I don't usually post on things of this nature, but having worked and traveled in Latin America for over 25 years and having been to Honduras many times in the past I feel I have to. I have friends there and it is a shame what is currently happening in their country. I called several of them in Tegucigalpa this morning to find out how they were faring throughout this whole ordeal."The problem is Chavez," one of my friends kept repeating on the phone. "If he would go, all of this nonsense would stop in Nicaragua, Bolivia and now here. He is meddling in our affairs and has caused this whole mess by providing Zelaya delusions of grandeur." When I asked him what he meant by that, he told me that Zelaya wants to be like Chavez, essentially a president for life and the Honduran constitution specifically forbids re-election.
This CNN article is an interesting one because if you really read it closely you will see that without coming out and saying it they are intimating that Venezuela has been influencing events in Honduras throughout this unfortunate incident.
Consider the following two passages.
"Though deposed, Zelaya continued to carry out his presidential duties and was scheduled to speak before the U.N. General Assembly at 11 a.m. Tuesday. He attended a special meeting of the leftist group ALBA -- the Spanish acronym for the Bolivarian Alliance of the Peoples of Our America -- on Monday in Nicaragua. ALBA, founded by Cuba and Venezuela in 2004 to counter U.S. influence in Latin America, said member nations would withdraw ambassadors and other top diplomats from Honduras until Zelaya was restored to power."
And...
"The TV station, formed by several Latin American governments and partly funded by the pro-Zelaya Venezuelan government, also aired images of demonstrators setting fires on streets and black smoke rising."
The station is Telesur and my friend says that this is what is being aired constantly. It is not until you get to the very bottom of the article that you get the following passages.
"Zelaya had been at odds with the other branches of government over a referendum he wanted to hold Sunday. The nation's Supreme Court had ruled that the referendum was illegal and Congress had voted not to hold it.
Zelaya disregarded those actions and vowed to hold the vote Sunday anyway."
Chavez, who has no official standing in Honduras, other than Top Meddler in other countries' sovereign affairs, has called the top general, (who refused to follow Zelaya's presidential order which violated the constitution this general had sworn to protect and defend), a traitor and worm and vowed to invade Honduras. He has made these statements publicly and I wonder why CNN does not report that.
Finally there is this in the article.
"According to mainstream Honduran media sources, Zelaya's removal has the widespread support of the political and business elite and the military, and it appears doubtful that he will be able to return to power," said Heather Berkman, an analyst with the Eurasia Group consulting firm."
It is not just the elite. The middle class, like my friend, understands that Zelaya is a populist in the mold of Chavez who will lead them down the path of socialism and eventual bankruptcy. No one in a democracy wants a president for life. The two are mutually incompatible.
The problem is Chavez. He is a cancer on the continent. It started in Venezuela and is now metastasizing.
13 comments:
Chavez is a tool.
If Mel Zelaya man returns to power in Honduras it will be the beginning of the end for democracy for the Central American countries. Chavez wants him as President of Honduras so that he can have a strong base in Central America. Zelaya is a corrupt individual that has ties to drug lords and has clearly broken the Honduran law and wants to impose a leftist type of government. I’m appalled to see that the international community and in particular the US is backing such a corrupt individual. If this is the leadership that Barack Obama promised to bring to Latin America we are doomed.
CNN report on the peaceful masses that are in the streets of the major cities in favor of this action. Hondurans want to live without the influence of Chavez and Ortega (next door in Nicaragua). This is one strong voice that will not give in to the leftist, socialist dictatorships that so many others have fallen into. I am proud of what the Hondurans are doing, what they have demostrated to the world, the slap in the face of Chavez, Castro, Ortega, Morales of Latin America. Lets help them, lets listen to them, this is the true voice of the people of Honduras. Peace, Liberty, and complete respect to the constitution of the republic.
The Honduran people are speaking with peaceful actions. They are gathered in the streets to support the ousting of Zelaya. They are not going to give in to the lies of the dictators who just want to remain in power. They are corrupt, and the Honduran people stand on the side of democracy as instituted in their constitution. This man wants something else, he wants to change the constitution as Chavez and the others of his like have done. There are disturbances in the country which are being organized by professional instigators sent from Venezuela and Nicaragua. The people of Honduras are united and trying to tell the world that they want this, that this is a country made of people who want to remain free, live in peace, love one another, and remain democratic. Lets support them, they are strong and have demostrated that they are not going to give in to evil....
