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Today, the president of Honduras, (after two months and no sign of reinstatement, can we still call him the president?), Manuel Zelaya gave a lecture at George Washington University. The lecture was called, “Returning Honduras to Democratic and Constitutional Order.” Unfortunately Honduras has not returned to democracy, and so it was hard for Zelaya to speak about the country’s re-democratization process.
Too bad that the event was full, and so I was not able to attend, but from what I hear Zelaya talked for most of the time about how he was caught off-guard in his pajamas when he was expelled from the country. Most people claimed he was a less than convincing speaker on the subject of Democracy, and focused more on making himself seem as if he was saving Honduras, reaching out to the poor, and strengthening democracy before the coup when the “bad guys” of Roberto Micheletti came in and took over.
Too bad for Zelaya, that no one forgot the reasons of the coup: Zelaya wanted to hold a referendum vote to see whether he could extend his time in office. In fact, Zelaya’s opposition could have probably found ways to constitutionally fight against Zelaya, but they opted to take a short cut.
When I get more details on the event, I will keep you all updated. I do know, however, that it was an event held in order to call attention to the Obama administration that people believe that something needs to be done about Honduras. We can’t watch a coup occur and not take action against a clear violation of democracy.
The way I see it is Zelaya might not have been a good president. That isn’t the argument (even if Zelaya may think it is). However, short cuts around democracy cannot be tolerated . If we are to respect democracy, we have to respect it when it works in our favor and when it does not. If there is someone who is breaking the democratic law, then their punishment must come from within the system set up.
Next time, Zelaya, know this: We care much less about whether you were in your pajamas when the military came to ship you off to Costa Rica and much more about the ways in which you see democracy being reinstated in your country.
Hello..I’m an american living here in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. About 85% of Hondurans are oppose Zelaya and of the 15% that do support him, many are paid using money given by Chavez. He was not taken away in his pajamas but given time to get dressed. He chose to get back into his pajamas on the plane to Costa Rica. Just one of his small tactics to get pity from people. He gave himself the boot by trying to put himself above constitutional law. He was/is the puppet of Chavez. He broke into the airforce and stole the ballots for the illegal election he was going to hold to allow him to stay in power indefinitely. (The balllots were also donated by Chavez.)
Zelaya was trying to abolish the congress. He did not want a democracy. He can say whatever he wants now but it is too late for him in this country. Roberto Micheletti is leading his country in the right direction. Elections are to be held here in November where Elvin Santos, the former vice-president under Zelaya, is in the running and since he resigned as vice-president, Micheletti was next in line as president of congress. If Biden resigned then Pelosi would then be next in line, same thing.
And as for calling it a coupe, which most countries and journalists are, it was not. If it was a coupe then the military would be in control of Honduras, they are not. A man who was from the same party as Zelaya is acting as president, Micheletti.
If Obama really wants democracy then he should be listening to the majority of Hondurans and support Micheletti until the next president is voted in for his 4 year term. Zelaya is a thief, drug addict, father of a drug dealer (on a large scale), son of a murderer and a LIAR. He cares nothing about his country or the people but being able to buy expensive cowboy hats, having enough money to support his cocaine habit, keeping his family out of jail (keeping himself out of jail too) and getting millions from Chavez.
But hey he is living proof of you can do anything you put your mind to. The man didn’t even graduate from college and he was president of a country…WOW
Dear Elizabeth,
Thanks for your comment. I heard that pajama story was a lie, but I didn’t know for sure and so didn’t say anything.
I agree that Zelaya certainly wasn’t aiming for democracy. I understand that you say it wasn’t a “real coup,” but I don’t believe that Micheletti and the people in power didn’t go through the right methods to take Zelaya out of control.
Do you think that it is okay to work outside of the system if you believe that the ends justify the means? What are your experiences, as someone who is living there currently and probably much more knowledgeable than myself?
p.s. It did amaze me how ignorant Zelaya seemed about the fact that he didn’t realize that nobody at the lecture would believe him when he said he was a strong believer in democracy. I don’t believe anybody would agree to that, but Zelaya kept on trying to beat a dead horse and convince the audience of his democratic spirit.
Hi, Elizabeth
I stumbled on your twit. I’m a world citizen too. Have lived in Honduras over 14 years. Love it.
Zelaya was truly working against democracy. I can see you see through his charade.
Now, if the State Department understood…well, we’d all be happier here in Tegucigalpa!
The only problem with going about it a different way is if they waited he was going to disband congress Monday morning and had already split police force and military. It is unfortunate that it had to be done the way it was but Honduras would have had a civli war and be a colony in the Chavez empire otherwise.
Things that I witness living here are Zelaya supporters getting violent. In the past two weeks they have placed fire to a Pop-Eyes and a bus, and bombed a John Deere distributor- They have attacked congressman, they are constantly destroying the capital with graffiti and throwing rocks at windows of businesses. I do not think it is going to stop until Zelaya fully understands it is over for him and the USA, as well as other powerful countries, speaking against Zelaya. The US has stopped giving Visas to Hondurans unless it is an emergency but Zelaya is running around freely up there when he should be in jail.
Honduras needs a support from the US to keep moving forward. Many people here are writing/calling Obama, Clinton, state senators, etc. daily to try and get them to understand and support Honduras.
I hope this is all over soon. It’s so frustrating.
