Coup détat in Honduras, by Dan Morgan in Santiago, July 4th 2009

Source: 21st Century Socialism
http://21stcenturysocialism.com/article/coup_dtat_in_honduras_01866.html
In the early hours of June 28, 2009, President Manuel Zelaya of Honduras was woken by a group of 200 to 300 soldiers who shot and smashed their way into his house. He was forced out in his pyjamas, put on a plane and taken to Costa Rica. This was the start of a coup d'état in classic style.

The background

Honduras: The archetypal banana republic, it was dominated for many years by the US United Fruit Company. Very poor, the people of this country of 7.5 million people has never had the chance of real participation in their government. After military dictatorships between 1963 and 1981, a series of right-wing governments provided bases for the USA, for the contra-revolutionaries who were a key factor in destabilising the Nicaraguan Sandinista progressive government.

The same political machine kept control until now. With 50% living in poverty and 28% unemployment, many people have emigrated to the USA in recent decades and young returnees have imported the Los Angeles gang culture, creating a big crime problem. Many transnational ‘maquila’ factories have exploited the country’s cheap labour in recent times. Typically, young women are worked to the bone at sewing machines for a few years, until their tendons give out.

Manuel Zelaya: A businessman, and politician of the Liberal Party, one of the traditional political parties, he was elected President in 2005. He soon began to show signs of betraying his friends in the elite. He promoted a big increase in the minimum wage, sent a bill to the congress to give rights to domestic workers, and in general wanted to improve the lives of the people.

He joined ‘Petro-Caribe’, basically a solidarity arrangement whereby Hugo Chávez of Venezuela sells oil at a very low price to poorer countries in the region. This could only be of benefit to the country but, for the oligarchy, any co-operation with Chávez is anathema. Zelaya also joined the ALBA bloc (Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas) of nations designed to promote economic and other co-operation as an alternative to domination by the USA. Even more repulsive for the traditional elite.

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The role of the USA


Almost certainly we will not know details of the role of the USA for years but Venezuela's embassador to the OAS said on Sunday that one Otto Reich had been talking to golpistas in Honduras. Reich is known as a right-wing extremist with a long history of interference in Latin America, from the State Department and the military, under Presidents Reagan and both Bushes. An ex-Cuban, he is obsessed with Cuba but played roles in the destabilisation of the Sandinista government in the '80s, and reportedly selecting the Venezuelan golpista generals in 2002. Now, as ambassador Chaderton said, 'we have the Third Reich'. For an article on his history, see: http://www.coha.org/2004/07/otto-reich-a-career-in-disservice/

The coup faces Obama with a political problem. He has presented himself as a supporter of demcoracy, who will listen to Latin America. With the unanimous condemnation of the coup by Latin America, he can only follow suit. According to a right-wing paper in Chile, “US diplomatic sources said that, if the restitution of Zelaya was not resolved before that day (Sunday, when Obama travels to Europe), the President of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, could take on international leadership of the offensive against the government of Micheletti.” It continues, saying Thomas Shannon is charged with finding a negotiated settlement, such as “allowing Zelaya to return to power but with conditions, such as not holding a referendum on reforming the constitution.”

This is a political problem for the USA. The spread of progressive governments which open up popular participation, work for economic independence and threaten to open the way for socialism, are a threat to US interests. There is a US base in Honduras, with 600 troops (confined to barracks at the moment). On the other hand, Honduras is a small country, and open support for a 'gorilla' government will threaten their efforts to win over Latin America politically. Within the Obama adminstration and secret services, there are probably those in favour of Zelaya's return and of supporting the Micheletti gorillas. Even the CNN reporting has shown uncertainty as to the tone to adopt.

The moves to postpone Zelaya's return to Honduras might also be due to hopes that the world will forget about the problem, and the golpistas will be able to repress resistance and continue in power. The issue has already disappeared from the Guardian on-line, almost so from The Independent (is it?) and the BBC has a jolly piece about the coup not being a big issue in Honduras.

For the people of Honduras and progressives in Latin America, it is obviously also a key moment. Are the brute forces of reaction to be unleashed again?

Latest, Thursday pm: J M Insulza, OAS Secretary, announces that he will go to Honduras on Friday, and not Saturday, and Manuel Zelaya says his return is being planned with people in Honduras, and leaves the timing uncertain.