"Fifteen families have dominated Honduras for decades, and they are the ones that carried out the coup. Today we face a very bloody time", Honduran activist Santiago Reyes told a 40-strong forum on independence organised by the Latin American Social Forum on September 19.
"Hondurans do not know what independence is. While we still have hunger, ill health and injustice, we can't talk of independence", Reyes told the meeting.
"We went into the streets to begin a different story. A united left will go in a different direction from the past. We need your solidarity to change our history. We can't gain our liberty without this", Reyes said.
Others speakers included: Raul Bassi, from Argentina; Juan Campos, from El Salvador, who spoke about the partial victory of the election of the FMLN's Mauricio Funes this year; Bolivian consul Antonio Moron, who said that after 100 years of domination by 150 families President Evo Morales was bringing change; Raquel Iglesia, from Uruguay, Nadia Vebera, from Chile; Victor Hugo from Guatemala and Stuart Munckton, Green Left Weekly co-editor.
To get in touch with the Latin American Social Forum, call John on 0413 310 452.