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===Constitutional Assembly plans===
===Constitutional Assembly plans===
On the day of the coup, 28 June 2009, a non-binding consultative poll<ref name=cp2/> was to be held on whether to conduct a referendum in November (alongside the Presidential elections) to approve the convening of a Constitutional National Assembly which would draft a new constitution.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.laprensahn.com/Pa%C3%ADs/Ediciones/2009/06/11/Noticias/Sigue-rechazo-a-la-cuarta-urna|title=Sigue rechazo a la cuarta urna|work=[[La Prensa (Honduras)|La Prensa]]|language=Spanish|date=June 11, 2009|accessdate=June 29, 2009}}</ref> The existing constitution explicitly bars changes to some of its clauses, although this is irrelevant for the wholesale replacement of the constitution through a constitutional assembly.<ref name=cp>''[[Counterpunch]]'', 1 July 2009, [http://www.counterpunch.org/thorensen07012009.html Why Zelaya's Actions Were Legal]</ref> The poll was presented in much of the international media<ref name=cp2>''[[Counterpunch]]'', 1 June 2009, [http://www.counterpunch.org/clark07012009.html Honduras: a Coup With No Future]</ref> as relating to an amendment of the constitution to allow reelection of presidents to be held; however, in line with the existing constitution, Zelaya would have been ineligible to participate in the November 2009 elections, which would have been held concurrently with the referendum.<ref name=cp/> Nonetheless, the poll was ruled illegal by [[Honduras]]'s Supreme Court and attorney general.<ref name="wsj1">[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124597369604957305.html Honduras Lurches Toward Crisis Over Election ]</ref>
On the day of the Zelaya's removal from office, 28 June 2009, a non-binding consultative poll<ref name=cp2/> was to be held on whether to conduct a referendum in November (alongside the Presidential elections) to approve the convening of a Constitutional National Assembly which would draft a new constitution.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.laprensahn.com/Pa%C3%ADs/Ediciones/2009/06/11/Noticias/Sigue-rechazo-a-la-cuarta-urna|title=Sigue rechazo a la cuarta urna|work=[[La Prensa (Honduras)|La Prensa]]|language=Spanish|date=June 11, 2009|accessdate=June 29, 2009}}</ref> The existing constitution explicitly bars changes to some of its clauses, although this is irrelevant for the wholesale replacement of the constitution through a constitutional assembly.<ref name=cp>''[[Counterpunch]]'', 1 July 2009, [http://www.counterpunch.org/thorensen07012009.html Why Zelaya's Actions Were Legal]</ref> The poll was presented in much of the international media<ref name=cp2>''[[Counterpunch]]'', 1 June 2009, [http://www.counterpunch.org/clark07012009.html Honduras: a Coup With No Future]</ref> as relating to an amendment of the constitution to allow reelection of presidents to be held; however, in line with the existing constitution, Zelaya would have been ineligible to participate in the November 2009 elections, which would have been held concurrently with the referendum.<ref name=cp/> Nonetheless, the poll was ruled illegal by [[Honduras]]'s Supreme Court and attorney general.<ref name="wsj1">[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124597369604957305.html Honduras Lurches Toward Crisis Over Election ]</ref>


[[File:Manuel Zelaya (Brasília, 03 April 2006).jpeg|thumb|left|110px|[[Manuel Zelaya]]]]
[[File:Manuel Zelaya (Brasília, 03 April 2006).jpeg|thumb|left|110px|[[Manuel Zelaya]]]]

Revision as of 22:15, 2 July 2009

Politics of Honduras
Executive
Legislative
Judiciary
Administrative divisions
Elections
Political parties
Foreign relations
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs
    Minister: Eduardo Enrique Reina

2009 Honduran constitutional crisis occurred on June 28 when President Manuel Zelaya was sent into exile by military forces.

