09/07/09

The media, the Catholic Church and the business sector support the coup in Honduras, says Venezuelan Ambassador Samuel Moncada

Venezuelan Ambassador to London, Samuel Moncada, explained yesterday at an emergency meeting organised by the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign that the coup in Honduras offered an opportunity to test the democratic allegiance of several groups and institutions, such as the media, the Catholic Church and the business sector.

Moncada pointed out that these groups tend to defend or oppose democracy depending on the circumstances and their interests.

“With the exception of the Bishop of Copan, the hierarchy of the Catholic Church has clearly sided with the new military regime in Honduras. Not surprisingly, the bishops in Venezuela and Latin America have also taken the same position,” said Moncada.

In relation to the media, Moncada explained that most of the international media has defended the coup in Honduras, and the Inter American Press Society has simply remained silent on this issue.

“Somehow the media seems to blame Chavez for the crisis in Honduras,” added Moncada.

Finally, Moncada criticised the support of the business sector to the military government in Honduras and urged the international community to make them pay for their attack against democracy.

“Fairtrade is for fair people, but these people are simply not fair,” added Moncada.

Ambassador Moncada emphasised on the importance of solidarity with Honduras and appealed to the British public to support the Honduran nation in this difficult period of its history.

Around 100 people attended this meeting on Honduras, and the VSC announced that there are many other planned activities taking place in support of the Honduran people. 

Press Office Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in the United Kingdom

Photos by Virgilio Ponce