Posted: Friday, 13 November 2009

The CLC urges the Canadian government to make it clear to Canadians and to the international community that Canada demands the return to democracy in Honduras.

See letter below:

November 13, 2009
By e-mail: Kent.P@parl.gc.ca

The Honourable Peter Kent
Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas)

Dear Minister:

On behalf of the 3.2 million members of the Canadian Labour Congress, I write to urge the Canadian government to make it clear to Canadians and to the international community that Canada demands the return to democracy in Honduras before it will recognize the results of upcoming elections.

A return to democracy implies the immediate restitution of President Manuel Zelaya, an end to the on-going human rights violations perpetrated by the security forces of the coup regime, and a postponement of the elections until all Hondurans can enjoy a full three month campaign period in which all candidates can be assured safety on the campaign trail. Under the current coup regime, conditions for free, fair and open elections are non-existent.

The coup government has shown extreme bad faith when it mocked the US brokered Tegucigalpa/San Jose Agreement and failed to organize and install a government of national unity and reconciliation by November 5 ― a government which should by law be presided over by the democratically elected President. With the demise of these agreements, it is clear that there is a no political space for opposition candidates to campaign nor for the expression of any dissident political opinion.

We write you once again to insist that Canada immediately break off all political and economic ties with the coup government of Honduras, demand an end to violence and repression and stand with the nations of Latin America and the European Union in refusing to recognize illegitimate elections on
November 29.

The Canadian Labour Congress and its members stand in solidarity with the besieged people of Honduras as they resist brutal repression, and fight for real democracy and sovereignty for their country. I look forward to seeing Canada’s determined actions to bring democracy back to Honduras and heal the damage done to the democratic process in our hemisphere.

Sincerely,
Kenneth V. Georgetti
President

cc: CLC Officers and Executive Assistants
CLC Executive Council
The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs
The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Labour
Guy Ryder, Secretary General, ITUC
TUCA/HTUR