Fears that Mr. Zelaya had been plotting to undermine the Constitution and extend his tenure were among the driving forces behind his expulsion from the country.[1]

He had been going ahead with a planned non-binding consultative poll on whether to conduct a referendum in November (alongside the Presidential elections) to approve the convening of a Constitutional National Assembly which would draft a new constitution.

The Supreme Court had ruled it unconstitutional, and a Supreme Court judge ordered the armed forces to detain the president.[2]

The plan for a constitutional assembly, along the lines of recent assemblies held by Bolivia, Ecuador and Venezuela, was supported by President Manuel Zelaya, but opposed by much of the Honduran establishment, which argued that Zelaya was merely seeking re-election (the constitution bans both re-election and attempts to reform the relevant articles). After a constitutional crisis which set the President against the Supreme Court, Army, and his own party, Zelaya was removed from office in what is widely viewed as a military coup, although the establishment has claimed legal cover for the move. Roberto Micheletti, the speaker of parliament and next in the Presidential line of succession, was sworn in as President by the National Congress.[3]

The constitutional crisis was sparked when Zelaya's 28 June consultative poll was ruled illegal by Honduras's Supreme Court, attorney general, top electoral body, and human-rights ombudsman.[4] Zelaya nonetheless asked the Army to distribute ballots in accordance with its role in conducting elections. After Army chief Romeo Vásquez Velásquez refused to distribute ballots, Zelaya dismissed him from office. The dismissal was declared illegal by courts and the parliament. On June 28, 2009, shortly before polls were due to open for the poll, the armed forces deposed Zelaya.[5]

The armed forces of Honduras seized President Manuel Zelaya at his home,[6] holding him at an airbase outside Tegucigalpa[5] before flying him to Costa Rica.[7] During the action, communications and electricity in the city were interrupted for about six hours. Government officials and other politicians suspected of loyalty to Zelaya have been detained. Later in the day the Honduran Supreme Court said that it had ordered the removal of the president.[5] The broadcast of at least some news media is currently suppressed in Honduras, with members of the Honduran military reportedly shutting down at least one radio station and halting TV transmission of teleSUR and CNN en Español (which had broadcast news of the Honduras protests), as well as briefly arresting and later releasing teleSur staff.[8][9] Associated Press reporters have been arrested, and according to the Miami Herald (1 July), "Stations that are broadcasting carry only news friendly to the new government."[10] It was the first military coup in Central America since the end of the Cold War."[11]

The Honduran government says that Zelaya was arrested in compliance with the constitution and that the succession has been a completely legal process as set out in Honduran laws,[12] but no foreign governments have endorsed this view and many of them have described the events as a coup d'état.[13] The General Assembly of the Organization of American States met in a special session on Tuesday 30 June to "vehemently condemn" the coup, demand the return of Zelaya within a three day deadline or Honduras would be suspended from the group.[14]

Background

Manuel Zelaya, a businessman with a record of activism on behalf of decentralization of power and respect for indigenous peoples, was elected in 2005 as the relatively moderate candidate of the country's historically powerful Liberal Party.[15] Since taking office Zelaya's left-leaning economic and social policies have earned him praise from labor unions and civil society groups.[15] Zeleya also forged a regional alliance with the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas, which Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and other elected leaders in Latin America established as a counter to the neoliberal trade and security policies pushed by the U.S. under then President George W. Bush.[15] Consequently, the The New York Times, reports that much of Zelaya's support is dervied from labor unions and the nations' poor, while many of the Honduran middle and upper classes fear he wants to introduce Hugo Chávez’s brand of "socialist populism."[11] According to the Economist, "Mr Zelaya’s presidency has been marked by a rise in crime, corruption scandals and economic populism."[16]By April 2009, a Mitofsky opinion poll showed that only one in four Hondurans approved of Zelaya, the lowest approval rating of 18 regional leaders.[17]

