Next Gen Journal

by David Toner

On June 28, leftist Honduran president Manuel Zelaya was kidnapped from his residence by the Honduran army and flown to Costa Rica, officially marking a coup d’état. Zelaya maintains his claim to be the head of state, but the judicial and legislative branches of the Honduran government are calling the take-over legitimate and legal.

Honduras (Public Domain- The CIA World Factbook)

A little background: the Honduran constitution contains several “petreos” (stones); these are articles which cannot be amended, including rules regarding presidential terms.  Zelaya was toppled after attempting to institute a referendum that would determine national interest in a constitutional amendment to allow the president to occupy his or her post for more than one term, thus violating the sanctity of the petreos.  And the result? The Honduran military arrested President Zelaya and the National Congress of Honduras appointed Parliamentary leader Roberto Micheletti as the acting President.  So far, he has proved unwilling to yield to the demands of Zelaya or members of the international community to surrender his post. So what is the American response? Already, the Obama administration has denounced the coup and stated that it will work to reinstate Zelaya.  Now, the United States has to decide how strongly and in what capacity it will continue that support.

Over the years, the United States has used its sizable influence in Latin America to combat political unrest.  The most notable involvement in recent history was the 1989 invasion of Panama that resulted in the arrest and extradition of General Manuel Noriega.  Yet, on this occasion, the U.S. is not alone. Other Latin American countries have also rallied behind Zelaya; his strongest support stems from his fellow leftists in Venezuela, Bolivia, and Cuba.  Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez has threatened possible military action against Honduras if they do not reinstate Zelaya.  Chavez, who narrowly avoided a war with Colombia last year, might choose to flex his military’s muscles this time around.  If the United States were to enter the fray, things could escalate very rapidly.  With so many troops deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other countries throughout the world, the United States simply cannot afford to open a military front in Latin America.  On the other hand, the U.S. cannot accept the coup d’état as a regular political tactic, especially in a region as volatile as Latin America. President Obama will need to navigate these waters carefully.

In recent days, Costa Rican president Oscar Arias has led mediations between the two sides. Meanwhile, rumors have circulated that Zelaya plans to “smuggle himself across the Honduran border.” Currently, the United States government is maintaining a low profile in the talks so that neither side accuses the U.S. of meddling in the peace process. Ultimately, this is the right approach.

Honduras, which has been ruled by military juntas in the past, should be particularly wary of its armed forces acting as the final deciding force in domestic affairs.  It is, however, a Honduran affair and the U.S. should not attempt to sway the outcome either way.  While we should certainly work to ensure that a coup d’etat is not a prevalent or even a succesful tactic, it would be a mistake to deeply involve ourselves in an international affair that could prove difficult to end.

David Toner is a NGJ Contributor and a student at Cathedral Catholic High School.

The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.