Nearly eight years have passed since the sweltering summer’s night commandos of the Honduran armed forces bent on treason stormed the presidential residence in Tegucigalpa, seizing a pajama-clad President, before whisking him to a waiting plane.
It was, according to conspirator, Colonel Bayardo,
“A fast operation…over in minutes.” And one, he reassures, with “no injuries, no deaths.”
That may have been true for the operation to abduct Manuel “Mel” Zelaya, but injuries perpetrated and deaths suffered at the hands of the coupsters since have proven grievous and numerous.
Tyler Shipley is Professor of Culture, Society and Commerce at Humber College’s Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, and Associate Fellow at the Centre for Research on Latin American and the Caribbean, or CERLAC. His first book, ‘Ottawa and Empire: Canada and the Military Coup in Honduras‘ is fresh off the Between the Lines presses.
Tyler Shipley in the first half.
And; last week, in conjunction with the government’s release of the Defence Policy Review, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chrystia Freeland addressed both the House of Parliament, and Canadian households on CBC’s flagship news program, The National, explaining the planned direction of the country’s foreign policy in the foreseeable future. Neither performance was well received by Ceasefire.ca.
The Ottawa-based public policy research and advocacy offshoot of the Rideau Institute blasted the government’s announcement of significant increases in military spending, saying their budget lacks credibility and is not affordable. They also accuse, the move to dramatically increase military spending succumbs to recent statements by, and pressure tactics of, US President, Donald Trump.
Peggy Mason is President of the Rideau Institute, an independent think tank that focuses on bringing a progressive voice to Canada’s foreign and defence policies. Issues of interest for the Institute range from nuclear disarmament to the centrality of UN conflict resolution.
Peggy Mason and a more muscular understanding of Canada’s place in the World in the second half.
And; horticultural guru and intrepid green entrepreneur, Christina Nikolic will join us at the bottom of the hour with the Left Coast Events update, bringing us up to speed with some of the good things planned in and around our town for the coming week. But first, Tyler Shipley and the Ottawa and Empire: Canada and the Military Coup in Honduras.
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing live every Wednesday, 1-2pm Pacific Time. In Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: http://cfuv.ca. He also serves as a contributing editor to the web news site, http://www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.ca/