armymom1228
10-27-2009, 07:26
I found this article while doing research about the Bay Islands of Honduras. I have fri.inds who live there, and are trying to get me to move there, buy property and retire. That is the basis for my off and on again CA questions here. I think it is a worthy read for someone who doesn't understand what is or was going on with Zelaya. If you go to the website, there are many links embedded in the article.
I am sure there are those here who know and understand a great deal more of the situation than I do or ever will. But for those who have only had benefit of the MSM in America, this is worth the time it takes to read it. Certianly a different slant on it from our MSM here.
It was written in June of 2009, I think. It most definitely has personal bias, but still interesting to read.
This article is being written by the WebMaster of AboutUtila.com in support of the people of Honduras following the expulsion of now ex-President Mel Zelaya from Honduras on Sun 28-Jun-2009.
I have been living in Utila, Honduras for the past seven years, have married a Honduran and support two Honduran children, one of whom is my adopted daughter.
Many people in Utila and Honduras are very concerned that the external perception of the current political situation in Honduras is being sensationalized and incorrectly reported, and as such will significantly damage the reputation of Honduras in the "eyes of the world" as a peaceful and stable country. Of particular concern are the reports that this was a “Military Coup” and the continued use by several in the media of the phrase “Military Coup”. This was NOT a “Military Coup”, the Honduras Military did everything they could to stay out of the situation. Arguably, it was not even a Coup, since there is significant evidence that the Honduras Congress, Attorney General, and Supreme Court acted legally to remove President Zelaya from power for repeated and intended acts that had previously been ruled illegal and unconstitutional by those bodies. Read on and I will try and explain my perception of events.
Pro-Democracy March
La Ceiba. 2-Jul-09
La Prensa - HondurasI have just returned to Utila (on 2-Jul-2009) from a one day trip to La Ceiba on the mainland of Honduras with my family and have been urged by my Honduras friends there and here in Utila to publish something in English about the recent events in Honduras. Almost equally importantly (to Hondurans), I have been urged to comment about the distorted, sensationalist, and factually incorrect reporting of recent events by the International News Media, in particular CNN en Espańol, and the recent statements issued by political organizations such as OAS (Organization of American States), SICA (El Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana), The United Nations, The European Union, etc, supporting the re-instatement of the deposed ex-President Mel Zelaya.
The greatest disappointment has probably been the initial statements by Barak Obama and especially Hillary Clinton in support of the deposed ex-President, statements which seem in direct contradiction to the statements made in support of the people of Iran and their struggle for democracy. This is especially disappointing since the vast majority of Hondurans were delighted with the election of Barak Obama as the President of the United States and considered him to be principled supporter of the democrat process over the "politically expedient".
On 2-Jul-2009, peaceful marches were held all over Honduras and here in Utila in support of the current Honduras Government (the Congress, the Supreme Court) and Military. The marches were apolitical in that all political parties participated and the marches were an expression by the Honduras people in support of their Democracy and Constitution. The, almost universal view, within Honduras is that Honduras has followed a legal and constitutional process to oust a President who had committed illegal and unconstitutional acts and was trying to amend the Honduras Constitution in advance of the November 2009 elections so that he could remain in power beyond the Constitutions 4 year term limit, perhaps even going so far as to follow Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez's policy of ending Presidential term limits as announced on August 15, 2007, (but narrowly defeated by a 51% majority in the Venezuela Referendum on December 2, 2007).
I have been following the Honduras political situation for some time now. Ever since the Honduras nation wide protests resulting from Mel Zelaya joining PetroCaribe on December 21, 2007, the Venezuelan oil-for-cash-and-goods initiative and thus saddling Honduras with a potential 25 year debt. Many Hondurans were further dismayed to see Mel Zelaya swing further left by signing an agreement for Honduras to join ALBA (Bolivarian Alliance for the People of Our America), which provoked bitter criticism from the Honduras business community during which Chávez picked a fight with the Honduran press, whom he called "pitiyanquis" (little Yankee imitators) and "abject hand-lickers of the Yankees".
Ostensibly a free trade agreement, but unlike other free trade agreements, ALBA represents a Chávez inspired political counter action to CAFTA (Central America Free Trade Agreement) [bi-lateral free trade agreements with the United States of America - Honduras largest trading partner, purchasing some 70% of Honduras exports] proposing regional economic integration that is not based primarily on trade liberalization but on a vision of social welfare, bartering and mutual economic aid. ALBA also proposes a new currency for its members, the SUCRE (System for Regional Compensation).
Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez (L) is
embraced by his Honduran counterpart Mel
Zelaya upon his arrival in Honduras
15 January, 2008.
(Foto: Getty Images)Worrying to many Hondurans were the statements made by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez on Honduras joining ALBA - "Today we are signing not only a fraternal pact of solidarity, but also an integration project for Latin America that stands out as an alternative to imperial hegemony and integrates progressive governments that are proposing a way out of oppressive imperialism," Chávez said.
Adding to the concern about damaging USA relations were the statements made by Mel Zelaya - Zelaya said. "This is a heroic act of independence and we need no one’s permission [referring to the USA] to sign this commitment. Today we are taking a step towards becoming a government of the centre-left, and if anyone dislikes this, well just remove the word ‘centre’ and keep the second one."
I have provided the above so that readers will hopefully gain an understanding that the recent crisis did not occur overnight. The events leading up to the current crisis have been brewing for many, many months. As President, Mel Zelaya been making increasingly bizarre left-wing and Chávez/Castro-like pronouncements and moving closer to the more radical leaders in Latin America, much to the concern of many Hondurans.
Similar to the USA, Honduras Government has three major branches, The Executive (run by the President), The Legislature (The Congress) and the Supreme Court. Article 239 of the Honduras Constitution states that no President can be elected to more than one term. It also states that any citizen who seeks to change the article needs to resign his or her public office. Moreover, Article 42, Section 5 of the Constitution states that promoting the re-election of the President is grounds for the revocation of citizenship, and Articles 5, 373 and 374 make it clear that the president serves only one term and that this rule cannot be changed - even by constitutional amendment or referendum.
In March 2009, President Zelaya issued a Decree (PCM-005-2009) to create a new Honduras Constitution, for what reason he did not say, but regardless the Honduras Supreme Court ruled the decree illegal and unconstitutional. However, President Zelaya persisted, and issued a further Presidential Decrees (PCM-019-2009), initially proposing an opinion poll, then ultimately a referendum be held on 28-Jun-09 on the issue of writing a new Honduras Constitution. Again these moves were ruled unconstitutional by the Honduras Supreme Court and leading to The Congress passing a new law on 23-Jun-09 making it illegal for referendums to be held 180 days before or after a general election.
I am sure there are those here who know and understand a great deal more of the situation than I do or ever will. But for those who have only had benefit of the MSM in America, this is worth the time it takes to read it. Certianly a different slant on it from our MSM here.
It was written in June of 2009, I think. It most definitely has personal bias, but still interesting to read.
This article is being written by the WebMaster of AboutUtila.com in support of the people of Honduras following the expulsion of now ex-President Mel Zelaya from Honduras on Sun 28-Jun-2009.
I have been living in Utila, Honduras for the past seven years, have married a Honduran and support two Honduran children, one of whom is my adopted daughter.
Many people in Utila and Honduras are very concerned that the external perception of the current political situation in Honduras is being sensationalized and incorrectly reported, and as such will significantly damage the reputation of Honduras in the "eyes of the world" as a peaceful and stable country. Of particular concern are the reports that this was a “Military Coup” and the continued use by several in the media of the phrase “Military Coup”. This was NOT a “Military Coup”, the Honduras Military did everything they could to stay out of the situation. Arguably, it was not even a Coup, since there is significant evidence that the Honduras Congress, Attorney General, and Supreme Court acted legally to remove President Zelaya from power for repeated and intended acts that had previously been ruled illegal and unconstitutional by those bodies. Read on and I will try and explain my perception of events.
Pro-Democracy March
La Ceiba. 2-Jul-09
La Prensa - HondurasI have just returned to Utila (on 2-Jul-2009) from a one day trip to La Ceiba on the mainland of Honduras with my family and have been urged by my Honduras friends there and here in Utila to publish something in English about the recent events in Honduras. Almost equally importantly (to Hondurans), I have been urged to comment about the distorted, sensationalist, and factually incorrect reporting of recent events by the International News Media, in particular CNN en Espańol, and the recent statements issued by political organizations such as OAS (Organization of American States), SICA (El Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana), The United Nations, The European Union, etc, supporting the re-instatement of the deposed ex-President Mel Zelaya.
