News: Honduras President Ousted By Military

[stinglikeabee]

From The Times Online:

The President of Honduras was ousted in a military coup today when troops arrested him in his pyjamas and sent him into exile in neighbouring Costa Rica.

The action against President Zelaya, the country’s most popular leader in recent history, raised fears of widespread violence, as supporters took to the streets, throwing rocks at army vehicles and shouting “Traitors! Traitors!”

The United States called for calm, with President Obama saying that “existing tensions and disputes must be resolved peacefully”. The European Union condemned the coup. The Organisation of American States called an emergency meeting at its Washington headquarters.

In a nutshell: President Zelaya, having extended reached the end of his term limit, sought to pass a referendum that would make a change to the country's constitution and allow him to stand for re-election. When Zelaya sacked the military chief opposing the referendum and refused to reinstate him, the military stepped in to remove the president from power.

Comments

Plugging a friend's blog --

[triestine.livejournal.com]

http://figgylicious.blogspot.com/ - straight from Tegucigalpa.

Re: Plugging a friend's blog --

[stinglikeabee.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Her post did clear up a few things and also casts doubt on others, particularly the 'lies' the international press is reporting. Alas much of the English-language news I'm seeing broadcast is still about Michael Jackson, so I do wonder. I'm still shocked that military coup d'etats (outside of Thailand) could happen in a relatively stable region.

Re: Plugging a friend's blog --

[cissie-king.livejournal.com]

Latin America is not all that stable. Venezuela had a failed coup a few years ago, and no president of Ecuador has managed to last four years in more than a decade. Bolivia, I believe also has a lot of trouble.

It's not as bad as it was during the cold war, but the region is not 100% stable yet.

Re: Plugging a friend's blog --

[stinglikeabee.livejournal.com]

That's very true, and another example is Uribe seeking reelection in Colombia or the Guatemalan president accused of murdering a lawyer. I don't know what I was thinking in terms of 'stable' in hindsight.

Re: Plugging a friend's blog --

[cissie-king.livejournal.com]

Well, it's usually less violent than other places. Even their military coups leave little to no casualties.

Colombia has been living in a perpetual state of civil war for decades, though. I think Uribe's attempt to get a reelection was somewhat more legal than Zelayas, or at least less blatantly illegal. Did he get it?

Re: Plugging a friend's blog --

[stinglikeabee.livejournal.com]

Well, it's usually less violent than other places.

I remember living in Thailand after a coup, and the prospect of it happening again was not as frightening as it would seem. It probably had to do with the fact that the army appeared to be carrying out the will of the people (and the monarch), instead of acting out its own wishes. This doesn't seem the case in Honduras, though.

Hmm.. Uribe's first attempt in 2004 (or 2006?) to change the constitution was successful. The latest bill for a third term was postponed in early June. I've heard the first time round there was rumours of bribery, so your description of less blatantly illegal is spot-on if true.