UCD speaks out in support of the Supreme Court

The Unión Cívica Democrática (UCD), a coalition of Honduran civic groups formed to defend democracy in Honduras, issued a statement (in Spanish) in support of the independence of Honduras' Supreme Court.

UCD also sent the following English translation of the statement to the US Supreme Court and are "calling on all Supreme Courts and Judges’ Associations in the world that they be informed of these acts geared to interfere and force our Supreme Court to revoke legal decisions, destroy the judicial career and establish destructive precedents for our Legal System."

The statement indicates that UCD is aware of external and internal pressures against the court, and even more surprisingly, that an attempt is being made to hold a meeting without the attendance of certain judges, a la Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua. UCD also demands that the investigative report be made public and translated for the international community so that everyone will know the true reasons that these judges were dismissed.

UNION CIVICA DEMOCRATICA

In Defense of our Institutions:

THE SUPREME JUSTICE COURT

To the Honduran People:

We have been informed that a plenary meeting of the Supreme Court has been called for Monday, May 31st. The meeting’s purpose is to deal with issues of the utmost importance relating to our democracy, the respect for the rule of law, the strength of our institutions and the peace and stability of Honduras.

These issues are: the re-installment of the judges that were dismissed following due process and the treatment that will be accorded to Manuel Zelaya in case he decides to return to Honduras.

As representatives of Civil Society, we know about and reject internal and external pressures that are being brought on the Judicial Branch in order to revert the judges dismissal, despite that it was taken according to the Constitution, the Law that Organizes and Oversees the Courts, the Law that determines the Judiciary Career and the Code of Ethics for Judicial officers and employees.

We reject the intention to change the day of the plenary meeting in order to take advantage of the absence of Lead Magistrates that are opposed to the restitution of said judges and demand that all decisions relating to the dismissal of judges for inappropriate behavior be taken only by Lead Magistrates and not by substitutes.

We express our continued solidarity with the Honduran Supreme Court that has stood firmly and with dignity against foreign pressures that have tried to destroy our democratic system.

If the international recognition of our country and our reincorporation into the OAS depend on destroying our democratic institutions, weakening the Judiciary Branch, attacking the Attorney General’s office, discrediting our Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) and our police and Armed Forces, we reject wholeheartedly bending to these foreign interests that seek to destroy the Honduran family.

We stand in defense of the decision taken by the Supreme Justices which others seek to revoke and destroy the independence of the Branches of power and demand that the Supreme Court make public the report of the Inspector General of the Judicial Branch that served as the legal basis for the Judges’ dismissal. We will translate it and make it known to the world so that everyone can see the true reasons why these judges were dismissed.

We are calling on all Supreme Courts and Judges’ Associations in the world that they be informed of these acts geared to interfere and force our Supreme Court to revoke legal decisions, destroy the judicial career and establish destructive precedents for our Legal System.

Likewise, it is our belief that as a Honduran, ex President Zelaya is free to return to our country at any time as a normal, law abiding citizen. As such, he cannot be bestowed with any special privileges or special treatments that are not contemplated in the law and thus, must follow due process and respond to the legal charges set against him. No one is above the law.

We hereby confirm our permanent support to the Supreme Court and alert the Honduran people of these attempts to diminish the independence of the courts and manipulate, for political purposes, the courts’ actions.

Tegucigalpa, Honduras. May 29, 2010

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Unión Cívica Democrática (UCD) is a coalition representing a great majority of organizations, groups and associations of the Honduran Civil Society. In the name of the Civil Society, the UCD is the guardian of democracy and performs its permanent role of surveillance over the political, economic and social development of Honduras.

UCD is inviting everyone to join with them to confront the enemies of deocracy that each day are getting stronger. "We can't lose time. Act now." said their recent email. Please visit the UCD website to join.