Honduran Independence

An interesting and arguably illicit thing has happened this week. It puts Central America back in the news in a way in which it hasn't been in quite some time: a coup has ousted, at least for now, the democratically elected president of the tiny nation.

President Manuel Zelaya was arrested by his own military and forced into exile in nearby Costa Rica. He vows to return, and world opinion appears to support the view that he should. Maybe so, maybe no; I have long had the impression that the left desires that nations take care of their own politics. We only need witness President Obama's reluctance to speak out critically about the recent troubles in Iran as an example. Yet the world at large seems very intent that Zelaya be returned to power as soon as possible.

Is it because Zelaya is a leftist? I note with interest that the handful of his supporters who appeared outside of the Honduran Congress chanted things such as 'death to the bourgeoisie' in support of their exiled president. But it strikes me as relevant that his own party, presumably at least as leftward leaning as Zelaya, does not appear to harbor any great feelings for him.

Arguably, Honduras is seeing to its own future in attempting to reject a leader who, according to the newly sworn in President Roberto Micheletti, sought to grab a more permanent power base in the mold of Zelaya's ally, the Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez. He believes that '80 - 90 percent' of the Honduran people support the recent actions to depose Zelaya. If he is right, then perhaps we ought to keep our mouths shut and respect that as the decision of the Hondurans to make for themselves.

In the end, all we can do for now is watch and wait. It does make for fascinating drama.