Constitutional Assembly plans

On the day of the Zelaya's removal from office, 28 June 2009, a non-binding consultative poll[18] was to be held on whether to conduct a referendum in November (alongside the Presidential elections) to approve the convening of a Constitutional National Assembly which would draft a new constitution.[19] The existing constitution explicitly bars changes to some of its clauses, although this is irrelevant for the wholesale replacement of the constitution through a constitutional assembly.[20] The poll was presented in much of the international media[18] as relating to an amendment of the constitution to allow reelection of presidents to be held; however, in line with the existing constitution, Zelaya would have been ineligible to participate in the November 2009 elections, which would have been held concurrently with the referendum.[20] Nonetheless, the poll was ruled illegal by Honduras's Supreme Court and attorney general.[4]

Manuel Zelaya

The intended consultative poll was rejected by Congress, the attorney general, and the top electoral body, and ruled illegal by the Supreme Court.[21] The Constitution can only be modified by a two-thirds majority of Congress. However, certain core articles of the Constitution are "set in stone" and cannot be modified, either by Congress or by a referendum.[22]

Opposition to plan

On June 23, 2009 the National Congress passed a law forbidding holding referenda and plebiscites less than 180 days before the next general election; as the next elections are set for 29 November 2009, this apparently invalidated the poll, although a spokesman for Zelaya rejected that view.[23]

Congress had begun discussing how to impeach Zelaya but lacked a clear constitutional process to do so.[24][failed verification] Congress, including most of Zelaya's own party, had voted for an urgent investigation of whether Zelaya had violated the constitution and even whether he was "mentally incapable" to hold office.[25] Zelaya responded to the congressional leader Roberto Micheletti, a member of the same party who has since been sworn in as President in his stead, by saying "What's with you, Roberto. I was elected by the people, not the congress. How would you make me ineligible, you're a lousy second-rate congressman who got your post because I gave you space in my party."[25]

File:Roberto micheletti.jpg

This file may be deleted after Thursday, 9 July 2009.

The military is in charge of security and logistics in elections in Honduras. Zelaya asked them to perform their election role for the referendum, but the head of the military command, General Romeo Vásquez Velásquez, refused the order to pass out the election materials because the referendum had been deemed illegal and unconstitutional. Zelaya subsequently removed him from his position but the Honduran Supreme Court ordered the General reinstated. Zelaya staged a protest at an air force base and led a citizen march to take possession of the referendum materials stored there, which were then guarded by the national police.[7]

The Supreme Court, the Congress, and the military recommended that voters stay home because the referendum would be neither fair nor safe to voters. The National Human Rights Commissioner, Ramón Custodio, said "I would tell the people to stay calmly at home in order not to get involved in any incident or any violence by going to vote 'no,' because they might be assaulted by these mobs," referring to Zelaya's supporters.

Coup

Zelaya detention

A detention order, signed June 26 by a Supreme Court judge, ordered the armed forces to detain the president, identified by his full name of José Manuel Zelaya Rosales, at his home in the Tres Caminos area of the capital. It cited him for treason and abuse of authority, among other charges.[2] This order was first shown to the media on June 30 by the military's chief lawyer, Col. Herberth Bayardo Inestroza Membreño.

Soldiers stormed the presidential palace in the capital, Tegucigalpa, early in the morning of 28 June, disarming the presidential guard, waking Mr. Zelaya and putting him on a plane to Costa Rica. Tanks patrolled the streets and military planes flew overhead. Soldiers guarded the main government buildings. The government television station and a television station that supports the president were taken off the air. Television and radio stations broadcast no news. [11] In Costa Rica, Mr. Zelaya told the pan-Latin American channel teleSUR that he had been awoken by gunshots. Masked soldiers took his cellphone, shoved him into a van and took him to an air force base, where he was put on a plane. He said he did not know that he was being taken to Costa Rica until he landed at the airport in San José. "[11]

Later that day, the Supreme Court issued a statement that it had ordered the army to remove Zelaya from office.[5] The Supreme Court stated "The armed forces, in charge of supporting the constitution, acted to defend the state of law and have been forced to apply legal dispositions against those who have expressed themselves publicly and acted against the dispositions of the basic law".[26]

