Thousands of workers affiliated with three labor federations in Honduras marched on Labor Day, protesting against the privatizations they believe have led to an increase in taxes and foreign debt.
The local press estimated that more than 10,000 government and private enterprise workers as well as human rights activists walked about half a kilometer down Calle Real to the capital’s central park, shouting slogans and carrying banners.
The march was convened by the National Popular Resistance Front (FNRP, left wing) and three worker centers, from right and left wings, which groups about 400 thousand organized workers.
When reading a joint proclamation in the central park, FNRP coordinator Juan Barahona denounced that neoliberal governments have privatized electricity, telephony, education and health services and delivered natural resources (land, water and forests) to related transnational corporations with national investors.
Barahone regretted that the effect has been the high cost of living for the population in benefit of the enrichment of the entrepreneurs. He added that the drop in tax revenues from privatizations has been offset by taxes and an increase in foreign debt, which exceeds 10 billion dollars.
Receiving messages of sympathy, former President Manuel Zelaya (2006-2009) participated in the march riding a bicycle and called on workers “to organize” to defend the rights that have been “violated” by the government of right-wing Juan Orlando Hernández.
Zelaya was deposed by a coup in June 2009, which prevented him from completing his constitutional mandate ending in January 2010.
In three years of Hernández’s government
more than 20,000 public workers have been fired to reduce the fiscal deficit at the request of the International Monetary Fund,”
Barahona told reporters.
The leadership of the Social Security union said that about 250 thousand workers participated in different demonstrations in the country’s 18 departments.