Thursday, June 25, 2009

Honduras: Uproar over armed forces firing (Updated)

Update (10:15pm):
Despite being ordered by the Supreme Court to restore the armed forces chief President Manuel Zelaya vowed to defy the tribunal's orders.

This is not good.

Original Post:
Earlier today we alluded to how the political situation has heated up over President Manuel Zelaya’s plans to reform the Honduran constitution. The situation came to a boil today with the firing and possible return of the armed forces head.

Four days before a constitutional referendum is to take place, Zelaya fired the armed forces chief and the Minister of Defense after both officials refused to back Zelaya. "There is a crisis generated by some sectors who have promoted destabilization and chaos with the intent of causing serious problems for democracy in Honduras," Zelaya said last night in a televised speech. In a move of solidarity the heads of the Army, Navy, and Air Force subsequently quit; thus leaving a crisis of power in the Central American country’s powerful armed forces.

Moments ago, however, the country’s top court intervened and ordered Zelaya to reinstate the armed forces head:
The Supreme Court reinstated Gen. Romeo Vasquez as head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff a day after Zelaya fired him for refusing to support Sunday's referendum, which is meant to measure voter support for possible constitution reforms.

Court President Jorge Rivera warned that if Zelaya does not honor the court ruling, "he will have to face penal consequences."'

The top court, Congress and the attorney general say the vote is illegal because it would violate constitutional clauses barring some reforms.
For his part, Vazquez said that he respected Zelaya’s decision though warned that the president is violating Honduran law.

The nonbinding referendum would ask voters if they want to move ahead and permit an assembly to make a new constitution.

Image- BBC News
Online Sources- Monsters & Critics, AP, CNN, BBC News

6 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:12 PM

    Estoy muy orgullosa de haber nacido en un pais Libre y Democratico, en donde el dia de hoy nuestras Fuerzas Armadas se han levantado a favor de una Constitucion que nos ha dado Libertad, Paz y Cordura.
    Y para verguenza nuestra el ciudadano presidente ha recurrido a la ayuda de otro homologo suyo de america del sur, el cual ha intervenido en asuntos que no son propios de su patria.
    Honduras para los Hondureños.

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  2. Army ar_sps@hotmail.com10:44 PM

    The Honduran president is a perfect example of politicians benefiting from keeping most of the population poor and ignorant. He has to be held accountable for all of the uncertainty and fear in our peaceful country. Yes we have plenty of troubles and hardships, but the vast majority of people are hard working and good willed.

    I'll post later & provide more info...

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  3. Anonymous11:32 PM

    Zelayas government has been qualified by civil society in Honduras as the worst and most corrupt government since the instalation of democracy 25 years ago. The world must understand that the President of Honduras is installing a regime of violence, with the help of Hugo Chavez, the venezuelan Dictator, and following to the letter the CHAVEZ plan. A plan to debilitate institutions, to establish a dictatorship, and give one man, Manuel Zelaya, all of the power.

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  4. Anonymous5:43 AM

    The truth is president Zelaya has become an expert at manipulating masses either by buying them off, or by showing “empathy” to their economic condition. He is trying to re-elect himself, and to promote it, he´s spent the country to ruin. Meanwhile, the population suffers from lack of medical supplies in the public hospitals, no relief fund for the recent earthquake, and has broken his constitutional duty to submit the country´s annual budget. No one supports him except some coerced public employees, indigenous tribes and other inland social organizations, that due to their scholarity level, don´t even know what they´re been summoned to support. He´s trying to promote corrupted leftist ideals, and has deliveres this country to Venezuelan dictator Chávez, who even threatens Honduran law-abiding citizens by sending his army. Currently, the U.S. is an example of a working form of democracy in the continent, and as so, I wish they took interest in protecting a country that shares their democratic ideals, and aspires to continue in freedom and live up to this Great Nation, before Chavez finishes his mission to poision all of America. President Zelaya is also, through his news network, trying to manipulate information, not only inside the country, but misinforming the Organization of American States (OAS) of the situation, since he has already lost support here.

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  5. Anonymous9:25 AM

    Taiwan and Israel have recognized the interim government. Taiwan y Israel reconocen el gobierno transitorio de Honduras.Taiwan e Israel reconhecem o governo transitório de Honduras.

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  6. Taiwan and Israel have NOT officially recognized the interim government. Interim president Micheletti admitted that it was rumored that he had their support but it's yet to be official. In fact, not a single country has backed the acting regime:
    http://www.miamiherald.com/news/americas/v-print/story/1124528.html

    Taiwan y Honduras NO han reconosido oficialmente el regimen de Micheletti en Honduras. Fue un rumor que dijo Micheletti la semana pasada. Ningun pais extranjero a oficialmente dado su respaldo al gobierno interino Hondureno.

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