Obama is On the Wrong Side of Honduras Coup

Posted by therightscoop in Politics on Jun 30th, 2009 | View Comments

Obama is  touting the illegality of the apparent coup in Honduras as if it’s evil incarnate, but he doesn’t seem to be talking any further into why this coup happened. There must be something else at work here because his (along with other world leaders) judgment seems quite  illogical based on the actual facts of the case:

That Mr. Zelaya acted as if he were above the law, there is no doubt. While Honduran law allows for a constitutional rewrite, the power to open that door does not lie with the president. A constituent assembly can only be called through a national referendum approved by its Congress.

But Mr. Zelaya declared the vote on his own and had Mr. Chávez ship him the necessary ballots from Venezuela. The Supreme Court ruled his referendum unconstitutional, and it instructed the military not to carry out the logistics of the vote as it normally would do.

The top military commander, Gen. Romeo Vásquez Velásquez, told the president that he would have to comply. Mr. Zelaya promptly fired him. The Supreme Court ordered him reinstated. Mr. Zelaya refused.

Calculating that some critical mass of Hondurans would take his side, the president decided he would run the referendum himself. So on Thursday he led a mob that broke into the military installation where the ballots from Venezuela were being stored and then had his supporters distribute them in defiance of the Supreme Court’s order.

The attorney general had already made clear that the referendum was illegal, and he further announced that he would prosecute anyone involved in carrying it out. Yesterday, Mr. Zelaya was arrested by the military and is now in exile in Costa Rica.

This ‘military coup’ had the backing of the Honduran Congress, Attorney General, and the Supreme Court.  Once ousted, the Honduran Congress acted quickly to instate Robert Micheletti to finish Zelaya’s term.

I’m just not sure why this is so complicated for world leaders to understand, but Zelaya was attempting his own takeover of the government, and was thwarted by well meaning officials. He was trying to accomplish what Hugo Chavez had done in Venezuela.  In fact, almost all of the readers here who claim heritage to Honduras agree with this coup, expressing frustration that Zelaya is being portrayed as a victim by the press.  Here are a few of their comments:

DANIELA
FINALLY SOMEONE WITH A SMART AND REALISTIC OPINION! LOOKS LIKE HE HAS DONE PROPER RESEARCH! I DON’T KNOW WHY OTHER COUNTRIES ARE VICTIMIZING A TYRANT! HE THINKS HE IS ABOVE THE LAW AND THAT HE CAN DO WHATEVER HE WANTS! WE REFUSE TO BECOME LEFTISTS! WE ARE DEMOCRATIC AND HAVE HANDLED THINGS THE BEST WAY WE CAN! WE WILL NOT BE MANIPULATED! WE WILL FIGHT FOR THE COUNTRY WE LOVE! EVERYONE SHOULD RESPECT OUR FREEDOM AND AUTONOMY! IT IS OUR DECISION!


pierelli
The international community needs to understand that Zelaya was destroying our democracy and following orders from Chavez to fulfill a plan where they would change Honduras’s way of government and turn it into another Venezuela.

We Hondurans don’t want Mel Zelaya back in Honduras. We want to continue with our way of living. Zelaya has only brought trouble and division among our country, and 90% of Hondurans don’t like him and are happy with what happened. He wanted to do everything over the law, and eventually he had to be replaced. In defense of the constitution.


Please be well informed before judging. Don’t support a Chavez wanna be!


Max Fiallos
Someone in the US is getting it right! I am a Honduran Scholar in the US and I am appalled at how one-sided the majority of the media coverage in the US has been (pro-Zelaya), with little mention of the many laws that Zelaya broke in the days prior to his ouster. The Armed Forces acted upon a court order and quickly returned power to the Honduras Congress, just as the Constitution indicates. These events should not be labeled as a coup, but as a President who was removed from power for illegal activities.