Within several hours of his removal, Zelaya spoke to media in San José, Costa Rica, calling the events "a coup" and "a kidnapping." He stated that soldiers pulled him from his bed and assaulted his guards. Zelaya stated that he would not recognize anyone named as his successor, and that he wants to finish his term in office. He also stated that he will now be meeting with diplomats.[27]

Zelaya replacement

The National Congress has voted to accept what they claimed is Zelaya's letter of resignation, but Zelaya has said he did not write the letter. Later the Congress voted unanimously to remove Zelaya for "manifest irregular conduct" and "putting in present danger the state of law" and named Roberto Micheletti, the President of the National Congress, as his successor.[28]

File:2009 Honduras political crisis 6.jpg
A document regarding the signature on the supposed letter of resignation broadcasted by TeleSUR. It compares the signature of Zelaya in the letter of resignation and Zelaya's signature in the document of adhesion of Honduras in ALBA.

Acting President Roberto Micheletti ordered a 48-hour curfew which began on Sunday night (June 28) and ends on Tuesday (June 30). The curfew will be held from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.[needs update][29]

Other detentions

According to Venezuela's ambassador to the OAS, the ambassadors of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua were taken into custody by the military and transported to the airport.[30] Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez stated that the Venezuelan ambassador was assaulted by Honduran soldiers and left by the side of a road.[31]

Also, allies of Zelaya, among them several government officials, have been taken into custody by the military.[32] Foreign Minister Patricia Rodas and the mayor of the city San Pedro Sula, Rodolfo Padilla Sunseri, have been detained at military bases.[11] Several congressmen of the Democratic Unification Party (PUD) have been rounded up, too, and their party's presidential candidate Cesar Ham allegedly hides in a secure location.[33] Tomas Andino Mencias, a member of the party, reports that PUD lawmakers have been led away by the military when they tried to enter the parliament building for the vote on Micheletti.[34]

Hugo Chávez and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez have both separately claimed that Honduran Foreign Minister Patricia Rodas has been detained by the Honduran military. Rodríguez said that the Cuban, Venezuelan and Nicaraguan ambassadors to Honduras had tried but were unable to protect Rodas from a group of masked soldiers who forcibly took her from their grasp.[35] Rodas was sent to Mexico, which offered her asylum and help to resolve the situation.[36]

Protests

Honduran military repression against pro-Zelaya demonstrators

A group of around 150 people that supported Zelaya gathered outside the building in protest, throwing stones at soldiers and shouting "traitors, traitors".[30][37]

According to the New York Times, "several thousand protestors supporting the (ousted) president faced off against soldiers outside the presidential palace, burning tires."[11] For several hours on Sunday, electricity and communications in the capital Tegucigalpa had been interrupted.[32]

Media war

The broadcast of at least some news media is currently suppressed in Honduras, with members of the Honduran military reportedly shutting down at least one radio station and halting TV transmission of teleSUR and CNN en Español.[8] Associated Press reporters have been arrested, and according to the Miami Herald (1 July), "Stations that are broadcasting carry only news friendly to the new government."[38]

TeleSUR journalist Adriana Sívori, who was in Tegucigalpa reporting the clashes between the police and protesters was arrested by the military under threat, and retained her passport. As soon as the international community learned of the detention, and after the quick intervention of the Venezuelan ambassador in Honduras, the journalist and the staff who accompanied her were released. Sívori was reportedly assaulted by the soldiers who detained her. TeleSUR was, until the detention and quick release of journalist Sívori the only channel that was broadcasting live all occurrences of the political crisis.[39]

There were also some information that the newspaper Diario El Tiempo had been prohibited to broadcast informations about the developments. The Canal 11 located in Colonia de Miramontes was also prohibited to broadcast information about the developments. The Cable Color buildings, who also broadcasts the programation of CNN and TeleSUR, was surrounded by militar forces.[40]

