Zelaya: "Without democracy there are no Human Rights"

The people of Honduras organized historic welcome for former President Mel Zelaya.

"No blood was shed in vain because we are in an ongoing struggle".

Tegucigalpa. May 28. The former president of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya, returned home accompanied by part of his family and by an extended international committee of support and observation from countries of Latin America and Europe. Hundreds of thousands of people waited outside of Tegucigalpa’s Toncontin airport where Zelaya gave a landmark speech in which he requested his adversaries to let the people exercise democracy.

During his opening remarks Zelaya emphasized about institutions, "where there is democracy institutions work better and ensure human rights ..." said a few minutes after leaving the airport "... Without democracy there are no human rights," he concluded.

Zelaya also thanked the mediation of Colombia and Venezuela for his return and to the international solidarity that mobilized from the very first day of the coup, especially Argentinean President Cristina Kirchner who flew to Washington and was willing to accompany him to his return in July 2009.

Also, the Cartagena Accords were read and explained to the people, specially under what conditions and for what purposes the agreement was signed with Porfirio Lobo, his unrecognized predecessor.

International support

During the speech Colombian Senator Piedad Cordoba also spoke, she urged for an anti-imperialist struggle and called to respect the sovereignty of PDVSA, "Venezuela's oil for the people," she said. For his part, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro offered all the love and the solidarity of the people of Venezuela at the same time that he told the students, the peasants, the workers and the youth that they "have the support of Latin America to the road to the Patria Grande which is to be build".

In the two air planes that left Nicaragua there were representatives of several organizations and political parties and nearly all Latin American countries, Britain and France’s Parti de Gauche who said they will follow up the implementation of the Cartagena Accords.

During the event, Venezuela’s president, Hugo Chávez, sent a message through twitter that was broadcasted through an international media outlet, Telesur: "Mel Zelaya returned to his homeland, is a great victory of the Honduran people, down the dictatorship, long live the people's power ..."

Manuel Zelaya to attend FNRP rally after arrival
Sábado 28 de Mayo de 2011
RED MORAZÁNICA DE INFORMACIÓN

Priest Andres Tamayo is accompanying Zelaya today

Tegucigalpa, May 28. Thousands of Hondurans are ready to welcome Saturday former president Manuel Zelaya, who is returning to his homeland almost two years after the coup that toppled his government on June 2009. The cultural and political event taking place just outside Toncontin airport in Tegucigalpa has being attended as expected by thousands, Rafael Alegria, La Via Campesina delegate in Honduras said estimates could reach one million people who are not only in the plaza but all around the airport in streets around it.

A press conference in Managua attended by President Daniel Ortega and some foreign affairs ministries from Latin American countries took place around mid day in the Nicaraguan capital. After arrival in Tegucigalpa airport Mel Zelaya will have a speech on stage in Plaza Isis Obed Murillo and short after he will visit teachers on hunger strike near the National Parliament. The teachers were fired by the Lobo administration as measures taken to lessen teachers strikes and protests against a law that seeks to strengthen the path to privatization of public education in Honduras.

Later in the afternoon there is a programmed meeting with Colombian chancellor Maria Angel Holguin and Venezuelan Chancellor Nicolas Maduro, where Porfirio Lobo and Miguel Insulza will also be present as agreed during the Cartagena Accords protocol.

Two airplanes are taking off in Managua with some political refugees and part of Zelaya’s administration who were also in exile after the 2009 coup. Zelaya’s former foreign affairs minister Patricia Rodas is also flying back to Honduras after almost two years living abroad, Rodas said “Today’s victory is dedicated to those whose blood is runs in the name of democracy in Honduras, and to whom we feel deeply committed”.

Source: Red Morazánica de Información via Frente Nacional de Resistencia Popular