CNN's coverage of the Ecuador attempted coup causes the resignation of CNN's reporter in Ecuador

Rodolfo Muñoz

Amazingly, you haven't been fed this story up there in the homogenized, filtered world of EngLang news, have you? It turns out that the CNN journalist on site at the September 30th attempted coup in Ecuador has resigned from the company due to the way in which that news channel reported his story.

Here follows a full translation of this Spanish language report on the resignation of Rodolfo Muñoz (it has to be translated, because there aren't any EngLang reporters in LatAm that think this newsworthy... strange that innit?). IKN thanks the legwork of reader 'MR' on the translation, which is a good one. Read on and find out that even the people reporting what happened on September 30th in Quito, Ecuador disagree with the editorial line of the TV channels that tried to make out it was some sort of non-event. Or in other words: Yes, you're being lied to. Get used to it.

CNN's Version on the Ecuador Coup Provokes Resignation of its Reporter 

The Ecuadoran journalist stated that he decided to resign from CNN that very Sept. 30 because the US TV channel’s viewpoint on the circumstances that day in his country differed from what he observed as he covered the events which pointed to the fact that a coup d’etat was taking place. Muñoz also noted that there is evidence that killing President Rafael Correa was a goal.

The former CNN correspondent in Ecuador, Rodolfo Muñoz, explained on Tuesday that his resignation from the US news channel was due to the viewpoint that it had on the attempted coup d’etat in his country, which differed from what he observed as he covered the events.

"That same night on Sept. 30 I determined that it was no longer in my interest to continue doing that sort of work, a distinct slant from what was happening in my country; in the end I found that the option was gone, the conflicting viewpoints is what changed without a doubt and that’s where it ended,” the reporter said to the press in his country about his resignation from CNN, after covering the attempted coup d’etat in Ecuador.

In a press release that Muñoz put out on Tuesday announcing his decision,the journalist affirmed that the role of a reporter is that of mediator and not that of agent or protagonist in the events.

"Throughout my career, I learned and taught that the reporter’s role in any news event, be it simple or complex, is only that of mediator, not that of agent or protagonist. I learned that we mediators cannot await newsworthy outcomes according to our own particular desires, preferences, phobias and prejudices.

He added that the information that communicators transmit, in particular that to audiences in other countries, must allow for the possibility of two different views of the events.

"I always knew that all information, especially if it is directed to a foreign audience, one that does not know the particularities of a country other than their own, should be shown at the very least from two distinct perspectives ", he expressed in the statement.

They Wanted to Kill Correa

During an interview given to teleSUR on Tuesday, the Ecuadoran journalist reiterated that there is proof that they intended to kill President Correa during the putsch on Sept. 30.

''A ton of ‘broadsheets’ showed up on the internet (...) above all a version which circulated worried me (...)  some in the media were stating that nothing had happened (...) there is proof that they wanted to kill the president'', he asserted.

A group of police seized by force last Sept. 30 the First Regiment in Quito in protest, supposedly, against the refusal to veto the Public Service Act which proposes eliminating bonuses and promotions that are paid out in yearly salaries.

Ecuador’s president, Rafael Correa, was in the insurgency’s focal point to attempt dialogue, but was obliged to withdraw on account of the violent actions which were taking place in the area.

In the face of this, Correa denounced the fact that the violent police protests occurring in Quito formed part of an attempt at a coup d’etat which had been in preparation for months on the part of the opposition and had called on the police force that serves the country to revolt.

During the coup attempt, the Ecuadoran president remained for 12 hours held involuntarily in the police hospital where later he was rescued in a joint operation of the military and units from the Special Operations Group of the police.
After the attempt, some recordings from the central police radio dispatch revealed that rebelling agents were inciting the killing of the leader and were affirming that they would not allow him to leave the hospital, where he had sought safety after being attacked, as long as he refused to repeal the law.

After the events, the Ecuadoran leader in various occasions has declared that they tried to assassinate him during the putsch to overthrow him.

"We were able to make it to the emergency in an armoured car. When we set out in the car and we began to leave, a shower of bullets hit the President’s car, seeking to kill the President", Correa stated to teleSUR about the moment in which he was rescued from the health center.