According to a press release published on website of Radio Globo Honduras, they suffered intimidations and violations on their liberty of expression because the radio's building located in Boulevard Morazan was rounded by military forces, and the employees were allowed to get in the building to work after negotiation. It was said that on 6 PM on monday 28 a militar troup composed by 60 soldiers assaulted the phisical installations of the radio, take the radio down of the air and the employees were threatened and intimidated, including Alejandro Villatoro. The radio was allowed to reiniciate your transmissions but they had to follow some rules which they believe limit the liberty of expression.[41] It was said also that CNN in spanish had interruptions on the transmition. The website of the radio was down but now it was re-established. Alejandro Villatoro said that he was arrested and kidnapped for some hours by the military forces.[42]

"Honduras’ two leading radio networks, Radio América and Radio HRN, have urged Hondurans to resume their normal routine and not to protest."[43] The anti-Zelaya and pro-coup Honduran newspaper La Prensa reported on 30 June that angry Zelaya supporters attacked La Prensa's main headquarters by throwing stones and other objects at their windows, until police intervened. The paper also alleges that Venezuelan and Nicaraguan secret agents were behind the attack.[44]

Developments

June 28

Pro-Zelaya protesters marching in Tegucigalpa

On Sunday night, Reuters reported that hundreds of pro-Zelaya protestors, some masked and wielding sticks, set up barricades of chain link fences and downed billboards in the center of Tegucigalpa and blocked roads to the presidential palace. Reuters witnesses heard gunshots outside the presidential palace that apparently came after a truck arrived at the protest, and an ambulance also appeared. It was not clear who fired the shots. One witness said shots were fired only in the air and there were no initial reports of injuries.[45]

Late at night on Sunday, June 28, Zelaya and Foreign Minister Rodas flew to Managua, Nicaragua, to attend a meeting the next day of the Central American Integration System. Also planning to attend the meeting were several heads of state of the Rio Group and ALBA including Hugo Chávez and Felipe Calderón.[46] At the meeting, the presidents of Central America agreed to freeze all official payments and loans to Honduras.[47]

June 29

A small fire started by pro-Zelaya protesters

Protests continued the following Monday. Around 1,500 pro-Zelaya protesters taunted soldiers and burned tires just outside the gates of the presidential palace in a face-off with security forces.[48] CNN reported that although the military had fired tear gas into the crowd at some point, the day was "generally calm" in Honduras.[49] Two people were reportedly killed as a result of clashes between protesters and soldiers. Juan Barahona, leader of the United Workers Federation, claimed soldiers opened fire on the crowds with live ammunition.[50] News media remained off air, replaced by tropical music, soap operas, and cooking shows. Reporters Without Borders condemned the "news blackout" and Reuters reported the use of Twitter to beat the censorship.[51]

President of the Honduran Peace Committee, Dr. Juan Almendares, speaking 29 June on Democracy Now! said: the military are taking repressive actions against some members of the legitimate government of President Zelaya and also popular leaders. He claimed that there is "effectively" a national strike of workers, people, students and intellectuals.[52]

Zelaya announced in Managua on Monday night that he would be returning to Tegucigalpa on Thursday, July 2. He also invited fellow Latin American leaders, including OAS general secretary José Miguel Insulza, to accompany him on his return.[53] The new foreign minister of Honduras, Enrique Ortez, said that Insulza and any other presidents would be welcome but that Zelaya would not be allowed to enter.[54]

In one of the protests against the coup, about 2000 pro-Zelaya protestors marched to the Pacific from La Colonia Las Brisas de Comayaguela to Boulevard Juan Pablo Segundo, in Tegucigalpa. The march was organized by employees of Zelaya's government and workers' groups.[55]

There were also protests in San Pedro Sula in which the Bloque Popular and more pro-Zelaya protesters asked for the restitution of Zelaya to power.[55]

June 30

Pressure on the post-coup government continued to grow as the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution which called for the reinstatement of Zelaya as the President of Honduras. Zelaya spoke in front of the General Assembly where he was applauded several times. In his speech, Zelaya promised not to seek another term as President and said that he would not accept a second term if he were asked to serve again.[56] After the UN session, Zelaya then headed to Washington, D.C., where he was going to attend a special meeting of the Organization of American States. In Washington, Zelaya was scheduled to meet with United States Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Shannon.[57]