LISSETE
…I am honduran and appreciate your point of view because we need to tell the whole world that CHAVEZ wants to send more soldiers to Honduras but we will defend our CONSTITUTION.We are a poor country and we have dignity,we don’t want to be like Cuba,Nicaragua,Venezuela…


CECI
The citizens of Honduras are proud of what the Armed Forces, Our congress and our Justice system accomplished!!We were well on our way to a totalitarian Government under Chavez rule!! Why else would he threaten to invade our country?? Thank GOD they all acted when they did because GOD only knows what would be happening here right now!! Tomorrow at 10 am in the capitals central park there will be a manifestation by the people who agree with what happend! I hope you all watch to see the difference between how many people supported Mr Zelaya as seen in manifestations today and how many people support the new government!! Lets Hope everyone is watching.


ALSO READ:

Micheletti
What is the Fate of Honduras?


Recent Posts:

  • edith
    George
    I phased my words wrong. I love the U.S.A and its people. and i am well aware that it is the president stand. And that most americans understands whats going on, and is praying for our country. I have fam. and very good friends there.
    thank you and god bless.
  • jose
    I'm from honduras, and i'm glad Zelaya is not in power anymore, and i don't know why president Obama is backing up one of chavez puppets, we sure don't want this wanna be dictator back in power!!
  • Annie
    I can't believe that the whole world has sided with Mel Zelaya and his socialist ideas, to try to turn our Country of Honduras communist. Where were the rest of the world when he was imposing the Chavismo on the citizens of Honduras, that's what I want to know.
    Why can't they see thru the victim facade that he wants the world to see him as.
    Please don't allow Mel Zelaya to return to power, then the fate of Honduras will really be doomed. But you know what, GOD is still in Control, despite what the rest of the World thinks. As Christians, we must Unite and Pray that God will keeps us and that we will continue to have freedom to worship the One True God.
  • Luis Pena
    Please continue disemminating this line of thought. We, proud hondurans, are happy that finally people is getting it right around the world. Obama needs to think carefully in long terms because if more countries join the ALBA, eventually USA will be alone with Canada and perhaps Mexico dealing with a bunch of pawns of the Castro brothers. It is better and politically cheaper to deal now with prophylaxis than it is to wait a couple of years and pay a big political price, let alone economic and social developmental price.
  • frango
    I agree every thing is written in this posting, but what i reject is the procedure taken. the interference of armed forces to coup a goverment using violence is not accepted and should not be seen as a solution by any one to justify any actions describe above.
  • LM
    Thank You for revealing our truth.. We are suffering cause the so called leader left us with huge troubles he only dedicated time to promote divisions and get us even more poor than we are.
    Today we are facing a crisis but we have faith in God that everything it´s gonna be ok.
    We have only defended our rights not allowing this man to stay in power!!! This man that has pay so many to help him.. Help us please to give the world the truth!!!
  • Franarch
    After being a missionary on Roatan for 55 years I have just returned to the U. S.. i have lived there every since Honduras has had free election since 1982. The majority of the time after the first few years of kn owing what democracy is like, life has been free and Honduras has been a grand place to live with wonderful friendly and kind people. Anything bad that could happen has been taking place every since this President is in.

