The coup regime in Honduras has struck a second blow against free speech with a new executive decree ordering the state to cancel the licenses of any media which the army finds objectionable. Equipment from opposition TV and radio stations was recently confiscated under a previous decree, still in effect, that bans freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of movement. While regime leader Roberto Micheletti coyly maintains that the first decree has been revoked, it remains in effect until an announcement is published in the official newspaper, La Gaceta. That publication has not yet happened because La Gaceta’s printing press is broken. Fíjese.
The Spanish text of the new decree (Executive Accord 124-2009) can be found at Vos el soberano, while a rough translation has been posted to Honduras Coup 2009. There are a few problems with the rough translation, so I’ve done the key portions.
CONSIDERING: That the President of the Republic in Council of Ministers has confirmed, through communications from defense and State security agencies and other entities, the deterioration we have reached and the effects on legally protected property through social communications media systematically undermining the objective of democratic rule of law and creating a regime of social anarchy, fomenting vandalism to the point that it threatens social peace and State security, and incalcuably affecting the national economy.
ARTICLE 2: Instruct, for legal purposes corresponding to the National Telecommunications Commission (CONATEL) and other relevant State agencies, to proceed in conformance with their legal attributes for the effect of protecting national security with regard to the large interests of the country, property, physical and moral integrity of the human being; because the State, as owner of the radioelectric spectrum, will be able to revoke or cancel the use of permits and licenses awarded by CONATEL to operators of radio and television stations transmitting messages that generate a justification for national hate, affect legally protected property and create a regimen of social anarchy in opposition to the democratic State, to the point that they threaten social peace and human rights.
ARTICLE 3: Remit to the National Telecommunications Commission (CONATEL) the communications containing the reports issued by the defense and security ageneies and other State entities for due compliance.
In simple English: the regime, having received reports from the army about radio and TV stations they find offensive, is ordering the telecommunications commission to revoke their licenses. The army reports will be sent to the commission to let it know which stations to close. Broadcast media in Honduras have therefore been effectively placed under army control. Under this decree, broadcast licenses will be canceled on the army’s whim.
Under the previous decree, equipment from TV and radio stations was confiscated by security forces, as show in these videos, posted on YouTube by Channel 36, a TV station so tiny its reporters could often be seen seated at a table in the studio working the audio and video controls themselves. Radio Globo has been another target of the regime, because of its enormous popularity and reach throughout the country. After the coup, Radio Globo soared to the top of the Honduran media market, the first radio station in the country to reach one million listeners a day. Its equipment was also confiscated and it now appears its license will be revoked. At the moment, it is broadcasting only on the Internet.
To sum up the rest of what’s going on in Honduras: the dialogue is going nowhere as Micheletti continues to behave like a petulant child and stalls for time. The November elections can not possibly be considered legitimate with opposition media closed and political assembly banned. At this moment, the talks and the elections appear doomed.
The most important article published this week came from Narco News, which printed the results of a poll showing that 53% of Hondurans oppose the coup while only 17% support it, 60% think Micheletti should leave and 52% think Zelaya should be returned to office. A great deal of the Honduran dynamic can be explained by these numbers: 57% have a negative opinion of Micheletti while only 16% view him positively. While Micheletti has hired PR firms to improve his image in the U.S. his numbers are plummeting in his own country. Fíjese. Narco News has the full poll with crosstabs.
On the lighter side, the U.S. plays Honduras in an important World Cup qualifier tomorrow in San Pedro Sula.
A bit of Friday music, from the Concierto contra el Golpe de Estado at the university on August 23. Casas de cartón sung by Guaraguao.