27/11/2009
76 leading personalities in Britain call for non-recognition of Honduras coup elections

Leaders include Labour MP’s Tony Lloyd and Colin Burgon, as well as MEP’s and famous British musician Brian Eno.

Press Office of the Venezuelan Embassy in London, 27 November 2009

The British newspaper The Guardian published today a letter by 76 leading personalities in Britain who urge governments worldwide not to recognize the upcoming elections in Honduras on 29 November.

Among the personalities there are members of the British Parliament, members of the European Parliament, politicians, trade union leaders, artist, professors and writers, many of them well known in Latin America, such as the former mayor of London, Ken Livingstone; musician Brian Eno, film-maker John Pilger and Labour MP’s Tony Lloyd and Colin Burgon, who is the Chair, All-party Parliamentary Group on Venezuela.

For updated information on Honduras, log on: http://committeeagainsthondurascoup.blogspot.com/

The letter reads as follows:

Leading voices in Britain call for non-recognition of Honduras coup elections.
http://committeeagainsthondurascoup.blogspot.com/2009/11/honduras-warning-for-latin-america-buzz.html

Latin America faces the greatest threat to its democracy in decades. The military coup that overthrew elected president Manual Zelaya and seized power in Honduras in June is now seeking to legitimise its illegal government through the international recognition of elections on 29 November. Such recognition would give a green light to opponents of democracy throughout the continent that military coups will be tolerated. Free and fair elections on November 29 are impossible. Human rights, freedom of assembly and of the press have all been under attack in Honduras. Repression under the coup regime has seen at least 20 people killed, more than 600 people injured and 3,500 people detained.

The legitimate Honduran president, Manual Zelaya, has called for supporters of democracy not to recognise the elections under the military coup regime. Nearly all of Latin America's governments have declared that they will not do so. Worryingly the US has indicated it will recognise these illegitimate elections. We call on all governments, including the Obama administration, to not recognise the elections on 29 November under the military coup regime.

Colin Burgon MP Chair, All-party Parliamentary Group on Venezuela

Jon Cruddas MP,
Ken Livingstone,
Baroness Gibson Chair APPG on Latin America,
Brendan Barber General secretary, TUC,
Jamie Hepburn MSP (SNP),
Adam Price MP (Plaid Cymru),
Caroline Lucas MEP Leader, Green party,
Bruce Kent,
David Hare,
John Pilger,
Lowkey (Musician),
Brian Eno,
Dr J Buxton Centre for International Co-operation and Security, University of Bradford
Tony Lloyd MP Chair, Parliamentary Labour Party
Doreen Massey, Professor of Geography at the Open University
Johan Harri, commentator

Ann Cryer MP
Brian Simpson MEP
Colin Challen MP
Clare Short MP
Dave Anderson MP
David Chaytor MP
David Drew MP
David Martin MEP
David Taylor MP
Diane Abbott MP
Gordon Prentice MP
George Galloway MP
Harry Cohen MP
Hywel Williams MP
Ian Davidson MP
Jeremy Corbyn MP

Jean Lambert MEP
John Battle MP
John Battle MP 
John Hemming MP
John McDonnell MP
Lord Nic Rea
Mark Fisher MP
Martin Caton MP
Michael Cashman  MEP
Neil Gerrard MP
Nigel Griffiths MP
Paul Flynn MP
Paul Holmes MP
Rob Marris MP
Steve Pound MP 
Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson Joint general secretaries, Unite the Union
GMB union

Sally Hunt General secretary, UCU
Alan Ritchie General secretary, Ucatt
Luke Crawley Assistant general secretary, Bectu
Mick Shaw President, FBU
Matt Wrack General secretary, FBU
Gerry Doherty General secretary, TSSA
Bob Crow General secretary, RMT
Steve Hart - Unite London & Eastern Regional Secretary
Chris McLaughlin Editor, Tribune
Sam Tarry National chair of Young Labour
Chris Weldon Labour party NEC
Kaveh Moussavi University of Oxford's Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, Head of the Public Interest Law Programme
Professor  Keith Ewing
Professor Mary Davis
Dr Steve Ludlam Department of politics, University of Sheffield
Diana Raby Senior fellow, Latin American studies, University of Liverpool
Barry Cannon Postdoctoral fellow, school of law and government, Dublin City University
Hazel Marsh School of politics, social & international studies, University of East Anglia
Dr Michael Derham School of arts and social sciences, Northumbria University
Rod Stoneman Director of the Huston school of film & digital media
Dr Stephen Wilkinson Director, Centre for Caribbean and Latin American research and consultancy, London Metropolitan University
Professor Ernesto Laclau University of Essex
Cuba Solidarity Campaign
Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign

Venezuela Solidarity Campaign