Honduras betrayal

The coup government in Honduras, working together with Obama's U.S. State Department (further enabled by right-wing U.S. Congressional members), has maneuvered to betray any possibility of a near-term return to democracy in Honduras. In fostering a false agreement with ousted President Zelaya, holed up in the Brazilian Embassy, the U.S. has once again shown its true colors in relation to Latin America: do it our way or we will take you down, coups included. The agreement signed was supposed to return Zelaya to the presidency (though with no real power), in a "unity" government, together with the holding of presidential elections at the end of November, which the U.S. would recognize as valid (something which previously they said they would not do without the return of Zelaya).

The kicker was the need for the Honduran Congress to approve Zelaya's return to power, but with no time limit to do so, even though the clock was running toward the presidential elections. The Congress has refused to do so. However, the U.S. now says it will recognize the new presidential elections regardless. The U.S. is now intent on fully legitimizing the coup.

The real betrayal, of course, is to the massive protest movement that developed inside Honduras since the June ouster of the president. (See October-November issue of N&L for an in-person report of that movement.) The coming period will show how the movement intends to respond to this latest outrage.

--E.W.

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