Obama Administration takes wrong stand on Honduras

For all those who didn't follow what was happening last June, you might have heard of a "military coup" in Honduras. The US State department condemned the taking of President Manuel Zelaya to Costa Rica via some help from the Honduran military. On the outset, it sounds pretty sinister. Latin America has a long history of military leaders trampling on democratic administrations, that is a fact. But upon closer review, the military actually protected the Honduran Constitution and it's Democracy.

Let's start at the beginning. Manuel Zelaya was elected democratically as President of Honduras in 2005. Great, good for the Honduran people. But then a problem started to grow. You see, the Honduran Constitution allows for the President to serve only ONE term. It is limited per the constitution, sorry. But Mr. Zelaya wanted it changed. He proposed a national referendum to change the term limits. Problem. Only the Honduran Congress (yes, they have one) has the power to change the constitution. Another problem. Mr. Zelaya is a big fan of President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. A leader that while was first elected democratically, has since used democratic means such as referendums to change the consititution. President Chavez has since swept away those pesky term limits in Venezuela. He used demcratic means to destroy democracy.

Back to Honduras. The issue went to the Honduran Supreme Court, (yes, they have one of those too) and President Zelaya lost his attempt to change the constitution. Mr. Zelaya started the crisis by declaring his intent to go forward with the referendum no matter what the Honduran Congress and Supreme Court said. What is a democracy with separation of powers to do? The military had the right to enforce the Supreme Court decision, the Supreme Court publicly stated so. The military picked up the President in his pajamas and flew him to Costa Rica. Not nice, but he was not imprisoned, tortured or beaten, simply removed. The Military did NOT take over. The soldiers returned to their barracks. They is no military junta running the country. Roberto Micheletti, who is of the same political party as Mr. Zelaya, was sworn in as Interim President and elections are set for this November. No military men are on the ballot, Mr. Micheletti and Mr Zelaya are not on the ballot either. The candidates on the ballot have been campaigning since last year.

You would think that the Obama Adminsitration would support Honduran Democracy against a creeping totalitarianism but alas, no. The Obama Administration finds itself in the strange situation of being on the same side of such "champions" of democracy as Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and Raul Castro of Cuba. Who is running Latin American affairs for the US? Bozo the clown? Very strange.

Former President Zelaya has since sneeked back into Honduras a couple of weeks ago and is holed up in the Brazilian Embassy. Discussions are ongoing between him and Mr. Micheletti, and I will review the latest info. Hopefully, Mr. Zelaya will honor the presidential term limits but I wouldn't hold my breath. He is the most dangerous of politicians, the ones that stay on beyond their welcome.

Viva la democracia Hondurena!