I shouldn't talk. I think this is my first post on the coup that removed democratically-elected President Manuel Zelaya from office in Honduras three months ago. So I'm not a great one to be criticizing news coverage of the coup.
But today I did find the time to listen to National Public Radio coverage of the UN speech given by President Obama. One would think Honduras is a major topic for the UN, since most member states have condemned the coups. In fact it is if you consider this week's events--Zelaya has re-entered the country, taking up residence at the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa amid a loud mass protest and accompanying police repression. Brazil has called for an emergency session of the UN Security Council, and Brazillian President Lula da Silva today at the UN--just prior to the speech by President Obama--said,
Lula: The international community demands that Mr Zelaya immediately return to the presidency of his country and must be alert to ensure the inviolability of Brazil's diplomatic mission in the capital of Honduras.So, you'd think NPR could mention Honduras in its special coverage of the speech, and at least notice afterward that President Obama had zero, zip, nada to say about Honduras himself!! But, no, nothing on NPR special coverage.
Morning Edition did today carry this report, Deposed Honduran President Holed Up In Embassy, by Jason Beaubien. But the silence of the President is made all the more deafening by its lack of notice at NPR.
Update: HERE is a biting critique of Beaubien's reporting. NPR continues to peddle the distortion that "final straw" of Zelaya's actions while in office "was that he was attempting to put together a referendum that would have allowed him or someone else to run for president for a second term."
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