Manuel Zelaya Rosales

Jose Manuel Zelaya Rosales, former President of Honduras was captured yesterday morning as a result of his ongoing criminal behavior. Zelaya openly started a series of events conducting to changes in the Constitution only possible by disruption of the rule of Law. Upon his capture Jose Manuel Zelaya prepared and signed a resignation letter. The Honduran Congress accepted Zelaya´s resignation and proceeded to a constitutional succession in the Executive.
Although Zelaya allegations of kidnapping his capture came based on a court Order and was transported to Costa Rica for his own wellbeing.
In the absence of the President the next in line is the Vice President, followed by the President of Congress. The Vice President of Honduras had resigned a few months ago to be able to run for the Presidency, coming elections in November 2009.
The Congress of Honduras appointed its President Roberto Micheletti Bain as constitutional successor of the President. This individual shall serve for the rest of the Presidency of Manuel Zelaya until January 27th, 2010.
The Constitution and the Rule of law has been preserved in Honduras.
According to Zelaya the US would provide an indication of its intervention in a ´coup d ´Etat´ if it were to recognize the new President as a legitimate successor to Zelaya. Obviously this is a cynical vocalization and a suggestion of Zelaya blackmailing Barack Obama.
It is the proper action by the US Administration to acknowledge this constitutional transition in Honduras.
Honduras has been a traditional friend and trade partner of the US. Puerto Cortes is a major port facility approved under the Transportation Security Initiative.

7 Razones Por las Cuales lo Sucedido en Honduras No Fue un Golpe

Lo que paso hoy en Honduras no fue un Golpe de Estado Militar, fue el equivalente de un proceso de impugnación, ejecutado por los otros dos poderes del gobierno, a favor de los ciudadanos hondureños que ellos representan. Las razones tras esta impugnación son las siguientes:

1.La Constitución de Honduras no permite la reelección.
2.La Constitución de Honduras declara que si hay alguna intención de cambiar los terminos establecidos sobre la presidencia, o sobre la no-reelección esto sera considerado un crimen.
3.La traición por cualquier ciudadano es penado por la ley.
4.El presidente es un ciudadano y no esta por encima de la ley.
5.Manuel Zelaya, al promover el establecimiento de una consulta popular para cambir la constitución para permitir la reelección esta cometiendo un crimen.
6.Los poderes legislativos y judiciales del gobierno están actuando bajo su jurisdicción para impugnar al presidente si el es culpable de traición.
7.Las Fuerzas Armadas ejecutan órdenes basados en la Constitución, y la Constitución les da el poder de arrestar y traer a el presidente ante la ley para ser juzgado ante la ley y ser condenado.

7 Reasons Why What Happened in Honduras was not a Coup

What happened in Honduras was not a Military Coup, it was the equivalent of Impeachment proceedings, executed by the two branches of the government, in favor of the people of Honduras that they Represent. The reason for impeachment of the president is the following:

1.The Constitution of Honduras does not allow for reelection
2.The Constitution of Honduras states that any intention to change term of the presidency, or the non-relection clause is considered a crime
3.Treason by any citizen of the country is punishable by law
4.The president of the country is a Citizen, and not above the law
5.Manuel Zelaya, by promoting to establish a public survey to change the constitution to permit for reelection is in fact engaging in a crime
6.The legislative and judicial branches of government are in their complete jurisdiction to impeach the president if he is guilty of treason
7.The Military executes orders based on the constitution, and the constution gives them the power to arrest and bring the president to the law, to be tried and convicted of his crimes.

Request for Fair Review of Honduras by International community

The Result of a Legal Process in Defense of Constitution NOT a Military Coup

The international press and foreign governments based mostly on Manuel Zelaya’s dramatic comments are extending their support to him. We welcome the international community’s attention and coverage of such sensitive news, however we only ask that analysts and foreign dignitaries reserve their assertions and acts of either support or condemnation until they have been properly informed.

In today’s democratic societies, it is an understandable initial reaction to condemn any event that has been referred to as a Military Coup or event that infers the forced imposition of an unelected leader. We, Hondurans, more than anyone strongly condemn such events as we have lived through various military coups in the past. However, the events that have transpired today were neither.

On June 28, 2009 there was NO MILITARY COUP. On June 28, 2009 the military proceeded to arrest Manuel Zelaya following a court order released by our Judicial system. Upon capture, Manuel Zelaya was taken outside of the country and released in Costa Rica. I am first to recognize that we should have detained and judged him in our courts, as this would have lent additional confidence to the international community. However, taking him out of the country was done in order to minimize any potential violence. Unfortunately, it also means he now remains with impunity outside of Honduras and planting a seed of doubt in the international community, regardless of the clear proof of illegality committed by Manuel Zelaya.

On June 28, 2009 there was no forced Imposition of an unelected leader on Honduran people. What transpired today in Congress, resulting in the naming of Roberto Micheletti (him being the next elected official in the order of succession) as the new President of Honduras was a legal and Constitutional succession of powers and involved the unanimous vote of all congressmen, which included members of four of Honduras’ political parties, including Manuel Zelaya’s.

On Sunday June 28, 2009 our Constitution and our Democracy, were in DANGER due to Manuel Zelaya’s illegal actions, knowingly undermining our judicial system, in order to pursue his personal ambitions to remain in power (he only had 6 months left in government). I am attaching a document drafted yesterday (in spanish) by Union Civica Democratica that provides a fuller explanation of the context leading to today’s events.

Sunday June 28, 2009 is a painful yet historic day in which our young democracy, despite its faults, demonstrated it had established the necessary institutions that would defend the Constitution and provide the necessary checks and balances to assure none of the three branches of government (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial) would abuse its power.

The Supreme Court, Congress, Office of Human Rights in Honduras, State Attorney, Attorney General, Supreme Electoral Tribunal, all have recognized the illegality of Manuel Zelaya’s actions and recognized the legality of today’s events.

We hope that in the following days and upon proper review of the facts the international community recognize and lend support to our institutions, to the newly appointed president and to the Honduran’s painful but real victory establishing that Honduras is a state based on law and that no man is above it, regardless of wealth, power or status.

Ruy Merriam