Honduras Update

07/15/09  Print This Post Print This Post    1 Comment      Written by Julie Schwietert
  • Stumble It

Photo: YamilGonzales

“I haven’t heard anything about Honduras this week,” my husband said to me as we sat down to have dinner last night. Come to think of it, neither had I.

What’s happening in Honduras?

Good question.

In the US, at least, we’ve moved on, captivated by the Sotomayor Supreme Court confirmation hearings, former Liberian president Charles Taylor’s insistence of his purity and innocence in the war crimes case being heard against him at The Hague, and the rumblings that US Attorney General Eric Holder may appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the Bush administration’s CIA interrogation practices.

Oh, and then there was that early week bit about the CIA’s naughty habit of lying to Congress (repeatedly. Since 2001… at least).

So excuse us if we’ve forgotten about Honduras (and Iran… but we’ll get to that later).

But we shouldn’t be so quick to put the Central American situation out of our minds.

According to the Latin America Working Group, “The situation in Honduras has only escalated since last week.” Remarking on the military’s role in the current political standoff, LAWG continued:

“Civilians in the streets of Tegucigalpa and throughout the country side continue to face brutal repression by military officials. Civil liberties remain gravely affected, including freedom of the press.”

Meanwhile, the Americas Society reported that “an inch, but not a mile” has been gained in the executive branch, thanks to negotiations between the elected Zelaya administration and the imposed Micheletti administration, which are being mediated by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias. The organization indicated that curfews have been lifted and the threat to imprison Zelaya has been reconsidered if the deposed president returns, as he has said he intends to do.

To continue following developments in the country, visit the Americas Society’s Resource Guide to the Crisis in Honduras, which provides links to primary sources, news, and multimedia, produced both in the country and outside it.

Community Connection:

Clueless about what occurred in Honduras? Check out these articles from our archives:

Honduran President Ousted in Military Coup

Photo Essay: Honduras After the Coup

To Coup or Not to Coup?

Honduran President Attempts to Return to Country; Military Prevents Plane from Landing


  • Stumble It

About the Author

Matador ID: collazo

Julie Schwietert is the managing editor of Matador Network. She contributed a chapter to the recently published book, The Voluntary Traveler, and is currently working on five features for Fodor's Puerto Rico, 6th Edition.

1 Comment... join the discussion!

  • Jacob Bielanski replied on July 15, 2009

    Why is it that everyone seems to glaze over the fact that, prior to the coup, Zelaya fired Gen. Romeo Vasquez for not agreeing to involve military forces in “political matters”. To quote the Miami Herald:

    “Zelaya vowed to defy the court order and tasked the armed forces with securing the ballots and handling logistics.

    When [Gen. Romeo] Vásquez told the president that there was clamor from his ranks against doing something illegal, he was canned.”

    http://www.miamiherald.com/579/story/1121132.html

    (Report comment)

    ↵ Reply

Leave a Comment

Jump To Category:





Popular Stories on Matador

What's In Your Backpack, Tony Vincent, Recording Artist and Broadway Actor?

From performing with the award winning Broadway show, R... 

Writing Tips: Descriptions that Reveal Characters' Relationships

A short passage from Raymond Carver is an example of wr... 

World Cup Preview: South Africa

Get ready for the 2010 World Cup as Matador Sports prof... 

An Open Letter To William Bradley: May I Soothe Your Twitter Troubles

Why I don't believe Twitter to be any trouble at all. I... 

If Guidebooks Could Talk

Choosing the right 2D companion for your travels.... 

By the Numbers: Paddling the Niger River

In February, Helen Lloyd and Lars Bengtsson took a brea... 

How Much Does it Cost to Live in China?

Your dollar by dollar guide to living in China. ... 

MatadorChange adds list to MatadorNetwork's Twitter account

Follow the folks we think are changemakers. ... 

8 Classic Mexican Expressions To Perk Up Your Spanish

Echar la hueva: the opposite of "echarle ganas." Inste... 

How to Make the Perfect Bloody Mary

A staple of Sunday morning brunch, the Bloody Mary can... 



Focus


Warning: include(/websites/matadorpulse.com/docs/wp-content/themes/matador/tlink.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /websites/matador-theme/templates/big-news-sidebar.inc.php on line 51

Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening '/websites/matadorpulse.com/docs/wp-content/themes/matador/tlink.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/virtual/php-5.2.9/share/pear') in /websites/matador-theme/templates/big-news-sidebar.inc.php on line 51


Editor Blogs