Meanwhile, Honduran Attorney General Luis Alberto Rubi announced that Zelaya would "immediately" be arrested if he returned to Honduras, where legal officials have accused him of 18 crimes including "treason" and "abuse of authority."[58]

Pro-coup demonstrators; one holds a sign warning against Hugo Chávez, Zelaya and Daniel Ortega

Pro-Zelaya protests continued on Tuesday, June 30. Union leaders announced a nationwide strike and estimated that up to 10,000 pro-Zelaya protesters were marching in Tegucigalpa and around the country.[58]

Tuesday also saw the first pro-coup rally take place in the capital, as thousands of Zelaya opponents took to the main square. Roberto Micheletti made an appearance and said that the November general elections will be held as scheduled and that a new president will be sworn in on January 27, 2010. Micheletti also had strong words for the crowd: "They told me a few people with leftist intentions would try to scare us, but not the brave men and women of our nation," as sympathizers responded with chants of "Democracy! Democracy!".[59] General Romeo Vásquez Velásquez also attended and spoke at the rally.[60]

The World Bank announced that it would stop disbursing loans of up to $270 million U.S. dollars to Honduras until the political situation stabilizes.[61]

July 1

The Organization of American States General Assembly agreed on Wednesday to a resolution which "condemns vehemently" the coup and gives Honduras three days to restore Zelaya to the presidency or face possible suspension from the group.[62] Zelaya then announced that he would postpone his planned return, which was initially scheduled for Thursday, July 2. Instead, he would wait until the OAS deadline runs out, and then return to his country.[63] The United States also said it would wait until the deadline ran out before considering what to do about US aid to Honduras, which by law must be cut off if a head of state is overthrown in a coup.[64] After the OAS meeting in Washington, Zelaya flew to Panama City in order to attend Ricardo Martinelli's inauguration as President of Panama.[65]

Zelaya plans to return to Honduras with a delegation of Latin American leaders, including the Presidents of Argentina and Ecuador. Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez said that if there was aggression against the delegation, military action by the United Nations might be warranted.[66]

Meanwhile, Interim President Roberto Micheletti reiterated that Zelaya would be arrested as soon as he were to step foot in the country. In an interview with the Associated Press, Micheletti said that only a foreign invasion could restore Zelaya as president. "(Zelaya) can no longer return to the presidency of the republic unless a president from another Latin American country comes and imposes him using guns. I was appointed by Congress, which represents the Honduran people. Nobody can make me resign unless I break the laws of the country," said Micheletti.[63]

Micheletti later announced at a press conference that a delegation representing the post-coup government would travel to Washington on Wednesday to meet with the OAS. The delegation would explain to OAS General Secretary José Miguel Insulza "what really happened" in Honduras, according to Micheletti.[67] However Insulza said about this that he has not programed any meeting with them.[68] The Secretary General Adjunt of the OAS, Albert Ramdin, said he would not recieve the new Honduran Chancellor and envoy of Micheletti Enrique Ortiz Colindres.[69]

Some members of the Honduran Congress said that they were discussing ways of reaching a compromise among themselves that would reinstate Zelaya. They warned, however, that such a deal could be a hard sell, given the widespread opposition to Mr. Zelaya in Congress.[70]

Both pro-Zelaya and pro-coup demonstrations continued throughout the country. The largest pro-coup rally occurred in Choluteca, which received heavy coverage by the generally pro-coup Honduran media. The pro-Zelaya protests were largely ignored by the same media outlets.[71] Pro-Zelaya protesters claim that the authorities are trying to prevent them from converging to protest, while allowing pro-coup demonstrators easy access to popular places for demonstrations.[71]

