The military coup in Honduras
It’s funny that Zelaya was ousted as quickly as he was after my return from Roatan. I was having brunch with a bunch of people down there two weeks ago and my friend Caroline was telling me about all of the tensions in Honduras and how it was impacting Roatan. Problems like islander revolts against RECO, the island power company, and blockades of the airport had become common place. She said that tensions on the mainland were becoming worse and an overthrow of the President was possible. Fast forward a bit: Zelaya is out, talking strategy with Hugo Chavez and the Honduran military is confronting its country’s own citizens with threats of force.
Going forward, I think that Zelaya has the right to remain President of the country he was elected to govern. Any situation involving a military intervention against civilians elected by people to serve as constitutional officers is bad. Criticisms of Zelaya potentially evolving into stooge of Hugo Chavez are likely exaggerated.
What will be interesting to watch, however, is how the current Honduran government reacts to worldwide criticism of its actions. In all likelihood, Zelaya will remain out as President and will be left to throw mud as a political gadfly. I do not see circumstances shifting to allow for his peaceful reinstatement as President of the Republic of Honduras.
It’s a loss for democracy in Latin America. Having spent so much time in Honduras I would have hoped for more. Time will tell.
Anytime Hugo Chavez stands up and says, “I want THIS guy,” the rest of the free world should get a clue that “THIS guy” is bad news.
I have a good friend who lives in Honduras and works there as a missionary. He has lived there for 13 years, is married to a Honduran, and has made important connections with state and military officials through the years. He emailed yesterday to say that the reports we are getting about military force and a coup are false. (to see his email: http://tinyurl.com/mwuq5n ). He was out and about in the capitol all this week and last, and there were not soldiers on every corner, no looting or rioting… nothing like what the American Press is telling us.
He went on to explain that the Honduran courts upheld the Honduran constitution to oust a president who was attempting to force his way into office for more than his allotted terms. Just last week, Zelaya tried to illegally fire the General of the Armed Forces who would not support his referendum to stay in office for indefinite consecutive terms. The Supreme Court overruled that, shortly before ruling that Zelaya was in violation of their constitution.
I guess what I’m saying is that I respectfully disagree with your comment about this situation being a loss for democracy. Part of the privilege of a democratic state is to be able to remove leaders who are in violation of supporting the constitution of that nation. Honduras, as a democracy, utilizes the balance of power amongst three branches of government to ensure that one branch does not overstep its bounds, as Zelaya has tried to do with the help of Chavez. I would say that Honduras is an example of a democratic nation that is working… not one that is broken.
I just wish the press would get it right. Here’s a thought… go down there. See what’s really happening. Talk to people who are actually there on the streets…. there’s a different story to tell than the one we’ve been reading on AP headlines.
Respectfully…
Linda Frederick
Editor, The Celebration
Linda, get a clue. There has been widespread repression in a country where deathsquads once targeted anyone organizing the poor, or being active for social justice.
This is an attack on democracy, plain and simple.
How you would excuse this behavior really reflects badly on the general ethos of US ‘professionals’ (who, by and large, have distinguished themselves are stupid and greedy, as well as incurably racist).