Hi, you’re mistaken about taking a “shortcut” that’s what Zelaya wants you to believe. He had two processes (trials) a political one and a ciminal one. Both started on March 25 2009. The political process ended on June 27 2009 and found him guilty and eneded in an order to the military to arrest him. During his political trial Zelaya had the chance to defend himself AND even to appeal the veredict, but it the appeal was overruled when on June 25 2009 he posted his decree calling for a referendum on “La Gaceta” (our oficial post).
There hasn’t been a crimininal trial yet, it will occur when he comes back as a citizen.
Regards
There was no coup and they did everything according to there courts. Yes Zelaya was in pajamas on purpose he knew he was going to be arrested and planned his pity story defense. The international mainstream media has been very biased against the constitutional succession that took place in Honduras. Although, I am American we have been living in Honduras for 7 years. It is very sad to see 85% of the population stand up for democracy and watch my government turn there back on them. When did America stop defending freedom,justice and liberty for all? Isn’t it dangerous to put leaders above the law? Why is the USA demanding the return of Zelaya knowing there is no coup?
I have followed this story in about 50 media outlets daily and several blogs. I tons of articles that will help all understand exactly what happened. Feel free to contact me for more info.
If you could only read one of them then read this link.
http://www.openmarket.org/2009/08/29/obama-to-cut-off-humanitarian-aid-to-honduras-based-on-legal-mistake-and-misreading-of-the-law/#comment-115265
The truth is there is much more to know. There is a large movement called ALBA that has been spreading for about ten years. It was an idea of Fidel Castro being executed by Hugo Chavez and there is suspicion that they are backed as well by Iran.
The goal is to create one superpower Americas that is stronger that the USA> They plan to have nothing but communist run states with Chavez as the head. Irans interest is to use it to neutralize USA so they can destroy Israel as they have publicly threatened to do.
http://lagringasblogicito.blogspot.com/2009/09/honduras-needs-help-from-you.html
This is a cry for help form the youth in Honduras. Blessings come in disguise. Thanks to Z’liar the young people in the country seem more motivated to get involved. That is the best way to bring out change.
If you think the situation in Honduras is unfair to the constitutional succession government and the general population then please write letters to your representatives in the USA government and use the school newspapers and websites to promote others to do the same.
God bless the Honduran people and the students of GW
Hello Amanda:
Thank you for writing about this. The way Zelaya was removed was constitutional except for one thing…he should not have been exiled. The Supreme Court called for his arrest, together with congress, because they had ruled the referendum you mentioned “unconstitutional” and “illegal”. To that he replied that only God and the Virgin of Suyapa could stop the referendum, and stormed the Air Force with a mob of his followers to “rescue” the ballots. He fired the military chief of staff for saying he wouldn’t provide security for an illegal referendum.
Then Congress and the Supreme Court ordered his arrest. This was done by the military, but that is in the constitution, it isn’t wrong or even unusual. The only thing they did wrong was to take him out of the country. Our constitution says that if any government official suggests modifying the articles that define the presidential term or reelection, they are automatically removed from office and barred from any public office for 10 years.
But, it seems Zelaya was provoking a self-coup. He would get his agenda through, either directly, or indirectly when the congress threw him out and the international community reinstated him.
Read La Gringa’s blog (http://lagringasblogicito.blogspot.com), it has excellent explanations of the situation, in English, and written by an American woman living in Honduras.
Amanda:
Thank you for your account of this event. Sadly, Hondurans and Honduran institutions have not been given the same opportunity to present their case. The real facts are these: Honduras is a democratic republic, and the government resides in three independent powers, the Executive, the Legislative and the Judiciary. The Honduras’ Supreme Court issued on June 27th an arrest warrant for Zelaya because he committed crimes against the Constitution. Zelaya wanted to hold an ill called popular consultation that the Courts, the National Congress, the Attorney General, and the Electoral Tribunal had deemed illegal because it is expressly prohibited by the Constitution. He was legally removed from office. Although having him expelled from the country might have been against the law, it is true that having him arrested in Honduras might have led to violence and bloodshed. The military have accepted that they probably broke the law, but they also appeal to a higher need to maintain peace, and are willing to go to trial for this (this is documented).
Roberto Micheletti assumed the presidency because he was next in line, simple as that. The National Congress remains working normally, the Supreme Court and the judiciary systems is working normally, and the new Executive is working normally (and more efficiently than before June 28th, I might add). General elections will be held on November 29th (primaries were held a year ago), and a new president, national congress and municipal authorities will be elected freely by the people. There is even an independent, leftist presidential candidate, among 5 different candidates. Does this seem like a military coup to you? Does this seem like Democracy is not working in Honduras??
A chronology of events, as well as documentation can be found at: http://www.laverdadenhonduras.com
I recommend everybody wanting to know the truth about the recent events in Honduras visit this site (most of the documents are in spanish, though, as they are copies from official documents).
Zelaya has hurt our country tremendously. He committed many crimes, some political, some common. His administration was probably the most corrupt in the history of Honduras. It is with sadness that we are witness to a world blind to the truth about Honduras. But most of Hondurans are relieved that he is no longer our President, and hope that the elections and the new government will provide for an opportunity to continue on the path of peace, democracy and development.
Saludos!
José
Dear all,
Thanks so much for your very interesting and informative comments! This is why it is crucial to get information out there and clarify the facts. I am so glad that all of you posted great blogs to check out to get more information. I will definitely follow up on that and encourage my readers to do the same. Information is very powerful, as we can see by huge amounts of misinterpretations and accounts of what is going on in one county.
Thanks!
Amanda