Protesters take streets in Honduras with barricades and ask for resignation of the president

TEGUCIGALPA - Demonstrations that have been taking place inHonduras for two months , initially against education and health services reforms, have gained momentum on Wednesday night and now call for the resignation of President Juan Orlando Hernández - reelected in 2017 in a lawsuit challenged by their opponents. At dawn, protesters erected barricades with stones and tires burned in the streets, and the government responded by increasing repression. Two people were killed and about 20 wounded in the clashes.

The extension of the protests was facilitated by a strike by the National Directorate of Special Forces (DNFE), the anti-riot police, which withdrew from the streets. Some 3,000 members of the corporation joined the protesters and demanded social benefits, such as reviewing th- I have decided to order the mobilization of the Armed Forces, police, intelligence and other bodies that depend on the Executive to guarantee the right to freedom of movement, free transit, protection of private propOn the 28th of June, complete in Honduras tenth anniversary of the coup that overthrew President Manuel Zelaya , accused of wanting to organize a referendum to change the constitution and institute reelection, which would then Hernández without consulting the population.

- With the anniversary of the coup approaching, Zelaya's Liberal Party, which lost little in the last election, tries to capitalize on the protests and seizes this political momentum to strengthen its position - said the analyst.

Honduras is one of the countries that most exports immigrants to the United States, driven out by poverty and violence.erty and physical integrity of people - said.

Elected for the first time in 2014, Hernández changed the composition of the Supreme Court in order to obtain its endorsement for a constitutional change that would allow reelection, previously vetoed by the country's charter. His re-election was contested by the opposition coalition, and the Organization of American States even called for a new lawsuit. For Tiziano Breda, a researcher at the International Crisis Group, a center for conflict prevention, the president is fragile and increases repression to show strength.

"There is now widespread discontent. The government was born fragile, following the re-election of 2017, on charges of electoral fraud that have never been proven. In recent months, Hernández has tried to regain some stability with a dialogue with the opposition, which failed - he explained to GLOBO.

Ten years of coup

In the talks, the president did not meet with representatives of the Platform for Defense of Public Education and Health, which called for the first protests, trying to split the leaders of the mobilization to reach an agreement. The strategy did not work, and protesters decided to continue on the streets.eir life insurance and setting up a fund for health spending.

- The National Police base ratifies its commitment on behalf of the Honduran people. We will maintain the guarantee of non-repression against our people and respect for their human rights, "said an agent wearing a mask, reading a statement. - We express our uneasiness and discontent with the government in the face of the current crisis.

According to local TV footage, blocking streets and roads extended to other cities beyond the capital, Tegucigalpa. The country's borders with Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador have been closed by demonstrators, and a shutdown of transport and truck drivers has already begun to affect the supply of fuel, food and medicines.

Army on the streets

On Wednesday, the presidential residence needed to be protected by military police and army forces, while on the streets demonstrators shouted "out JOH, out JOH," referring to the president by the initials of his name. On Thursday, Hernandez announced that he was sending the Army to the streets across the country and called on the police loyal to him to reinforce security around the government palace.

- I have decided to order the mobilization of the Armed Forces, police, intelligence and other bodies that depend on the Executive to guarantee the right to freedom of movement, free transit, protection of private property and physical integrity of people - said.

Elected for the first time in 2014, Hernández changed the composition of the Supreme Court in order to obtain its endorsement for a constitutional change that would allow reelection, previously vetoed by the country's charter. His re-election was contested by the opposition coalition, and the Organization of American States even called for a new lawsuit. For Tiziano Breda, a researcher at the International Crisis Group, a center for conflict prevention, the president is fragile and increases repression to show strength.

"There is now widespread discontent. The government was born fragile, following the re-election of 2017, on charges of electoral fraud that have never been proven. In recent months, Hernández has tried to regain some stability with a dialogue with the opposition, which failed - he explained to GLOBO.

Ten years of coup

In the talks, the president did not meet with representatives of the Platform for Defense of Public Education and Health, which called for the first protests, trying to split the leaders of the mobilization to reach an agreement. The strategy did not work, and protesters decided to continue on the streets.