153-0. As you enjoy the freedom of speech granted to us under our constitution in order to lobby the powerful, the Micheletti regime has violently repressed dissent. 
 
I urge you to reconsider your open support for the coup regime and the abuses that are taking place in Honduras. We are determined not to let this issue pass, and to continue to bring attention to the facilitators and apologists for the Micheletti regime's blatant attack on Honduran democracy.

Sincerely,

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The social movements in Honduras, who are courageously resisting the military take-over through protests, occupations and strikes, are calling on the international community to speak up in defense of real and direct democracy, for life, justice, liberty, dignity and peace.