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Viva Honduras!
I am heartbroken for a country that I have come to love. For anyone who has seen the news lately, you will know that there has been much controversy and unrest in Honduras for the last week.
A week ago today, a coup d'etat took place in Honduras. President Manuel Zelaya (referred to by many as Mel) was sent into exile last Sunday morning after he was trying to act against a ruling of the supreme court and against the local laws which forbid him to maintain presidency for more than one term. He was trying to set up a referendum to have his name added to run again in the upcoming November elections. This was ruled illegal by the Supreme Court, who also overturned Zelaya's dismissal of Honduras' top general, who said the military would not participate in the referendum. The court ordered the general be reinstated but Zelaya disregarded those actions and vowed to hold the vote Sunday anyway.
Roberto Micheletti, president of the Congress, was sworn in as provisional president the same day Zelaya was ousted. He named 7 new members of cabinet, which he said would be in place until the November election. He has said the change in power was not a coup, as the military is taking direct orders from the Supreme Court.
The United States and many Latin American countries have condemned the "coup", and Honduras was suspended yesterday from the Organization of American States (OAS), as well as had aid from the US put on pause.
While I do understand the need to uphold democracy and why this "coup" is not a good thing, there is a lot that should be said about Zelaya and his political ideas.
Zelaya is a leftist, who has a very close relationship to Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez, who is a United Socialist/dictator. Many Hondurans were very frightened that this was the direction that Zelaya was moving towards.
Although much of the lower class/poverty citizens, as well as the lower working class supports his ideas of reducing poverty, much of the business elite and wealthy middle class accuse him of trying to stage a power grab and lead a future very similar to his comrade Chavez.
Zelaya vowed to return to Honduras and attempted to do so today, but could not land at the Tegucigalpa airport because the Military would not allow it. The new government says they will arrest him. Many Zelaya supporters showed up at the airport to welcome the return of the ousted president and secure a landing site but were met with riot police. A colleague of mine in Tegus think that Mel knew exactly what was going to happen and that he wouldn't be able to land but wanted to create a stir for the World to see.
Things are still very much up in the air.
I received an e-mail from the superintendent of the school in Tegucigalpa earlier this week that read as follows:
I am sure that you have been watching the latest developments in Honduras. The International media is only showing one side of the story and things are not the way they are being reported to the world. Most of the population is happy with the change and relieved that we saved Honduras from another “Chavez type regime”
I assure you that we will not put you or any other staff member in jeopardy by not being vigilant and keeping your safety first." I have been keeping in touch with many of my contacts in Honduras. Walter is fine. As far as I know, no cities outside of Tegucigalpa have been directly impacted by these events. There may be small demonstrations but nothing to worry about.
New teacher friends at the American School have been keeping me posted, and have said that lots of people just want Zelaya to return to Honduras so that he can be arrested for his crimes (been charged with treason) and things can move forward. Another Honduran friend has said that it may simply be better to let Zelaya finish his term then ensure he is removed after November's election.
The entire situation is a very sticky one that may not be resolved in the next 3 weeks (when I am due to return). We have no real idea what will happen tomorrow, let alone 3 weeks from now. I am putting faith in the school that they will not have me return while unsafe to do so. I also am still determined to return once it IS safe to proceed.
I'm not sure which is better; maintaining democracy and letting Mel back into power, only to pray he is not permitted to be reelected in the Fall, or support the new government and hope that things will be resolved once the new government is elected in November.
I am nothing but confused and heartbroken over the entire situation.
When I went to Honduras, I never expected to fall in love with the country (or a man!) in the way that I did. It's hard to explain to people how much you can love a country that is not your own. Although I would never return to the country while the school deemed it unsafe for us to do so, I am very anxious to get back to Walter, to my friends, and to a Country that is currently in turmoil but has so much to offer in it's rich land and culture. I pray that all of this will come to a clean resolution soon, and will not delay my return to a country and a man that I love very much.
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clara
non-member comment
Sarah..I heard about Zelaya's attempt to land this morning. Of course, I've been thinking about you ever since the news first covered the presidential situation in Honduras. thank-you for keeping us up to date on your thoughts. How difficult this must be for you. Hopefully, some form of resolution will occur within the next three weeks. Thinking and praying for you, Walter and the people of Honduras......