Honduran Army: Not Coup, Rather Democracy Service

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Imagine this scene: the current British Prime Minister – the most unpopular of them all – Gordon Brown marches on the streets of London with ballot papers and boxes (sent by the Russian PM Vladimir Putin) for a referendum to increase the five-years that a party can stay in power ignoring the Queen, the Parliament, the Judiciary and his party Labour orders of not to do it. One wonders what would have happened to poor old Brown. Well, I suspect he firstly would be kick-out of number 10 Downing Street and then be put in a straight jacket. Therefore, such event would not have outraged the international community and described as coup given that it had taken place in a Western society.

But in a small country in South America Honduras similar scene has happened a few days a go. Honduran President can only serve one term in the office four-years and it is written in the constitution. The President Manuel Zelaya knew this and for a while was trying to hold a public referendum that would allow him to run for a second term when November election comes. But other divisions of the Honduran government were not on the same boat as him and called it illegal. Mr Zelaya turned blind eye to the Congress and Supreme Court orders and arrogantly decided no matter what the referendum would take place. He marched on the streets of Tegucigalpa with supporters and ballot boxes that were illegally sent from Venezuela. As a result, following orders from the Congress and Supreme Court and not just from the chief commander, the armed forces overthrew Zelaya from power.

But were the Congress and Supreme Court right to overthrow Zelaya from power? More to the point, were there other steps to take as to satisfy the international communities? In contestably, NO! They have done exactly what Britain, France or USA, for that matter, would have done. That is said, I do hate to see a dramatically elected president removed from office by the army, even if they were acting on orders of that the Congress and Supreme Court. Never the less, a President, no matter how much he is loved by the people, cannot act alone and therefore needs to respect other government divisions and their support.

Mr Zelaya is a big supporter and close friend of Hugo Chavez Venezuela’s President and would like nothing more than to follow in his footsteps. Mr Chavez, in February, held a referendum to alter the constitution that would allow him scrap the presidential term limit; he won it and therefore can stay in power beyond 2030.

But in reality, the true exercise of democracy is not solely holding an election and delivering ballot boxes to every city, street and corner but also how peacefully are hands shaken and power transferred?