The pro-Zelaya protesters have been targeting a Burger King franchise in central Tegucigalpa that's owned by Micheletti supporters. The restaurant has been looted several times.[71] Also, several hundred pro-Zelaya student activists erected barricades of boulders, signposts and metal sheeting near the presidential palace. They covered their faces with bandanas and carried bats, branches and gasoline-filled bottles. Eventually however the activists removed the barricades and joined a larger, peaceful protest.[71]

Also on July first, the National Congress issued an order (decreto ejecutivo N° 011-2009) at the request of Micheletti suspending 4 constitutional guarantees during the hours the curfew is in effect.[72] These include articles 69, 71, 78, and 81 of the constitution. Article 69 guarantees the right of personal freedom. Article 71 requires being brought before a judge within 24 hours of being arrested. Article 78 provides for the freedome to associate with others, and article 81 provides for freedom of movement and the right to remain in the country.

July 2

More marches against Mel Zelaya and in favor of the new government were carried out in Danli, Puerto Cortes, San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa, La Ceiba, Boston, New Orleans, Miami, Washington, Houston. Violent pro-Zelaya protests occured in San Pedro Sula where building's windows such as Banco Proamerica and Pizza Hut were broken]]. [73]

The police arrested Marcelo Chimirri, ex-manager of the phone company Hondutel, who is accused of corruption. Marcelo Chimirri was appointed as head of Hondutel by Zelaya.[74]

The new cabinet

The new cabinet so far[75][76][77]

  • Enrique Ortez Colindres, Foreign Minister. He has been Honduran ambassador to the United Nations.
  • Gabriela Núñez, Minister of Finance
  • Desiré Rosales, Minister of Science and Technology
  • Adolfo Lionel Sevilla, Minister of Defense
  • Nicolás Gacía, Minister of Labor
  • Norman Ochoa, Secretary of Natural Resources
  • René Zepeda, Press Relations
  • Germain Leitzelar, Minister without portfolio for Social Affairs and to organize a national dialog
  • Mario Noe VillaFranca, Minister of Health
  • Norman Ochoa, Viceminister of Natural Resources and the Environment (SERNA)
  • Desiree Rosales, Director of Honduran Council of Science and Technology (COHCIT)
  • Sandra Midence, President of Central Bank of Honduras
  • Karen Zelaya, Secretary of International Cooperation (SETCO)
  • Jorge Alberto Rodas Gamero, continues as Security Minister
  • Martha Lorena Alvarado, Vicechanellor
  • Cesar Quezada, Director of Transportation
  • Mirna Castro, Minister of Culture
  • Nelson Willy Mejía, Director de Migración
  • Hernán Banegas, Minister of the Social Investment Fund (FHIS)
  • Rosario Carías, Viceminister of Education
  • Ana Abarca Uclés, Minister of Tourism
  • José Alfredo San Martín, Director of Civil Aviation
  • Justo César Miranda, Minister of Ethnic Groups
  • Jorge Alberto Palma, Director of Institute for Forestry Conservation
  • Miguel Ángel Rodas, Director of the National Telecommunications Commision (CONATEL)
  • Alma Rodas de Fiallos, Director of the National Statistics Institute (INE)

Reactions

From other countries or international bodies

Main article: International reaction to the 2009 Honduran coup d'état

All Latin American nations (with the exception of Honduras), as well as the United States, Spain, France, and others, have publicly condemned the forced removal of Zelaya as undemocratic and most have labelled it as a coup d'état. President Barack Obama of the United States said "We believe that the coup was not legal and that President Zelaya remains the President of Honduras."[8][78] Amongst the stronger reactions, President of Venezuela Hugo Chávez, pledged to "bring down" any replacement government.[79] Americas-based international organizations such as the Organization of American States, Mercosur, and the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas have also condemned the events. Over ten Latin American countries, as well as all European Union countries,[80] agreed to withdraw their ambassadors from Honduras until Mr. Zelaya is returned to power.[81] No nation has publicly declared support for the Honduran military's actions or for the new acting President Roberto Micheletti, with the exception of Honduras itself.