Faster Pussycat, Kill Kill

Your humble scribe ran this recording on his twatter last night and now it's time to note it here at IKN as well. It seems the northern milquetoast pardoners of explicit violence against Rafael Correa, all the hangwringing academics that try their best to follow S.Am affairs from up North and just end up looking teh stoopid every time, will finally have to admit that Ecuador's September 30th happenings that centred around the country's police force in Quito weren't just a call for social justice, or a protest gone wrong. As we pointed out on the blog last week it was clearly a coup attempt.

M'lud, we offer evidence. This link is to a recording of police radios that day and captures the ill and violent intent of the coupmongers all too clearly. In Spanish of course, you can either take my word for things or get your own translation done but amongst the choice phrases used by the police who fired tear gas canisters at their President and managed to shoot dead one of the military personnal that was shielding Correa as he left the hospital under fire in the late evening are the following:

"Kill Correa" 

"The man doesn't get out today"

"Kill them, fill them with lead, shoot them"

"Kill Correa and finish with this protest"

"Shoot the son of a bitch Correa" 

"The man doesn't leave unless a stiff"

"Cut the power" 

"Don't let the bastard leave"

There are dozens more on the 27 minute recording, help youself to a few facts and find out for yourself. 

It was an attempted coup. Sez me, sez Correa, sez all the Presidents of the region who signed the Unasur declaration from the right (Santos, Piñera) to the centre (García) to the left (Morales, Chávez) and all points in between. It's your choice to believe the bullshit CNN would like you to believe but me I like the truth, not gringospin lies.

US Gov't Sponsored Bolivian Coup

This is fun. In an exclusive report, digital emunction digs out evidence to prove that the US gunded the Banzer coup in 1971. Here's how the note starts:

exclusive: the u.s. paid money to support hugo banzer's 1971 coup in bolivia

For nearly four decades, there’s been an open ques­tion about the 1971 coup that brought dic­ta­tor Hugo Banzer Suárez to power in Bolivia: was the U.S. gov­ern­ment involved? Thanks to newly declas­si­fied doc­u­ments, we now have an answer.

Here's a quick second excerpt

....the State Depart­ment denied it imme­di­ately, assert­ing unequiv­o­cally that the U.S. played no part in the over­throw of Torres.

A col­lec­tion of declas­si­fied doc­u­ments recently released* by the same State Depart­ment proves that this denial was not only incor­rect, but a lie: the Nixon Admin­is­tra­tion, acting with the full knowl­edge of the State Depart­ment, autho­rized nearly half a mil­lion dollars—”coup money,” accord­ing to the ambas­sador in La Paz—for the politi­cians and mil­i­tary offi­cers plot­ting against Torres. The CIA handed at least some of this money over to the coup’s lead­ers in the days lead­ing up to Banzer’s seizure of power.

Now go read it all for yourself. A good job of reporting. My thanks to reader AT for the headsup.

UPDATE: After a deserved handslap and prompt, I've just noticed that Structurally Maladjusted ran with this story in its weekend update days ago. Moral of the story; if you want to be current with LatAm affairs, read SM first and IKN 2nd.

Regarding voter fraud

Here's a question for you: Why does the USA get all hot and bothered about voter fraud in Iranian elections but totally ignores the most blatant vote rigging and number manipulation possible when it comes to the joke election in Honduras?

"Honduran coup regime's claims about 60% turnout at free and fair elections is revealed as fraud. Also implicated in the video are the wide array of media outlets and governments that have unquestioningly accepted the electoral data of a regime that overthrew the last elected president."

This Real News Network video blows the lid off the affair in this must watch 12 minute report. Hat tip delacour at LANR.

News roundup (we nibble at the applecores that others nonchalantly toss over their shoulders)

US GDP third quarter GDP revised down. Krugman got the insight needed. We got a cool chart above. Dow coming back down? Pimco seems to think so, judging by the bonds trade Billy G has just made.

Peru's Shining Path scumballs are trying to get themselves into the next set of elections by setting up a 'democratic' party. How anyone can even consider this as viable is beyond me. These people are responsible for tens of thousands of murders, some in the most horrific ways possible. There is a case for censorship in modern society and these people do not deserve a voice or the right to free speech.

Today's 'No Shit Sherlock' award goes to the government of Paraguay, which called the recently uncovered coup plot against Fernando Lugo "illegal". Ain't gonna hear many arguing the use of that adjective, dudes.

