Yesterday evening, Florida Senator Mel Martinez released a statement concerning the events that led to the removal of Manuel Zelaya from the presidency of Honduras. In it, the Senator urged the Obama administration, as well as other countries, to refrain from taking sides in the dispute between the Honduran Congress and Supreme Court on one hand, and the now-deposed chief executive Manuel Zelaya on the other. Sen. Martinez’s statement read:
“The crisis in Honduras stems from the failure of its leaders to live within constitutional boundaries and from the earlier silence of the United States and international community regarding the abuse of power by the Honduran executive. Any disruption of the constitutional order is unacceptable, regardless of who commits it.
“In the current crisis, neither the U.S. nor other countries in the region or the international community should be taking sides in a constitutional dispute, but rather encouraging a resolution through dialogue among Hondurans and by helping Honduras maintain its currently scheduled presidential elections.”
Unfortunately, it may be too late. President Obama blundered the handling of the Honduran constitutional crisis from the start. According to the Associated Press, Mr. Obama made the following remarks when asked about the removal of Manuel Zelaya as President of Honduras:
"We believe that the coup was not legal and that President Zelaya remains the democratically elected president there. It would be a terrible precedent if we start moving backwards into the era in which we are seeing military coups as a means of political transition rather than democratic elections."
By referring to the actions of the Honduran Congress and Supreme Court as ‘illegal’ and ‘a military coup’ he limited the United States’ policy options on the matter. He did exactly what Sen. Martinez cautioned against, and now he finds himself boxed into a position that gives left-wing Latin American rulers such as Hugo Chavez, Daniel Ortega and Fidel Castro the freedom to subvert the democratic institutions of Honduras with impunity.
Venezuelan strongman Chavez, a close associate of Zelaya, had already played a prominent role in undermining Honduras’ democratic institutions. In fact, Chavez bears some direct responsibility for provoking the crisis that led to Zelaya’s ouster.
The clash between Mr. Zelaya and the other branches of government stems from the ex-President’s insistence on holding a referendum to change the Honduran Constitution to allow him to stay in power indefinitely. Currently, the Constitution limits the presidency to one four-year term. Mr. Zelaya’s was due to expire next January, and elections to choose a successor are scheduled for November. Moreover, as with the U.S. Constitution, any amendments to the Honduran Constitution must originate with the legislative branch, not the Executive. Nevertheless, Mr. Zelaya sought to carry out his unconstitutional plan even after the Honduran Congress, the Attorney General and, finally, the Honduran Supreme Court ruled it illegal.
When the Court barred him from using public funds, strongman Chavez stepped in and abetted the ex-President’s scheme by printing the ballots in Venezuela and shipping them to Zelaya. That fact alone should have raised a red flag in front of President Obama’s eyes before he uttered his unfortunate comments on the matter. But now that Chavez’s plot has been thwarted, he is making open threats against Honduras. Yesterday, the Associated Press attributed the following comments to him:
"I'll do everything possible to overthrow this gorilla government of Honduras. It must be overthrown. The rebellion in Honduras must be supported."
Neither the White House nor the State Department have commented on Chavez’s overt threat to foment subversion in Honduras. Considering that the Central American nation has common borders with Nicaragua, ruled by Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega, and El Salvador, ruled by FMLN militant Mauricio Funes, both Chavez allies, President Obama should issue a stern warning to outsiders against attempting to destabilize Honduras.
Meanwhile, most sectors of the American press continue reporting the crisis in a biased manner, giving the impression that Honduras is under military rule, when that is not the case. They fail to report that Zelaya was removed by the unanimous vote of the Honduran Congress. That legislative body consists of 128 elected representatives, of whom 122 were present at the time the resolution was passed. Those voting in support included 62 members of Mr. Zelaya’s own party.
According to reports from the Honduran daily La Prensa, the legislature considered a list of illegal acts undertaken by Mr. Zelaya and concluded that he “carried out unfortunate acts, showing contempt for the legal authorities and failing to carry out his legal and constitutional duties which, in one way or another contribute to the normal development of the activity of the nation’s life.” Included among those were his failure to enforce at least 96 laws enacted by the Congress, and to submit a budget, which he was required to do by September 15 of last year. It is also reported that the ex-President intended to dissolve the Congress as soon as his rogue referendum took place, thus paving the way to enforce it through Executive fiat.
President Obama should heed Sen. Martinez’s advice, admit that his earlier remarks were inaccurate and appoint an envoy experienced in Latin American affairs to visit Honduras, get the facts straight and report back to him. In the meantime, he should refrain from, and warn others against taking any hostile action against the current Honduran government.
(Above right: Sen. Mel Martinez official photo. Above left: Hondurans demonstrate in support of Zelaya's removal/La Prensa)
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For more info:
La Prensa reports on the naming of new cabinet members
La Prensa reports on reasons for Zelaya's removal
Associated Press report continues to refer to Honduran crisis as a military coup
Comments
oh you republicans. Even with a clear cut issue as to respect a democratically elected official like the president of Honduras, you still can't get it right. At least the rest of the world understands and respects that even if you don't like or agree with a leader you don't go in with guns in darkness and rush a president to another country.