    An yone with half a brain and intelligence can understand that Zelaya is trying to become a dictator and turn this wonderful country into Communism with no faith in God. The men who are backing him are enemies of the U. S. So why is O'Bama standing up for this devious act. If this took place in the U. S. the President would be impeached. Honduras is working within the law. I am deeply distressed and saddened to see the people of U. N. and President of the U. S. so poorly informed
  • GAP
    I am living through all of this at this moment.The congress of Honduras decided to make this move,because of PROOF that the EX-PRESIDENT MANUEL ZELAYA had other intentions with this so called 4TA URNA,this was said to be a referrendum for the people to vote if they wanted a change to the Constitution of Honduras,were the voice of the People would count,and that in November when the elections took place,people would be able to vote him for re-election.He swears it wasn't so,but just look at the kind of friends he has,CHAVEZ,ORTEGA,URBINA,CASTRO,ETC.,they all are members of the ALBA,and think this gives them the right to take over Honduras like what Chavez said.All I can tell you is don't believe all that is said in the media,i am living through it with my husband and 3 kids,thank God all has been SO PEACEFUL since this Zelaya has left this place,YES there are manifestions going on in Tegucigalpa the capital,but that is obvious as he left alot of people FOOLED about this election,He went to the small villages and payed these POOR people off some money to vote for him,cause if you ask some poor class, middle class people or the high class people if they would vote for this change, 90 % of them would tell you straight that NO!,this is ILLEGAL,Zelaya is not intelligent enough to do this by himself,Zelaya as many others are just CHAVEZ puppets! I'm so sad to know that most of these international associations are saying that the only president they recognize is Zelaya,especially PRESIDENT OBAMA siding CHAVEZ,(Knowing that Chavez when Obama was elected president,called the WHITE HOUSE,THE HOUSE OF BLACK),I wish they knew the real side of the story and not all the lies that have been told to them by these leftist leaders to turn them against the HONDURAN PEOPLE AND COUNTRY,who just did the right thing in eliminating this devilish person,who is not a christian,who talks so bad about everyone,(international leaders,OBAMA,and even his own leftist friends),and this i know cause he has his own tv channel here in the local stations and anyone can see all the STUPID things he does daily on it,and it's sad to know they want to accompany him back to Honduras to take back his place as President.God help us if this happens,I pray for the Lord not to permit this and not to give these people the priviledge to take over our country with their selfish beliefs.Honduras was never in a coup,the military did not do this on their own,they took orders from the Congress to do so,all they did was obey orders,orders that if Zelaya would have obeyed that his proposition to the Country was not LEGAL,and to drop it,if he would have followed their instructions,NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN TAKING PLACE,BUT BECAUSE HE WAS LEAD BY CHAVEZ,HE KEPT ON WITH THIS CRAZY IDEA.Anyone who has visited Honduras knows that this has been a PEACEFUL place,but since Zelaya has been in the presidency,CRIME,DRUGS,KIDNAPPING,DEATHS,INSECURITY,
    UNSAFETY IN OUR CITIES,GANG MEMBERS ALL OVER,just all kind of ugly realities have been taking place,people can't live in peace anymore,you have to be so careful,Honduras was not like this.This has been the worst presidency i have lived through in my entire life,i am so sorry that this has to be happening and that my poor kids have to be living through it,scared,traumatized,and confused."God please make these people reflect in their thoughts of wanting this man back in the presidency,you know Lord their bad intentions and You will not permit it.People,please pray for us,we need it!"
  • Enrique
    Regardless of Zelaya's ideology, he acted illegally, and had to be removed. His remotion is Constitutional, and so is his succession.

    Even if his aims had been for the greater good, there are lawful ways to attain them.
  • edith
    the citizens of honduras was holding our breaths. scared to death of mels next move.
    and then we bursted with pride and joy on sunday as we watched and listen to our Government put our country first. and thanked god for his blessings.
    and then in dibelief as we watched countries we thought so much off such as the U.SA.
    stand with countries with leaders such as hugo chavez against us. I still can't believe it.
    please listen to us and keep zelaya away from Honduras.
  • George
    Edith,
    Please understand, the United States is onb your side, it is our President who is not, we can only pray that the people of the world will stop listeneing to this man whose only experience before becoming President was helping to organize his community, we the people, especially Christians are behind you 100%, may God have mercy on your country.
  • Antonio
    I wonder if Zelaya were crushing right now the constitution to put his leftist socialism ideas would the world care? Apparently not since most of the world seems to support this my own perception is we will see this happening soon in other "democratic" countries.
  • They wouldn't care. They would say it's Honduras' business and we shouldn't meddle. Well, at least that's what Obama would say.

    Rush Limbaugh made the point that whenever Obama chooses whether to meddle it's to keep an Anti-American government in power.

    Great question.
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