First I have to say that I am a strong supporter of President Obama and many of the reforms that he's proposed. That being said, I cannot believe how obviously wrong his administration is on this subject. He should have stuck with the line that it was an internal matter to be settled by a sovereign nation. I do understand the concern with the methods used and setting a dangerous tone for the future of Latin American countries, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Anyone that has been in contact with Zelaya (I was introduced to him at a party once) generally has the feeling that something is amiss. Look at the facts UN, US, OAS: He proposed a vote that is unconstitutional, was denied by parliament and the justice system and decided to do it anyway. He fired the head of the armed forces because Zelaya tried to make General Vasquez do something ILLEGAL and Vasquez refused. Zelaya is a "mini Chavez" and I can't believe our government is supporting him. Also, where is the actual reporting that our stations claim to do? Has anyone checked out Zelaya's background, actions or obvious ties to America's chief detractors? Oh wait, that won't sell news will it? This should give the American public a wake up call. The press in the US has been feeding us lame headlines and half truths as if it were candy. We should demand higher standards or pull the plugs. Let's look into our news and not support Chavez, ... err... Zelaya based on irresponsible reporting and news sales.
Honduras for the Hondurans. Chavistas out! Let them live in peace. Hondurans are a good people who want their country to remain democratic. Good riddance to the ouster of Zelaya. Let us back them, not be wimps.
I'm Honduran and I'm so happy that someone outside wrote this telling the world what is happening here. Today we had pacific manifestations supporting the new government. It was a beautiful protest, people singing and shouting "Viva Honduras" everything went well until the people who supports Zelaya came with stones to scare, hurt and insult the people who was there. Is this what we want in Honduras. Believe me, no is not. People from everywhere agreed on putting outside their houses white sheets, or flags to tell the world, to tell Chavez, Zelaya and all his friends that we want peace, that we have had enough from them and we don't want them here. I've never seen this country more united than now. People from different social classes, religions, parties, ages are together saying to Zeleya: No More! Zelaya claims to be opposed by the "Burguesy" of this country. This is not true. The people who opposes him is the people who works hard everyday to get something to eat to their families, people who goes to school looking for a better future, people who knows that we were born free and free want to remain. I pray that other governments around the world can see the truth and see that Zelaya right now is playing to be the victim; if he feels so right about what he's doing, why doesn't he has the courage to come alone on Thrusday? if he's innocent of everything, he shouldn't be afraid. The one who owes nothing, fears nothing. Thank you again for the support. Let the world know the truth. Thank you.
I am Agree Honduras for the Hondurans, Zelaya, You should come alone, why do have to come with your baby sitters to protect you, thats because deep inside you know that what you did is against our constitution, I hope that the rest of the worl will se the truth We are the victims of this man without brain.
Thank you for putting the truth. We just want our country back and Zelaya is not the one to give it to us. Do not break the law and expect the world to help you Zelaya. Stay away.
Chavez is a disaster for Latin America and we are seeing the fuits of his vision. He is a demagogue. Let him corrupt his own people if they want him, but stay out of other country's business.
How refreshing is to find a place like this with objective views and facts of our reality. I have never been more proud of my country and its people, it seems that a truth so evident and loud, for some politic-reasons (I have never understood double standards) doesn't want to be heard, so be it, even though when this path may be tough, in worst case scenario, few months of international isolation seems to be way better than a lifetime under a dictator that long time ago doesn't represents me, my people and its ideals!. Honduras has been historically a peaceful country, despite the turmoil our neighbors lived and during more of 25 years of democracy we have supported governments of all kinds possible, so getting to this point is making history, for us to have our voice heard -united in peace- and to those that now will think twice before thinking that they can be shamelessly over the law without consequences, I'm trusting reason and peace will prevail, Honduras is a God-trusting country... this is more powerful that any treat we may receive from outsiders! I will recommend you to review other news sites where I have found more serious/impartial analysis of the situation, CNN (specially) CNN en espanol has been partly informing the world to say the less - again, I don't understand it, seems I was born without the double-standard gene, when thousands of people started to send emails to them trying to explain our reality, they stopped reading those comments claiming that they didn't represent the "people", didn't know that having access to internet and phone made one less "people"??...- fox news, washington post, etc seem to have less on stake and are more impartial... Honduras is a small and poor country, but we know who we are and what we are not willing to become... Again, proud of my people, of those who made this happen, the military ... if we could have chosen other path, we would certainly have, but our country was left no other option and for that we are willing to live with its consequences...
Wake up world. Zelaya is a crook. Let Honduras do what it needs to do. The people are speaking and the world should listen.
I am Honduran and I am agreement. We do not want this man and I am proud of my country. He should not come back. Let him stay with his friend Hugo who he love so much.
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