Unión Cívica Democrática
Encyclopedia
Unión Cívica Democrática (UCD, English
: Civic Democratic Union) is a network of forty Honduran activist organizations, which took an active part during the 2009 Honduran constitutional crisis
, promoting several demonstrations against the former ousted president Manuel Zelaya
. Among its member organisations, there are the National Anticorruption Council, the Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduran Council of Private Enterprise
(COHEP), Council of University Deans, Workers' Federation of Honduras
(CTH), National Convergence Forum, National Federation of Commerce and Industry of Honduras (FEDECAMARA), Association of Communication Media (AMC), the Group Peace & Democracy and the student group Generation for Change.
, while its opponents claim it rather defends the interests of the local elite.
The organization's official mission is:
, the International Republican Institute
and USAID, which disbursed about $50 million annually to some of the UCD organizations, such as COHEP. UCD also enjoys media support, especially from La Prensa
and El Heraldo
.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: Civic Democratic Union) is a network of forty Honduran activist organizations, which took an active part during the 2009 Honduran constitutional crisis
2009 Honduran constitutional crisis
The 2009 Honduran constitutional crisis was a political dispute over plans to rewrite the Constitution of Honduras, which culminated in a coup d'état against Honduran President Manuel Zelaya by the Honduran military...
, promoting several demonstrations against the former ousted president Manuel Zelaya
Manuel Zelaya
José Manuel Zelaya Rosales is a politician who was President of Honduras from January 27, 2006 until June 28, 2009. The eldest son of a wealthy businessman, he inherited his father's nickname "Mel," and, before entering politics, was involved in his family's logging and timber businesses.Elected...
. Among its member organisations, there are the National Anticorruption Council, the Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduran Council of Private Enterprise
Honduran Council of Private Enterprise
The Honduran Council of Private Enterprise is a business trade organization in Honduras. COHEP is the largest such trade organization in the country, and is one of the three private organizations in Honduras proposes candidates for the Supreme Court of Honduras...
(COHEP), Council of University Deans, Workers' Federation of Honduras
Honduras Workers' Confederation
The Confederation of Honduran Workers is the largest national trade union center in Honduras. It was formed in 1964. The CTH is affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation.-History:...
(CTH), National Convergence Forum, National Federation of Commerce and Industry of Honduras (FEDECAMARA), Association of Communication Media (AMC), the Group Peace & Democracy and the student group Generation for Change.
Mission
Its supporters claim the organization defends democracy and the constitution of HondurasConstitution of Honduras
The Political Constitution of the Republic of Honduras was approved on 11 January 1982, published on 20 January 1982, amended by the National Congress of Honduras 26 times from 1984 to 2005, and 10 interpretations by Congress were made from 1982 to 2005. It is Honduras' twelfth constitution since...
, while its opponents claim it rather defends the interests of the local elite.
The organization's official mission is:
- To contribute to strengthening civil society.
- Promote institutional mechanisms for dialogue between different sectors of civil society and political parties and the state.
- Promote actions to strengthen public awareness and mobilize civil society to support universally accepted principles of collective welfare.
Sponsoring
UCD receives economic support from the National Endowment for DemocracyNational Endowment for Democracy
The National Endowment for Democracy, or NED, is a U.S. non-profit organization that was founded in 1983 to promote US-friendly democracy by providing cash grants funded primarily through an annual allocation from the U.S. Congress...
, the International Republican Institute
International Republican Institute
Founded in 1983, the International Republican Institute is an organization, funded by the United States government, that conducts international political programs, sometimes labeled 'democratization programs'....
and USAID, which disbursed about $50 million annually to some of the UCD organizations, such as COHEP. UCD also enjoys media support, especially from La Prensa
La Prensa (Honduras)
La Prensa is an independent newspaper with the biggest circulation in Honduras. It has a daily circulation average of 60,000 units , with full color and tabloid-sized pages...
and El Heraldo
La Prensa (Honduras)
La Prensa is an independent newspaper with the biggest circulation in Honduras. It has a daily circulation average of 60,000 units , with full color and tabloid-sized pages...
.
Events
- June 26, 2009 - Demonstration for democracy and the constitution. Other organizations included the Peace and Democracy Movement.
- June 30, 2009 - Demonstrations. In an emotional speech, Armeda Lopez said "Chávez ate Venezuela first, then Bolivia, but in Honduras that didn't happen". Signboards included "Enough to illegality", "I love my Constitution".
- July 3, 2009 - 70,000 people demonstrated for the constitution and against Zelaya.
- July 7, 2009 - Demonstrations in six cities. The demonstrations were called El Plantón del Millón.
- July 22, 2009 - A hundred thousand demonstrators dressed in blue and white.
- August 20, 2009 - UCD files a complaint to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights concerning Zelaya's and his followers' alleged violence and hate campaigns in Honduras.
- August 24, 2009 - Thousands of people dressed in white demonstrate outside OAS building.
- September 4, 2009 - UCD participated in marches expressing opposition to Hugo Chávez. The demonstrations were part of the worldwide No Más Chávez (No More Chávez) day.
- September 24, 2009 - Thousands demonstrating outside the United Nations building in Tegucigalpa.
- September 28, 2009 - A march supporting the oncoming general elections on November 29.
- October 1, 2009 - UCD supported decree PCM-M-016-2009 issued by interim government, suspending for 45 days five constitutional rightsConstitution of HondurasThe Political Constitution of the Republic of Honduras was approved on 11 January 1982, published on 20 January 1982, amended by the National Congress of Honduras 26 times from 1984 to 2005, and 10 interpretations by Congress were made from 1982 to 2005. It is Honduras' twelfth constitution since...
: personal liberty (Article 69), freedom of expression (Article 72), freedom of movementFreedom of movementFreedom of movement, mobility rights or the right to travel is a human right concept that the constitutions of numerous states respect...
(Article 81), habeas corpusHabeas corpusis a writ, or legal action, through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention. The remedy can be sought by the prisoner or by another person coming to his aid. Habeas corpus originated in the English legal system, but it is now available in many nations...
(Article 84) and freedom of associationFreedom of associationFreedom of association is the individual right to come together with other individuals and collectively express, promote, pursue and defend common interests....
. Its spokesperson, Luz Ernestina Mejia, endorsed the closing during this period of critical media, namely Radio GloboRadio GloboRadio Globo is a radio station operating in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. It is known for its opposition to the 2009 Honduran coup d'état. It is owned by Alejandro Villatoro.The station is headed by David Romero Ellner....
and Channel 36Channel 36Channel 36 refers to several television stations:...
, stating "We are against the repeated crimes of these journalists".