In a clear communist plot to take over the world, Venezuela donates 5.1 million energy saving lightbulbs to Ecuador to help lighten the energy crisis load brought on by the local drought.

Argentina's INDEC stats office does something unheard of in more than two years of macro country reporting and tells the truth. Unemployment is recorded up at 9.1% in Argentina for the third quarter, up 1.3% YoY.

Honduras polls: Oh my, you mean they actually like Mel in Honduras?

But hey, since when has public opinion been important? Or rule of law? Or democracy? From GGR Research (with H/T to borev)

Honduran President Mel Zelaya Retains Public Support

Para leer la gacetilla de prensa en español por favor presione aquí o baje con el cursor.

October 23, 2009. Washington, DC. Nearly four months after Honduran President Mel Zelaya was forced from office, he retains considerable public support, according to a new survey by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner.

• By a large 22-point margin (60 to 38 percent), the Honduran public disapproves of the removal on June 28 of Zelaya as president.
• Two-thirds approve of Zelaya’s performance as president. Nineteen percent rated his performance as “excellent” and another 48 percent as “good.”

The national survey, which involved face-to-face interviews with 621 randomly selected Hondurans from October 9-13, found that Zelaya is considerably more popular than Roberto Micheletti, who has been serving as de facto president. By a 2-1 margin (57 to 28 percent), Hondurans have a negative personal opinion of Micheletti. And a slight majority gives Micheletti’s tenure as president negative marks.

Hondurans are eager to participate in the elections scheduled for November 28, according to the survey, but there is widespread concern about their being held with Micheletti in office. Eighty-one percent think the elections should take place, but only a bare majority (54 percent) believes they would be legitimate if held under the acting government.

“The international community’s rejection of the coup reflects the views held by most Hondurans,” said Mark Feierstein, partner and vice president of Greenberg Quinlan Rosner. “Mel Zelaya should not have been forcibly removed from office.”

The survey also found that Hondurans retain relatively positive views of the United States. Hondurans divide evenly on their view of President Barack Obama, while 83 percent have a negative impression of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Whatever makes you think there's abusive police repression going on in Honduras, Otto?

Oh, just an inkling I have.

This transcript of a radio show in Honduras is from the excellent blog Honduras Oye. Not pretty to read, but necessary. The bold type is mine:

Irma Villanueva: Good afternoon, last Friday we went to the march -

Host: Friday – you’re talking of the march at Choloma

Irma: Yes, that’s right. We went to the march, we stayed there a while. All of a sudden we saw like a people stampede coming, – All was confused, they brought tear gas canisters. Lost myself from my group in the confusion, they started grabbing us – other persons and myself, we were forced into a [police] patrol pickup. They said they were going to Choloma, they came out through some part behind, and I heard them ask a police officer: “Chepe Luis, and this here [woman], where is she going?” “She goes to San Pedro,” he answered. – And then – only I remained on the flat part [on the bed] of the pickup [starts sobbing] and … I don’t know where they were bound, because, the cop kept me pinned face down, immobilized with his foot on my back [sobs], and they took me to a very cloddy, gritty place [sobs], then took me down and told me “Now bitch, now you’re gonna see what happens to you for you being where you shouldn’t be (starts weeping) I was raped by four police … . I managed to see the name of two of them, one was Ortiz, another’s name is Lopez, and the other was the one called Chepe Luis, the fourth one I couldn’t – didn’t find out his name.

After they raped me [themselves], they stuck into me a … … that black thing police strikes you with. They left me lying down in the open [i.e. in the wilderness] – - I begged them “please, don’t hurt me, I have little children, I implore you! And they insulted me and called me names, I only asked God to protect me for my children, because they’re young. They left me all alone there. I was unconscious, I guess, don’t know. Then I got up with with what strength I had [left] and managed to reach the curb of a highway, I walked for around half an hour. I fell and stayed on the ground because I couln’t stand the pain in my private parts [weeping] … and a lady picked me up, I told her please to take me with my mom, don’t know how much time we took, the only thing I could see, we left through the side of Zincon[ph] … and I was taken where my mom was … My mom was already there, and my husband was looking for me. No … Didn’t want to go to the police, how could I if they had been the ones who injured me. Only – [she can't go on]

Host: This is so difficult, Irma’s situation, Irma Villanueva, 25 years old, a mother of four kids – and girls? How many [girls] – ?