Tony,
Democratically elected officials are not above the law. The Honduran Congress impeached Mr. Zelaya for his refusal to abide by the orders of the Supreme Court. He was fortunate he was given the opportunity to go to Costa Rica, instead of being arrested and tried for his crimes. The Honduran military executed a judicial order. That's all. No generals are running the Honduran government, as occurs in a coup. The President of the Congress, who is the constitutional successor to the impeached ex-President was sworn in as President to finish out Zelaya's term. The Congress has not been dissolved, the courts have not been shut down. I wonder how you'd have felt if G.W. Bush had tried to change our Constitution by holding his own referendum to stay in power as long as he wanted.
Manuel Zelaya our ex president has committed Treason to our country and Constitution. The army took him away of the country since he was a real danger to lots of the people`s minds since he tried to buy their conscience with the money of the government. Most of the people he tried to convince live in misery and poverty in our country and survive with just one dollar per day and he offered them free food to vote for him and his reelection.
From the moment he failed to respect and abide by our was (which he has violated many) he is no longer the President of Honduras. He will be aquitted like a Honduras citizen , better said criminal. Please understand he had warned about the repercussions of his actions, and yet he decided to contnue his wrong doings. This article is greatly appreciated , it seems like very few people care to see the real picture of democracy and understand the respect for other countries Constitution. Thanks
Tony, I am a honduran citizen living in Honduras. No man is above the law, not even a President. This guy got what he deserved, we will have our electtion in november. Ninety percent of us are in favor of what happened, we love our democracy even with its flaws. We don't want to live in a leftist authoritarian regime. But you wont get that from your news channels, especially CNN.
Jorge A. Castillo
La Ceiba, Honduras
Thanks, once again, for speaking the truth, Blas. Obama's remarks takes "gaffe" to a whole new level.
Happy Independence Day to you!
Well said!
We, the people of Honduras feel abandoned by the international community! We have just acted to defend our laws, our freedom, our democracy. No coup has taken place here, but a lawful destitution of a corrupt megalomaniac who used socialism as a crutch to support his ultimate goal of staying in power indefinitely under strict compliance of Chavez's so-called socialist franchise!
Long Live Dmocracy, Long Live our Freedom, long Live the Rule of Law.... Long Live The Republic of Honduras!
Very good and objective Sir. The destitution of Manuel Zelaya is legal and was approved not by the militars but by our Supreme Court and Legislators. Zelaya is a delinquent, traidor and is connected to Narcotics. His followers are destroying our country in certain parts of the nation, throwing granades, pulling out atm machines, graffiti...Do we want this man back in Honduras? NEVER, No, and a thousand times NO.
Mel Zelaya thought he was above the law. Even though Honduran Congress and Supreme Court warned him what he was doing was ilegal; his remarks were "who is going to stop me, I am in charge of the military and police".
SENATOR, MARTINEZ THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT, AND ITS NEVER TO LATE ,TO WIN ABATTLE , WE THE GOOD SONS OF HONDURAS WILL NEVER ALOUD CHAVE/ZELAYA REGIMEN , WILL FITGH TILL DEATH IF NECESARY, WILL TURN IN A 7 MILLION SOLDIERS
WE THINK AND STILL BELIVE THAT THE UNITED STATES IT'S OUR ALLIED AND THEY ARE THE FORDE WHO HELPS TO KEEP PEACE IN THE WORLD , BUT IF THAT ISN'T MR. OBAMA WAY OF THINKING TELL HIM THAT DO NOT INTEFIRE IN OUR CAUSE, ONLY THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE KNOWN OUR REALITTY AND OUR DAY TO DAY, OF THE EXPIRIENCE TO HAVE A COMUNIST PRESIDENT, AND THAT NEVER HAPPENS BEFORE .
BEST REGARDS
JAVIER FERNANDEZ
PROUS HONDURAN CITIZEN
Thank you Senator for your support.
We are trying to live in peace in Honduras now that the ex-president is gone....and we hope he never comes back!!! But we can't since we have venezuelans, nicaraguans throwing granades and vandalizing our country. Manuel Zelaya is a liar and does not respect anything only to get his way....we will not let our democracy be taken away nor freedom, VIVA HONDURAS!!!
Dear Mr. Blas,
Thank you so much for speaking the truth about the Honduran situation. This has all happened under the full support and blessing of the Honduran people, and comes as a relief that our country will remain safe from dictators after months of grief and worry under Manuel Zelaya. The writing on the wall was clear, we were going the same path as Venezuela, until our branches of government took legal, peaceful action to remove him.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being one of the few in the media to speak the truth, let's hope others listen and take notice.
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