Quito, Ecuador

June 30, 2009

“This book of the law must ever be on your lips; you must keep it in mind day and night so that you may diligently observe all that is written in it. Then you will prosper and be successful in all that you do.” Joshua 1.8

To the Churches and ecumenical organisms
Members of CLAI in Honduras

Dear brothers and sisters,

Fraternal greetings in Christ Jesus.

We are greatly concerned about the news that we hear about your country as a result of the military coup against the government of President José Manuel Zelaya Rosales that has brought about an unconstitutional altering of the democratic order. The images near the Presidential House show us scenes of violent police control and of the Red Cross attending to the dozens of people affected, some of them with open wounds on their faces.   

The Latin American Council of Churches that gathers together more than 170 churches and ecumenical organisms in 20 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, has as one of its objectives that of promoting the unity of the people of God in Latin America, as an expression and sign of the contribution of the unity of the Latin American people. The action on the part of a group of soldiers in the Presidential House in Tegucigalpa on Sunday, June 28, followed by the violent military repression, violates the spirit of unity in the struggle and defense of democracy in our continent.      

Democracy does not consider a coup to be an alternative for the solving of conflicts. The respect for the constitution in our countries should be made manifest in all political moments, both in moments of tranquility and in moments of conflicts.           

As churches committed to the God of Life that clamors for justice, peace and just order, we are in solidarity with the Honduran churches and people. We call for the reconstituting of democratic tranquility - that respects diversity and differences and seeks to solve conflicts by means of dialogue and respect for the will of the people. It is our understanding that a return to constitutional order will only be possible with President Zelaya restored to his functions, a mandate that was granted him by the Honduran people.

With peace and goodwill, and as brothers and sisters in the faith.

Rev. Nilton Giese
General Secretary of the Latin American Council of Churches

Photo: Coup in Honduras (Miguel Yuste, El Pais  Upside Down World)