HONDURAS UPDATE 9-24-09

There's been a request in the comments for more on Honduras. The problem is that, even though I'm home today and able to check a number of sources frequently, there are frustratingly few updates from on the ground. Telesur's still talking about other stuff, Radio Globo seems to be down (which is worrying...), and the blogs haven't had much during the past day. Zelaya's still in the Brazilian embassy, which is surrounded. Lula da Silva and others continue to call for Zelaya's reinstatement, and it appears the UN Security Council is going to meet tomorrow to discuss the situation.

Most distressingly, it looks like (at least) two people have been killed since Zelaya's return. Although the full curfew seems to have been lifted, Amnesty International issued the report "Beatings and Detentions Follow Honduras Demonstrations" - earlier today. They say:

Amnesty International has received continuing reports of numerous demonstrators being beaten by police and some several hundred detained across Tegucigalpa, the capital city of Honduras. The reports follow the break up by police of a mass demonstration outside the Brazilian Embassy on Tuesday.

Reports also indicate similar human rights violations across the country. There has been a sharp rise in police beatings, mass arrests of demonstrators and intimidation of human rights defenders since the return to Honduras on Monday of President Manuel Zelaya Rosales. The President was expelled from the country in a coup d’etat in June.

Amnesty International has warned that fundamental rights and the rule of law in the Central American nation are in grave jeopardy.

"The situation in Honduras can only be described as alarming," said Susan Lee, Americas Director at Amnesty International. "The attacks against human rights defenders, suspension of news outlets, beating of demonstrators by the police and ever increasing reports of mass arrests indicate that human rights and the rule of law in Honduras are at grave risk...."

I'll post on any other significant developments.