The greatest disappointment has probably been the initial statements by Barak Obama and especially Hillary Clinton in support of the deposed ex-President, statements which seem in direct contradiction to the statements made in support of the people of Iran and their struggle for democracy. This is especially disappointing since the vast majority of Hondurans were delighted with the election of Barak Obama as the President of the United States and considered him to be principled supporter of the democrat process over the "politically expedient".
On 2-Jul-2009, peaceful marches were held all over Honduras and here in Utila in support of the current Honduras Government (the Congress, the Supreme Court) and Military. The marches were apolitical in that all political parties participated and the marches were an expression by the Honduras people in support of their Democracy and Constitution. The, almost universal view, within Honduras is that Honduras has followed a legal and constitutional process to oust a President who had committed illegal and unconstitutional acts and was trying to amend the Honduras Constitution in advance of the November 2009 elections so that he could remain in power beyond the Constitutions 4 year term limit, perhaps even going so far as to follow Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez's policy of ending Presidential term limits as announced on August 15, 2007, (but narrowly defeated by a 51% majority in the Venezuela Referendum on December 2, 2007).
I have been following the Honduras political situation for some time now. Ever since the Honduras nation wide protests resulting from Mel Zelaya joining PetroCaribe on December 21, 2007, the Venezuelan oil-for-cash-and-goods initiative and thus saddling Honduras with a potential 25 year debt. Many Hondurans were further dismayed to see Mel Zelaya swing further left by signing an agreement for Honduras to join ALBA (Bolivarian Alliance for the People of Our America), which provoked bitter criticism from the Honduras business community during which Chávez picked a fight with the Honduran press, whom he called "pitiyanquis" (little Yankee imitators) and "abject hand-lickers of the Yankees".
Ostensibly a free trade agreement, but unlike other free trade agreements, ALBA represents a Chávez inspired political counter action to CAFTA (Central America Free Trade Agreement) [bi-lateral free trade agreements with the United States of America - Honduras largest trading partner, purchasing some 70% of Honduras exports] proposing regional economic integration that is not based primarily on trade liberalization but on a vision of social welfare, bartering and mutual economic aid. ALBA also proposes a new currency for its members, the SUCRE (System for Regional Compensation).
Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez (L) is
embraced by his Honduran counterpart Mel
Zelaya upon his arrival in Honduras
15 January, 2008.
(Foto: Getty Images)Worrying to many Hondurans were the statements made by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez on Honduras joining ALBA - "Today we are signing not only a fraternal pact of solidarity, but also an integration project for Latin America that stands out as an alternative to imperial hegemony and integrates progressive governments that are proposing a way out of oppressive imperialism," Chávez said.
Adding to the concern about damaging USA relations were the statements made by Mel Zelaya - Zelaya said. "This is a heroic act of independence and we need no one’s permission [referring to the USA] to sign this commitment. Today we are taking a step towards becoming a government of the centre-left, and if anyone dislikes this, well just remove the word ‘centre’ and keep the second one."
I have provided the above so that readers will hopefully gain an understanding that the recent crisis did not occur overnight. The events leading up to the current crisis have been brewing for many, many months. As President, Mel Zelaya been making increasingly bizarre left-wing and Chávez/Castro-like pronouncements and moving closer to the more radical leaders in Latin America, much to the concern of many Hondurans.
Similar to the USA, Honduras Government has three major branches, The Executive (run by the President), The Legislature (The Congress) and the Supreme Court. Article 239 of the Honduras Constitution states that no President can be elected to more than one term. It also states that any citizen who seeks to change the article needs to resign his or her public office. Moreover, Article 42, Section 5 of the Constitution states that promoting the re-election of the President is grounds for the revocation of citizenship, and Articles 5, 373 and 374 make it clear that the president serves only one term and that this rule cannot be changed - even by constitutional amendment or referendum.
In March 2009, President Zelaya issued a Decree (PCM-005-2009) to create a new Honduras Constitution, for what reason he did not say, but regardless the Honduras Supreme Court ruled the decree illegal and unconstitutional. However, President Zelaya persisted, and issued a further Presidential Decrees (PCM-019-2009), initially proposing an opinion poll, then ultimately a referendum be held on 28-Jun-09 on the issue of writing a new Honduras Constitution. Again these moves were ruled unconstitutional by the Honduras Supreme Court and leading to The Congress passing a new law on 23-Jun-09 making it illegal for referendums to be held 180 days before or after a general election.