Cuba Cuts Assistance to Honduras

by Circles Robinson

HAVANA TIMES, July 9 – The Cuban government announced the withdrawal from Honduras of a contingent of 143 professionals working in areas such as education after the accusation by de-facto Foreign Minister Enrique Ortez of their alleged implication in “the indoctrination and organization of shock groups,” said a memorandum from the island’s embassy in Tegucigalpa.

Nevertheless, Cuba maintains the deployment of its large medical brigade in the Central American nation, reported IPS.

After the June 28 military coup in Honduras, the self imposed leaders have made numerous attacks against Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua for allegedly meddling in the Honduran conflict.

The entire General Assembly of the United Nations has called for a restoration of Zelaya as the constitutional president of Honduras. Likewise, the Organization of American States voted on July 5 to suspend Honduras from that 34-member continental body and also demanded a return of Zelaya.

Talks begin Thursday in San Jose, Costa Rica between deposed President Manuel Zelaya and Roberto Micheletti, the top coup representative, with Costa Rican President Oscar Arias as the mediator.

Despite a curfew and large military presence in the streets, civic groups in Honduras continue to demonstrate calling for Zelaya’s unconditional return. Micheletti supporters insist that the coup was justified and is here to stay.

For more on the crisis in Honduras see: http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=11305