Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Whitewashing Elections in Honduras




by Lisa Sullivan
School of The Americas Watch.
And now, the second bath of whitewash was even more
challenging, especially since the first whitewash
proved to be kind of thin and exposed the words from
below. Thus, it didn't really convince many. As a
matter of fact, it didn't convince anyone except the
United States government (or woops, maybe they actually
helped to stir the first batch), Now, the challenge of
November 29th whitewash was to transform the civilian
coup into a shining electoral display of freedom,
fairness and grand participation so that all the world
would say, "wow, that Honduran coup is gone. Now
Honduras has a real and wonderful democracy, End of
story".

Except that it's probably the beginning of a story. One
that we thought had been left to rest in Latin America
years and years ago. One of fear and repression and
deaths and disappearances. We know the litany all too
well, and we remember the names of its thousands of
victims each November. This year we had to add too many
new names from Honduras. And, if our government chooses
to recognize these elections, this massive whitewash, I
fear that many more names will be read from the stage
in front of Ft. Benning next year. And perhaps not just
from Honduras.


So, when I said that I wonder what Hondurans will do in
the face of this whitewash what I really wonder is what
I will do, what we will do U.S. citizens. Because, this
whitewash will only have the formula to whiten and
brighten this military dictatorship if our government
chooses to accept the results, as they have indicated
that they will likely do.

Today the headlines in most of the U.S. media reiterate
the official Honduran statistics that 60% of Hondurans
went to the polls yesterday. Our delegates visited
dozens of polling stations, finding them almost empty,
in most places counting more electoral monitors and
caretakers than voters. The resistance movement puts
abstention at 65-70%. Which statistic do we prefer to
believe?

I have lived in Latin America since 1977. I was called
to stay in this land when I saw how young and
idealistic youth such as myself at the time, were being
taken from their homes, never returned. Somehow, I felt
called to continue the steps they would never take. And
so I stayed 32 years. I have witnessed hope rising from
the South in the past 10 years, in ways I never
dreamed. I have seen efforts of building dignity and
sovereignty rise high, inspire millions, and make a
difference.

And so, maybe this explains the anger that rose from
within me yesterday, in front of the embassy. That
anger surprised even me. I am ashamed of our
government. Ashamed that we are in great part to blame
for pushing this country back 30 years into dark and
deadly times. And I worry that Honduras is just the
beginning.

School of Americas Watch
read the entire piece: 

http://soaw.org/article.php?id=1786


Also; See the news from Honduras on Real News
http://therealnews.com/t/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=4535

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