Venezuela has said it would suspend oil shipments, and Honduras's neighbors — El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua - stopped overland trade for 48 hours.[82]

  •  United Nations: A one-page resolution, passed by acclamation in the 192-member body, condemned the removal of Mr. Zelaya as a coup and demanded his “immediate and unconditional restoration” as president.[57] The resolution calls "firmly and categorically on all states to recognise no government other than that" of Mr Zelaya.[83]
  •  Americas: The OAS called for an emergency meeting on Sunday,[5][84] where it approved a resolution demanding "the immediate, safe and unconditional return of the constitutional president, Manuel Zelaya."[85] Secretary-General José Miguel Insulza called the situation "a military coup."[86] On July 1, 2009, the OAS gave a three-day deadline for the new government to step down and put Zelaya back in power, and threatened to expel Honduras from the organization if it refused.[87]
  •  Caribbean: In a press release, CARICOM denounced the coup and voiced its concern over the treatment of Honduran and diplomatic officials during the coup. "The Caribbean Community condemns the military action which has interrupted the democratic process in Honduras and which contravenes the principles of the Inter-American Democratic Charter. The Community therefore calls for the immediate reinstatement of President Zelaya."[89]
  • The Association of Caribbean States condemned the coup in a statement and called for Zelaya's reinstatement. Additionally it stated, "we highlight our condemnation of the brutal treatment that Honduras military personnel gave to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Patricia Rodas as well as the Ambassadors of Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. This situation is a serious violation of International law, and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations."[90]
  •  Mercosur and  Paraguay: President of Paraguay and current president pro tempore of Mercosur Fernando Lugo condemned the coup and said that no member state of Mercosur will recognize a Honduran government that is not led by Manuel Zelaya. Lugo also called for those behind the coup to be punished by serving prison sentences.[91]
  •  European Union: The European Union called on the Honduran military to release the president and restore constitutional order.[5] The EU decided on July 2 to remove all ambassadors from Honduras.[93]
  • The World Bank: World Bank President Robert Zoellick stated that the World Bank has "paused" all lending for development programs to Honduras, said to be around $80 million for the next fiscal year. Asked under what conditions the World Bank would consider resuming lending to Honduras, Zoellick replied: "It is a situation that is in flux and fluid and in this case we are trying to play a supportive role with the region and its overall goals to restore democracy."[94]


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Questions on motives

Miguel Tinker Salas, a Latin America specialist at Pomona College, opined in The Christian Science Monitor that the crisis over use of the referendum has its roots in Honduras's cold war era constitution, which he describes as written by the country's "liberal elites," and thus does not provide for referendums. Salas went on to state, "The referendum is the primary vehicle through which change has occurred in countries like Venezuela, Ecuador, and Bolivia, and the elites know it. They wanted to nip this thing in the bud."[96]

Álvaro Vargas Llosa, senior fellow at the Independent Institute, hypothesized in a June 30, 2009, New York Times editorial that the winner in Honduras was Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. Llosa remarked that Chávez helped Zeleya "set a trap for the military" and that they "fell for it", in effect "turning an unpopular president who was nearing the end of his term into an international cause célèbre." This fact according to Llosa now allows the "caudillo" Chávez "to claim the moral high ground", and exploit the situation to make himself the "unlikely champion of Jeffersonian democracy in Latin America."[97]

Other observers have made note of the fact that Army chief Romeo Vásquez Velásquez and head of the Honduran Air Force General Luis Javier Prince Suazo, are graduates of the U.S. Army School of the Americas, which has raised concerns of possible CIA involvement.[98] Analyst Roberto Lovato expressed this concern to NPR remarking:

"the fact that Vasquez and other coup leaders were trained at the WHINSEC (School of the Americas), which also trained ... other military dictators responsible for the deaths, disappearances, and tortures of hundreds of thousands in Latin America, sends profound chills throughout a region still trying to overcome decades of U.S.-backed militarism."[15]

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Images

Analysis

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