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Honduras Coup: Roberto Micheletti Sworn In As The New President
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by Yuliya Talmazan | June 28, 2009 at 06:03 pm
547 views | 10 Recommendations | 6 comments
The lawful President of Honduras Manuel Zelaya is removed from his home and flown into Costa Rica by troops, while Congress leader Roberto Micheletti is sworn as the new President of the country.
The President of Honuduras Manuel (Mel) Zelaya was captured in his home and ousted to Costa Rica by the army troops in what is being dubbed as the first military "coup" in Central America since the Cold War. It is believed that Zelaya's attempt to hold a referendum to extend his stay in the office has caused the unrest in the country today. Zelaya was replaced by Roberto Micheletti, Honduras' congressional leader on the same day. Micheletti had already been sworn as the new President of Honduras, saying he came to power legally without any coup and promising "to act with transparency." Micheletti is set to serve as an interim President for the next six months until January 27, 2010, when Zelaya's term would officially expire. Zelaya has already issued a statement from Costa Rica saying that his removal from power is a "political conspiracy." Zelaya's opponents claim he signed a letter of resignation, but Zelaya maintains that the letter is a fake.
"I have not resigned and will not resign," Zelaya said. "My government will end in 2010. I am Honduras' president and only the people can remove me or appoint me," he said.
In his acceptance speech, Micheletti said "I want to swear before the nation that in the six months that God has allowed me, my commitment will be to reconcile the great Honduran family and to national dialogue."
Political leaders around the world are unanimously calling for the coup to end and the lawful President be returned to power. So far, no nation has backed the coup. Leaders who have already spoken out are Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega, Venezuela's leader Hugo Chavez, US President Barack Obama, the Organization of American States, European Union and the UN. The UN General Assembly will hold an emergency session Monday to discuss the situation in Honduras.
Zelaya said he will participate in tomorrow's Central American Integration System Summit in Nicaragua as a lawful President.
The people of Honduras appear to be divided over who has the right to power in the country. Zelaya's supporters were seen today setting up roadblocks around presidential palace, as BBC reports. Others are reported to be satisfied with the removal of Zelaya. Micheletti has announced a two-day nationwide curfew. The curfew will run from 9 pm to 6 am on Sunday and Monday, June 28 and 29.
Meanwhile, tourists are flocking out of the country, ending their tours prematurely and filling up the airports.
Al Jazeera's Mariana Sanchez, reporting from Tegucigalpa, said that a lot of very angry people were wielding sticks and steel batons.
At one point they tried to push their way into the palace, but the army inside resisted, she said, adding that some among the protesters were trying to calm people down.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (6)
at 07:38 on June 29th, 2009
I am from vancouver,canada and i don't agree with the new president of Honduras. He is a traitor to the people of Honduras and he should get the firing squad.The people of Honduras should fight to the death to get rid of him.Long live Manuel Zelaya,Death to Roberto Micheletti.
Stan Squires
at 13:39 on June 29th, 2009
I am from the States and have spent time in Honduras and know people from there, and have friends who know Micheletti. He is a good man....Zelaya is a dictator just like the dictator of Venezuela; Chavez is a dictator. (also have friends in Venezuela who are not allowed to leave the country because of this tyrant)
What our president is doing in supporting Zelaya and Chavez is an outrage and should be stopped. If a country who supports freedom can no longer help other countries who are trying to gain that same freedom, then what is this world coming to? Nothing good, that is for certain!
The people of Honduras do not have the ability to make anything of themselves, because of the current government. If Micheletti wants to change that, then God be with him!
God bless Honduras!
~Monique
at 09:53 on June 30th, 2009
sure..you sound like the ignorant rightwing fools which the USA needs to get rid of. Zelaya is a good man who fights against rightwing US. backed oligarchy that has run Honduras for way too long. Reagan started all the rightwing trouble down there in the 80's, those days are at long last over. No rightwing here..no rightwing there. The right are the enemies of all decent, truth loving people everywhere. Why dont you go move to the new russia or some other rightweing nazi land
at 23:03 on June 29th, 2009
Dear Monique, please get educated first; then you make comments.
Mr. Zelaya is the "Presidente de la Republica de Honduras" chosen by the vote of the people.
I recommend you to start with Wikipedia - at least.
But please do something!!!
at 05:30 on July 2nd, 2009
Good luck to President Micheletti. The courageous Courts and Congress of Honduras prevented the take over of their country by a would-be dictator.
at 16:58 on July 5th, 2009
we dont one any of the militaries to be killing kids