Irma: A boy and three girls.

Host: A boy and three girls. She has come here to Radio Progreso station in order to give her testimony, that we listen to her, that you our friends, women and men who tune in with us, listen to what happened to her, what has not come out to the mainstream media, what everybody keeps silent, in this country, under this de facto government – and you do not remember exactly the place where they took you? and were taken you alone?

Irma: Me alone, several persons were going, men for the most part, because – I was going in a corner but me they left on the bed of the pickup – and they took only me, I guess me, I was the only woman. I only remember the place full of branches, trees, with mounts, for as long as I walked, the mountain blocked the view, and it – When I managed to get out, I had to walk over some ditches, then like a little lagoon and I knew it was Ticamaya where I got out as I noted that we left on the side of Zincon.

Host: And who helped you?

Irma: A lady who was passing by, I stayed lying on the ground as I couldn’t stand the pain in my abdomen [sobs]

Host: Yes

Irma: and she saw I was fallen, and got down and helped me, I asked her to help me please, and [she asked] could she take me to a hospital and I said no, that I wanted her to take me with my mom because – what could I get in forensic medicine? that they took me with the police, when they were the ones who did this to me.

Host: That they mock, make fun!

Irma: Yes … yes, for they were telling horrible things to me, and I was frightened.

CONTINUES HERE

Honduras: 50 ways to leave your exile

Click to enlarge (gets big)

You just slip in the back, Mel
Make a new plan, Mel
You don't need to be coy, Mel
Just get yourself free
Hop on the copter, Mel
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop out the hatch, Mel
And get Honduras free
(with apologies to Paul Simon)

AP filed this story tonight that has President Mel Zelaya en route for Honduras right here right now. Has Mel discovered that helicopters are smart options? Will the blocked roads all over the country help his cause? Looks like tomorrow may be a key day in the hoohah.

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — A top aide said exiled Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was heading home Thursday to set up an alternative seat of government inside the country, and will use it as his headquarters in a "final battle" against the coup leaders.

Zelaya's foreign minister, Patricia Rodas, said he is "on his way" back, but refused to say how or when he planned to enter Honduras. Zelaya's current whereabouts are unclear and the leaders who replaced him after the military sent him into exile have vowed to arrest him if he returns.

"Our president will be in Honduras at some point and some moment. He is already on his way. God protect him and the people of the Americas who are with him," Rodas told reporters in La Paz, Bolivia, where she yada yada continues here

Four on Honduras

Why have a photo of one total shit when
you can have two? Micheletti and Ortez

1) THE VOTES ARE IN and the IKN readership collective whizz dumb has decided the fate of Prez Mel Zel, once and future king of Honduras. There were 250 of you kooky enough to vote and here's how it all panned out:

Sniper bullet 60 votes (24%)
Old age 56 votes (22%)
Lucha Libre Match vs Micheletti 35 votes (14%)
Suffocated by Own Hat 31 votes (12%)
Air Crash 28 votes (11%)
Poisoned Mojito 22 votes (8%)
Stabbed by Lover 18 votes (7%)

So, according to you band of wonderful sickos Mel gets to visit The Elysian Fields via a sniper's bullet. Bummer........I was rooting for the poisoned mojito.

2) A good note that attempts some nuanced analysis at COHA today. You might not agree with the argument but it's about 20X better than the usual dross written on the whole shebang in the language of Shakespeare. Here's how it concludes

If Honduras is to grow peacefully out of the morass it now finds itself in and become a stronger nation in the process, the relevant actors must stand down from their calcified positions, letting the law do what it must and do away with the de facto Potemkin democracy. Manuel Zelaya must return to the office he was elected to serve, Micheletti’s Interim Government must be dismantled, and the Armed Forces should guarantee the safety of all, with many of its senior commanders required to retire. Immediately afterward, the Honduran courts ought to protect justice by enforcing the law and impeaching some of their colleagues for breaking it. When Manuel Zelaya is adjudged, he must be given a fair and transparent hearing for the alleged 18 crimes he committed prior to June 28.. But so too should the architects of the coup. Compromise and dialogue are necessities at this point, and they must take place so that the Republic of Honduras can come out of these trying times as a coherent and lawful state and make it to the November 29 elections in one piece.

