Is Honduras to endure a dictorship again?

"cured by more democracy" Alfred Emanuel Smith.

Events in the last hours have turned Honduras’s political system into a dictatorship again. A combination of greedy politicians and cold war minded militia prevented it from enjoying democracy a bit further and deeper. A democratic consultation was due on the very same day incumbent President Manuel Zelaya was kidnapped by few military men and taken into a forced exile at Costa Rica. Then, a not well rehearsed drama took place. The President of the National Congress and businessman, Roberto Micheletti, declared himself the new Head of State. He took oath after producing a fake resignation letter by President Zelaya. While such maverick arrangements took place with a disgraceful seal by Parliament, the speediest reaction emerged from different regional quarters. OAS, UN, EU, Rio Group, ALBA and local left leaning governments condemned the events as a coup reminiscent of the cold war or an illegal seizure of power. However, the involvement or silence of local media, the renunciation forgery and the forced exile strategy of the deposed Head of State is reminiscent of a late fancy in the removal of democratically elected governments in Latin America.

First, it was Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez who managed to escape an attempted coup in 2002. The Bush administration has had a strong dislike of Chavez`s managerial plans over Venezuelan oil. Thus, they evoked controversy and harsh exchanges. Then, an opposition demonstration was led to the Presidential Palace where pro government supporters had gathered on April 11, 2002.  Their imminent clash was used by plotters to kill people on both sides of the ideological spectrum. Chaos followed such sad events and President Chavez was speedily accused for them. A forged resignation letter was produced to justify a coup against his administration. A conservative businessman, Pedro Carmona Estanga, declared himself the new Head of State at the very presidential palace by decree on 12 April 2002. Carmona called for a transitional government, "dissolving the National Assembly and the Supreme Court and also suspending the Attorney General, Comptroller General, governors and mayors elected during Chávez's administration". However, Chavez was able to return to power with the strong and overwhelming support of his followers.

Then, it was Haiti’s Jean-Bertrand Aristide who ended up in South Africa in 2004. Aristede stated he was kidnapped by US military forces and taken to Bangui into a forced exile in Africa.  Local media aired cartoons while the coup was taken place. Supreme Court Chief Justice Boniface Alexandre took power as interim president. Then, he asked the United Nations Security Council for the intervention of an international peacekeeping force. Sadly, Haiti remains one of the poorest countries in the world.  

Now, it is Honduras’s turn to confront the challenges to its democratic institutions. This time, it counts with a regional backing and possibly a favouring blessing from the US. But as democracy returns to Honduras swiftly and leadership is renwed or discarded, its people would have to ponder over their social leanings towards dictatorships. As one reads the reactions to my previous story on the Honduran coup, "Honduras President Mel Zelaya Kidnapped in Military Coup", it is clear how confusing their support for democracy stands now. It also shows the most dreadful approval of a dictatorship in the name of covered interests, intolerance and hate. One can only wonder whether this confusion over democracy it a passing phase or a deep rooted belief that it cannot procure the well being and stability for all?