With a muzzled press towing the Micheletti regime's party line and little connection to the outside world - less than 10% of Hondurans are internet users- many Hondurans are looking towards the Supreme Court for an impartial solution to the crisis that has plagued the country fore more than four months. Yet many Zelaya supporters think they are seeing their worst fears confirmed that the court which backed the coup will prolong any decision on Zelaya's return to power until after elections.
After the recent attempt at a unity government failed - Zelaya refused to join the team made up entirely of Micheletti nominees- the reinstatement of Zelaya is the coup regime's only chance of the elections gaining a shred of legitimacy. Amidst the backdrop of the cooperation between supposedly separate organs of the state, partiality lawyers in the industrial center of San Pedro Sula have set their sights on the Supreme Court with a pronouncement made public yesterday. Here is the full text of from The Resistance Lawyers Front's (RLF) :
WE URGE THE SUPREME COURT OF JUSTICE TO BE INDEPENDENT AND IMPARTIAL
The Resistance Lawyers Front in the North Zone, due to the actions of the Supreme Court of Justice since the 28th of June, appeal to the Honduran people and the international community:
FIRST, during recent years we bore witness to the deterioration and politicization of the institutions of Justice. We thought the new appointments in Supreme Court of Justice this past January would make important changes possible in the areas of strengthening the independence and impartiality of that branch of the State. Sadly, this did not happen in the following six months, as the 15 Supreme Court Judges made it clear that justice would continue to serve the powerful political and economic groups of our country. In doing so they deeply defrauded the aspirations of the Honduran people who genuinely thought that by electing these judges they could make a difference.
SECOND: With the awful coup d'état of June 28th, the Supreme Court of Justice -forgetting its role as an impartial organ- has publicly put forward supposed legal arguments in an attempt to legitimize the illegal and unconstitutional actions taken by this de facto regime. Likewise, it has fully neglected their duty to protect the people. It is complicit in all the violations suffered by the Honduran people and has postponed or blocked the processing of constitutional claims presented by the citizenry.
THIRD: In addition to all its actions mentioned above, the Supreme Court of Justice has unleashed a campaign of persecution against those judges and their employees that -valiantly and lawfully- stood against the coup d'état and for the reestablishment of the constitutional order.
IN VIEW OF THE AFOREMENTIONED, WE URGE:
WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE JUDGES WHO ARE VICTIMS OF PERSECUTION AND WE SUPPORT THE NECESSARY ACTIONS TO GUARANTEE THE STABILITY AND INDEPENDENCE OF THEIR ACTIONS.
- That the Supreme Court of Justice rectify its partiality, which only searches to legally justify the completion of the coup and the continuation of a de facto regime, and honor their obligation to protect fundamental rights.
- That the Supreme Court of Justice immediately cease its persecution of judges and employees that, exercising their civil rights, have demonstrated against the coup d'état.
- That the Honduran Bar Association affirm their support for the Constitution and its legality, preventing legal judgments that only look to legitimize the coup, and that they request the Supreme Court of Justice to correct all its biased claims.
San Pedro Sula, Cortes, November 9th of 2009
(Photo courtesy of the RLF)
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