Impeachment in Honduras?

NY Times:

The Honduran president, Manuel Zelaya, was ousted by the army on Sunday after pressing ahead with plans for a referendum that opponents said could lay the groundwork for his eventual re-election, in the first military coup in Central America since the end of the cold war.

Soldiers entered the presidential palace in the capital, Tegucigalpa, and disarmed the presidential guard early Sunday, military officials said. Mr. Zelaya’s private secretary, Eduardo Enrique Reina, confirmed the arrest.

Mr. Zelaya flew into exile in Costa Rica, telling a local television station, “They are creating a monster they will not be able to contain.”

Much of the capital was without electricity on Sunday and residents stood on long lines to buy kerosene for home generators. Military tanks patrolled the streets and military planes flew overhead. Soldiers were on guard at all the main government buildings and military trucks dropped off police at strategic crossings throughout the city, residents said.

Later on Sunday, the Honduran Congress voted Mr. Zelaya out of office, replacing him with the president of congress, Roberto Micheletti. A letter said to be from Mr. Zelaya announcing his resignation was read by the secretary of congress before the vote. The Honduran vice president had resigned earlier to run for president in the Nov. 29 general election. Mr. Zelaya’s term ends in January.

...
While the action has elements of a military coup, there are some real differences. The President was ignoring a direct order from the countries Supreme Court and the Legislative body also voted for his removal. Those are not typical elements of a military coup. The President;s replacement was not a military officer, but the president of congress, because the Vice President had earlier resigned.

Fausta translates a local paper which says the removal was pursuant to an order of the Supreme Court. The Wall Street Journal says Obama tried to prevent the President's removal.

Comments

  1. Roller10:05 AM

    This is the way I see it, too. I am appalled at the widespread condemnation of the "coup," although it was, in reality, an excrcise of Constitutional due process which the US and the Free World should be applauding.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Roller10:08 AM

    It is appalling that the OAS, UN, and President Obama are condemning this exercise of Constitutional propriety. The Free World should be applauding the Honduran Congress for it's approriate action under that country's laws. Zelaya was legally impeached under the Constitution of Honduras. To characterize it as a "coup" is shameful.

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