3) So what does the US diplo corp make of racist shit Enrique Ortez, the pretend chancellor of the pretend Honduras gov't that disses the O-Man? Here's a translation of this report on today's press release from US ambassador to Honduras, Hugo Llorens (the thing may well exist in English but I can't be bothered to look for it at that State Dep't wesbite...too big):

In a press communique, the US Ambassador in Tegucigalpa, Hugo Llorens, manifested his deep indignation in relation to the unfortunate "disrespectful and racially insensitive" commentaries of Ortez Colindres about President Obama. "These comments were profoundly indignant for the citizens of The United States and for myself personally. I am shocked by these comments which I strongly condemn.

4) Another big march in the Honduran capital today, with 30,000 anti-coup protestors led by Xiomara Castro, wife of President Zelaya. She said good things and people cheered. At one point the marchers approached a police cordon and simply brushed aside the barracades. The police behind the fencing did nothing and Xiomara then went up to them, thanked them for not reacting and even hugged a couple of the uniforms on duty. Thus Micheletti gets another lesson in hearts'n'minds. Here's Xiomara with the front row of her very, very large entourage today.

Honduras: 72 hours to showtime (not 24)

The Organization of Amerian States (OAS) today gave Honduras 72 hours to reinstate Mel Zelaya as its president or face being thrown out of the club. The way things have been going, whatever the OAS has done the UN has followed, so the diplomatic pressure will only increase once the OAS dos its thing.

Due to this 72 hour decision thingy, Zelaya has decided not to make his triumphant return tomorrow (Thursday) but hold off for the 72 hour period and fly back in once the OAS ruling is in operation (cos let's face facts, the usurpers have already shown scant regard for international law and will just ignore the OAS on this).

It's interesting how the Zelaya position is to run everything through the correct diplomatic channels, whereas the usurpers use an obviously falsified document presented to its congress to revoke its head of state. Zelaya's argument is backed up by the UN, the OAS, the World Bank and its cousins (IBD, BICE) Amnesty International, the Press Association, The European Union, China (!) and innumerable others. Those apologizing for the usurpers are left blustering on TV shows and chatrooms.....just ain't fair, is it? The world's changing, folks. Latin America doesn't need to be ruled by the gun any longer and the international community is recognizing its more mature democracies by saying "General, you can't do that." Remember, that UN vote yesterday went 185 to 1 in Zelaya's favour...have a guess who the "1" was?

Finally. the person who mailed me the racist trash written by Investor's Business Daily on the issue is an idiot. Yep, you. How you can have an opinion formed by that scum is a miracle of stupidity. You still don't get it, do you? You up there just don't have the right to tell us down here what to do...not anymore. And to anyone else with a firmly-held view, before writing in make sure you understand Spanish because if I bother to answer you it'll be in that language (with slang too, so you can't run it through an autotranslator). If you can't speak the local language of Honduras, how on earth can you believe you know about the issues and have a viewpoint that hasn't been spoonfed to you?

Honduras Photoshow

In Honduras, first you take a photo like this.....


...then you catch them doing this.....


...and then suddenly you're the target.

You just know this new government is going to be free and fair with everyone, don't you? I'm glad to say that the AP snapper in the picture, Dario Lopez-Mills, is reportedly unharmed (but his lost his memory chip somehow). The snap was taken by his Reuters colleague Oswaldo Rivas, as wisely these dudes are travelling in pairs right now.

A round of applause for some brave and often unsung guys, the photojournalists. More photos of the "calm streets of Honduras" today.








CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST UPDATES FROM HONDURAS

Honduras News

1. Prez Zelaya has thanked the OAS (head honcho Insulza), Mercosur (head honcho Lula I suppose, but don't tell the Argentines) and ALBA (head honcho Hugo, I suppose) for the support offered. The OAS has also resolved to send an overseeing mission to the country immediately. Right now the calls are for tomorrow's vote to be suspended, but there's still no clear resolution.

2. Boz has a couple of good posts that sum up the situation nicely-concisely. Read part one here and part two here. And methinks we'll get a further update later today so maybe just going to Boz's main page is the best idea.

3. The Mex Files also puts in a very informative post (RG wrote it...normal high standard), giving background to Zelaya and the people that oppose him.