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He did not want to medle in the iranian freedom protests but he sure wants to medle in this sovereign states actions, along with Hugo Chavez, Swampy
President Barack Obama, the United Nations, and Hugo Chavez all seem to agree — ousted Honduran president Manuel Zelaya should be restored to power. But the current Honduran government insists that if he returns to the country, he will be arrested on charges of violating the constitution, drug trafficking, and organized crime, among other serious allegations.
Despite being labeled a military coup by most of the press, officials in Honduras insist Zelaya’s forced removal stems from a unanimous decision by the nation’s supreme court. “The only thing the armed forces did was carry out an arrest order,” said supreme court justice Rosalinda Cruz. “There’s no doubt he was preparing his own coup by conspiring to shut down the congress and courts.” The justice claims the process was legal, adding that “as a sovereign and independent nation, we have the right to freely decide to remove a president who was violating our laws.”
The deposed leader was charged with treason after pushing a referendum to extend the constitutional limit of his term in office — a move which the courts and congress had ruled illegal. Zelaya fired the chief of the armed forces for following a court order to confiscate the ballots he planned to use for the vote. And though he was finally ousted based on an order from the court, Congress was also proceeding with the impeachment process. Zelaya was a close ally of leftist Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, who used similar tactics to remain in power.
Along with the United Nations’ general assembly, the Organization of American States has also demanded Zelaya be returned to office. The hemispheric body has threatened Honduras with suspension if it did not comply within three days. The unanimous resolution from the UN, which was co-sponsored by America, asks that other countries refrain from recognizing the interim government led by former Congressional leader Roberto Micheletti. More international pressure is being applied by the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, which have ordered loans and payments to Honduras suspended. Other countries close by have suspended trade.
“No one can make me resign if I do not violate the laws of the country,” said Micheletti, a member of Zelaya’s party who plans to remain in power until the next election. Repeatedly thanking God, he also explained that what occurred was not a coup and that the nation supports the move. "If there is any invasion against our country, 7.5 million Hondurans will be ready to defend our territory and our laws and our homeland and our government," he said, perhaps making reference to Chavez who has put his armed forces on alert. The U.S. military announced the suspension of all joint operations with Honduras.
Critics of Zelaya’s ouster have claimed foreign interference could be at work. Speculation regarding the role of the CIA is also widespread, though Obama has suggested the U.S. has been against the move all along. According to School of America’s Watch, a watchdog organization that focuses on the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, at least two of the “coup” leaders — including the chief of the armed forces Gen. Romeo Vasquez — were trained at the notorious institution in Fort Benning, Georgia. The Department of Defense school, which has trained some 60,000 Latin American soldiers, has been linked by critics to torture, death squads and a myriad of repressive regimes. But the role of the U.S. in Honduras’ predicament — if there is one — so far remains unclear.
Zelaya plans to return to Honduras with a delegation of leaders from other nations and international institutions, though the attorney general has warned that he will be immediately arrested. "We have the warrants ready so that he stays in jail in Honduras and is judged according to the country's laws," announced the nation’s foreign minister. Zelaya was flown to Costa Rica in his pajamas after the military removed him from office.
The last thing the Honduran people need is a leader like Chavez who defies his countries laws and institutions to usher in socialism under the guise of “helping the poor.” But despite this, the U.S. should refrain from intervention in the political disputes of other nations. It is not surprising that the U.N. would support Zelaya, since it has a long history of supporting leftist leaders.
President Obama’s support for the U.N. resolution or the ousted president will not benefit Americans or Honduras. The best route for Washington would be to follow the advice of America’s founders and refrain from meddling. Supporting the U.N. and opposing Honduras’ constitutional institutions will only lead to more problems.
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President Barack Obama, the United Nations, and Hugo Chavez all seem to agree — ousted Honduran president Manuel Zelaya should be restored to power. But the current Honduran government insists that if he returns to the country, he will be arrested on charges of violating the constitution, drug trafficking, and organized crime, among other serious allegations.
Despite being labeled a military coup by most of the press, officials in Honduras insist Zelaya’s forced removal stems from a unanimous decision by the nation’s supreme court. “The only thing the armed forces did was carry out an arrest order,” said supreme court justice Rosalinda Cruz. “There’s no doubt he was preparing his own coup by conspiring to shut down the congress and courts.” The justice claims the process was legal, adding that “as a sovereign and independent nation, we have the right to freely decide to remove a president who was violating our laws.”
The deposed leader was charged with treason after pushing a referendum to extend the constitutional limit of his term in office — a move which the courts and congress had ruled illegal. Zelaya fired the chief of the armed forces for following a court order to confiscate the ballots he planned to use for the vote. And though he was finally ousted based on an order from the court, Congress was also proceeding with the impeachment process. Zelaya was a close ally of leftist Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, who used similar tactics to remain in power.
Along with the United Nations’ general assembly, the Organization of American States has also demanded Zelaya be returned to office. The hemispheric body has threatened Honduras with suspension if it did not comply within three days. The unanimous resolution from the UN, which was co-sponsored by America, asks that other countries refrain from recognizing the interim government led by former Congressional leader Roberto Micheletti. More international pressure is being applied by the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, which have ordered loans and payments to Honduras suspended. Other countries close by have suspended trade.
“No one can make me resign if I do not violate the laws of the country,” said Micheletti, a member of Zelaya’s party who plans to remain in power until the next election. Repeatedly thanking God, he also explained that what occurred was not a coup and that the nation supports the move. "If there is any invasion against our country, 7.5 million Hondurans will be ready to defend our territory and our laws and our homeland and our government," he said, perhaps making reference to Chavez who has put his armed forces on alert. The U.S. military announced the suspension of all joint operations with Honduras.
Critics of Zelaya’s ouster have claimed foreign interference could be at work. Speculation regarding the role of the CIA is also widespread, though Obama has suggested the U.S. has been against the move all along. According to School of America’s Watch, a watchdog organization that focuses on the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, at least two of the “coup” leaders — including the chief of the armed forces Gen. Romeo Vasquez — were trained at the notorious institution in Fort Benning, Georgia. The Department of Defense school, which has trained some 60,000 Latin American soldiers, has been linked by critics to torture, death squads and a myriad of repressive regimes. But the role of the U.S. in Honduras’ predicament — if there is one — so far remains unclear.
Zelaya plans to return to Honduras with a delegation of leaders from other nations and international institutions, though the attorney general has warned that he will be immediately arrested. "We have the warrants ready so that he stays in jail in Honduras and is judged according to the country's laws," announced the nation’s foreign minister. Zelaya was flown to Costa Rica in his pajamas after the military removed him from office.
The last thing the Honduran people need is a leader like Chavez who defies his countries laws and institutions to usher in socialism under the guise of “helping the poor.” But despite this, the U.S. should refrain from intervention in the political disputes of other nations. It is not surprising that the U.N. would support Zelaya, since it has a long history of supporting leftist leaders.
President Obama’s support for the U.N. resolution or the ousted president will not benefit Americans or Honduras. The best route for Washington would be to follow the advice of America’s founders and refrain from meddling. Supporting the U.N. and opposing Honduras’ constitutional institutions will only lead to more problems.
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