Impunity Watch: North America: Chaos in Honduras: President Zelaya in Exile after 'Military' Coup de'etat

By Nima Nayebi

Impunity Watch Reporter, North America and Europe

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - Chaos continues in Honduras after troops acting under the authority of the Supreme Court ousted President Manuel Zelaya and flew him to Costa Rica in the midst of a power struggle over plans to change the country's constitution.

Arriving in Costa Rica wearing his pyjamas, Mr. Zelaya said that he had been kidnapped by the military in a "coup" following his call for a referendum to extend his "non-renewable" 6-year term in office, which is due to expire on 27 January 2010.

The referendum had been ruled illegal by the Honduran Supreme Court and was opposed by Congress as well as Mr. Zelaya's own party. Congress appointed another member of Mr. Zelaya's liberal party, Roberto Micheletti, as acting head of state. Mr. Micheletti will serve the remainder of President Zelaya's term and elections are scheduled to be held 29 November 2009.

Soldiers stormed the presidential residence this Sunday morning, just hours before the referendum was slated to begin. The BBC reported that armoured vehicles were on the streets of the Honduran capital, and that troops used tear gas to disperse Mr. Zelaya's supporters from outside his residence.

Mr. Zelaya insists he is still the president of Honduras. "This was a plot by a very voracious elite, an elite which wants only to keep this country isolated, in an extreme level of poverty," he said.

New York-based International Action Center, which defines itself as an "anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist group," is circulating an online petitioncalling on President Obama and Madam Secretary Clinton to "condemn the unconstitutional and anti-democratic military coup in Honduras and insist that the military regime and the newly appointed but illegitimate president of Honduras restore President Zelaya to office...." The group is further demanding that the US recall its Ambassador to Honduras.

Zelaya is a civil engineer and rancher by profession. He took office in 2006 after prevailing over the ruling National Party candidate. Since becoming President, he moved Honduras away from its traditional alliance with the US and toward friendship with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Venezuela has reportedly put its troops on high alert, while Mr. Chavez has pledged to do whatever is necessary to restore Mr. Zelaya to power.

Chavez has blamed the "yankee empire" for the coup, but the White House has denied any involvement in the affair. President Obama has urged Honduras to respect "the rule of law." The US recognizes Mr. Zelaya as the rightfully elected president of Honduras.

The EU has called for "a swift return to constitutional normalty" in Honduras.

Photo above: AP