From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: HONDURAS: ARMY CHIEF DENIES PLAN TO TOPPLE GOVERNMENT
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 1992 20:48:21 GMT

/** reg.honduras: 48.0 **/
** Topic: IPS:Army Chief Denies Plan **
** Written 12:11 pm  Aug 16, 1992 by hrcoord in cdp:reg.honduras **
From: Human Rights Coordinator <hrcoord>
Subject: IPS:Army Chief Denies Plan

/* Written 12:17 am  Aug 16, 1992 by newsdesk in cdp:ips.englibrary */
Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: HONDURAS: ARMY CHIEF DENIES PLAN TO TOPPLE GOVERNMENT

tegucigalpa, aug 13 (ips) -- the honduran armed forces thursday
denied allegations they were preparing to overthrow the country's
democratic government and said they supported the re-election of
president rafael callejas.

the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, general luis
alonso discua, said in reference to the military coup
allegations, ''we will never support such acts, because we are
advocates of free elections and believe the position of president
should alternate.

''i want to make it clear to the citizens and to the
candidates in the presidential elections that the armed forces
will never take part in any action that violates the honduran
constitution.''

honduras reverted to democratically-elected government in
1980, after decades of military rule.

in the past few weeks, opposition political and social groups
had suggested that the ruling national party (pn) would like
to re-elect callejas, in order to enable him to continue with
his economic adjustment programme and consolidate party unity.

the re-election of callejas, these groups had claimed, would
also result in a possible re-appointment of general discua,
whose 36-month term as commander-in-chief concludes early
next year.

discua has now denied these allegations.

he told reporters that he considered himself to be a ''serious
military person'' who respected the armed forces' institutions.
under no circumstances would he reach any alliance with callejas
in order to enhance his own position.

turning to statements made earlier this week by u.s.
ambassador to honduras crescencio arcos, about the possibility of
reducing the numerical strength of the armed forces, discua said,
''we have sufficient reason to justify our existence.''

he said honduras had three territorial borders--with
guatemala, el salvador and nicaragua--and two maritime
borders--in the caribbean sea and the pacific ocean--to defend.

and he reminded reporters that the constitution empowered
the armed forces to be ''administrators of the peace and to
maintain internal order.'' (more/ips)


honduras: military (2)

the honduran presidential, parliamentary and municipal
elections are scheduled to take place in november 1993. the
new government will be installed in january 1994.

but the political ferment which goes with the election
campaign has already started.

the main opposition to the pn comes from the liberal party
(pl), but at least four other opposition political groups are
expected to contest the elections.

about 2.7 million, of the country's 4.8 million people, will
be eligible to vote. the proportion of eligible voters who
actually cast their ballots has averaged 63 percent in the last
two elections--according to government statistics.
(ends/ips/tr/esp/np/tm/ug/it)



** End of text from cdp:reg.honduras **