Honduran cardinal denounces death threats

Jan 11, 2011 / 09:58 am

Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of Tegucigalpa, Honduras recently stated he has been the target of death threats since 2009. He believes the threats are from supporters of the country's deposed President Manuel Zelaya.

President Zelaya was removed from office in June 2009 and was replaced by an interim leader until elections were held. Current Honduran President Porfirio Lobo Sosa was then voted into office.

Zelaya's opponents assert he was impeached by order of the Supreme Court of Honduras for serious crimes, including treason. His supporters argue he was illegally expelled by the military and the high court.

Cardinal Rodriguez Maradiaga stated on Jan. 6 that he has been receiving death threats from individuals who have labeled him a “supporter of the coup.” The cardinal then told Honduras' Channel 10 that soon after the Honduran bishops’ conference issued a statement about the intentions of then-President Zelaya to hold a referendum to draft a new constitution, he “had already become the target of death threats.”

He added that the threats “have been continuous” since June 2009.

“We had all of the pertinent information,” Cardinal Maradiaga said, “and we issued a statement which I read as president on Saturday,” the day before Zelaya was removed from office.