MANAGUA, June 29.— The Rio Group today condemned the coup d’état perpetrated in Honduras and reaffirmed its unconditional backing for the only president of that Central American country, José Manuel Zelaya.

The final declaration of the emergency meeting of member countries in this capital refused to recognize the de facto government installed yesterday in Tegucigalpa.

The Rio Group members said that the coup executed this past Sunday in Honduras was an affront to the peoples and democracy of Latin America.

They particularly condemned the violence and injustice of Zelaya’s kidnapping, and affirmed that his mandate was the only one that the Rio Group would recognize.

They reiterated their support for the constitutional president of Honduras and demanded his immediate and unconditional reinstatement to the office conferred upon him by his people through their vote.

Moreover, the declaration said it was "indispensable" to guarantee freedom of speech and the physical integrity of journalists in Honduras, several of whom had been arrested for reporting the repression of peaceful civil disobedience protesters.

The group noted that the installation of Roberto Micheletti as de facto president lacked legitimacy, and that they would not recognize any official appointed by the imposed government.

The declaration’s signatories urged Honduran soldiers to subordinate themselves to Zelaya, the country’s only commander in chief of the armed forces, and demanded that the coup leaders respect human rights and constitutional guarantees.

The Rio Group also agreed to create a delegation of presidential representatives to investigate crimes perpetrated by the coup organizers and called on the Organization of American States (OAS) to adopt drastic solutions to restore democracy in Honduras.

The Rio Group will remain in constant consultation until the only constitutional president of Honduras is unconditionally restored, Prensa Latina reported.

PRESIDENTS CONDEMN COUP

Bolivian President Evo Morales stated the need for administrations with diplomatic or other types of relations with Honduras to go into action against the de facto government installed in that country.

The president asked how was it coups could be effected in this third millennium and noted that Southern Command of the U.S. Armed Forces still prevails, teaching the region’s soldiers that social movements are their internal enemies.

"I think there are still groups of soldiers in Latin America who believe that the organized peoples are internal enemies and therefore must be abused, and those social movements destroyed," Morales affirmed.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez stated that constitutional law must be unconditionally reinstated in Honduras, and called for concrete actions to oust the coup leaders.

Chávez advocated a peaceful solution to the Honduran crisis, but warned that if necessary, the progressive forces of Latin America would take up arms to defend their social conquests.

Likewise, he warned that allowing the coup leaders to maneuver so as to gain time – for example, the supposed free elections at the end of this year, would make other Latin American governments accomplices to the coup.

The Venezuelan president announced that his country is to cut oil supplies to Honduras until the government of José Manuel Zelaya is reinstated.

For his part, the president of the Dominican Republic, Leonel Fernández, affirmed that Honduras has only one president, and that is Manuel Zelaya; the other is a usurper, he said. Mexican President Felipe Calderón highlighted the maturity and responsibility of the leaders present in agreeing, despite their differences, to a common position opposing the coup d’état.

And Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom called for Zelaya to be restored to his office as soon as possible and thus avoid a bloodbath.

Likewise, OAS general secretary José Miguel Insulza condemned the military coup and highlighted the unanimity in recognizing Zelaya as the only legitimate president of Honduras.

The Honduran president, for his part, said that not only was democracy at stake in his country, but also humanity’s conquests with respect to citizens’ participation.

He asked: "What is failing in Latin America’s democracies today that such things can happen? Is it people who are failing or the system?

"The fact that we have become independent and formed states and overthrown dictatorships means nothing if brute forces once again prevails over reason," Zelaya affirmed.

"I believe that in Honduras there is only one president and he is here in Managua," Zelaya said. "I have six months to go to complete my presidential term; after I have been to Washington I will return to Tegucigalpa and they should expect me. I am going to complete my mandate, whether or not you agree, putschists. The president is returning to his country on Thursday."

Representatives of Chile, Peru, Argentina and Colombia also expressed their support for the Zelaya government and agreed that the meeting showed determination in defending democracy on the continent. (SE)

Translated by Granma International

www.granma.cu/ingles/2009/junio/mar30/Rio-Group.html