There was a furniture plant at Choloma located on the right side of the highway as you go south, 1 or 2 km south of the main entrance to Choloma. It was founded by a man named Omar, I forget his last name. I don't remember the name of the company but I can find out if anybody needs to know. The company made mostly juvenile furniture, cribs and case goods. At one time they were a strong exporter to the USA.
There go all the Honduras hardwoods! Ethan Allen has been boycotted for years for clear cutting 3rd world forests. Greenpeace, Forestry councils etc. hate EA.
Both the Honduran Supreme Court and the non partisan Library of Congress both concluded that there was no Coup in Honduras. People can say anything they want to try to change history, but they can not change the truth.
There was no "extraordinary" situation. These are the same methods the brutal military dictatorships of the last century used to legitimize themselves. Of course the court was going to let them off, they ORDERED the coup. If it was illegal for the military to carry out the removal of Zelaya -- and again, it was -- then the Supreme Court members would themselves be in a legal bind. This is the ONLY explanation they could come up with to protect themselves and the military from any controversy while at the same time being able to launch their candidate for president. It's a win-win situation for everyone and everyone is happy!
Oh, wait, not everyone. There are those silly people, the silly ones, the ones who believe in Democracy. They're unhappy. Ingrates, how dare they?
Wow, sounds like a nice experience there. I could completely see the picture there. BTW, I am Honduran, although I lived in the states for almost a decade. I think it would be wonderful to meet you in real life. I live in SPS because I'm a student so let me know if you wanna do something some time.
my email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Brilliantly applied. Simply shining. Quoted the one line I love from Mr J's entire repertoire, "... under the pretext of caring for them." Yes indeed, very good for you, sir. Very well indeed.
BTW, I do not think Mr J would much believe President Obama either. "On matters of fashion, go with the flow; on matters of principle, stand like a rock."-- TJ
(I like that Hemingway thought) I agree with Marco, and with Josh, so lets give things a chance and hope for the best. It sounds like our President has his eye on the ball. He did spend endless nights in Copeco during the recent rains. We should give the man all our support when he leads wisely-- and let him hear our cries of anger when not. Such is liberty.
Mel Should forever be greatful that he is not behind bars where he belongs. To have put these generals, whom al Hondurans owe a debt of gratitude, into jail makes no sense when Mel has been given amnesty from his crimes. I tis true that Mel's right were violated, although his right to life was likely preseved through the actions of the military. While it is true that no one was held accountable for kicking him out of the country in his suite (later he changed into pajamas for effect), Mel has not been held accountable for his crimes and abuse of power. It is time to stop portraying this man as a victim, but rather a man who thought he was above the law and found out he wasn't.
While it is true that the removal of Mel was handled poorly, no one seemed willing to help Honduras deal with this out of control president. The OAS does nothing to actually prevent the errosion of democracy, Venezuela is a case in point, and the Obama administration was too busy with its misguided attempt to be friends with Hugo Chavez, a man whose needs to create and maintain an allusion that he is fighting the evil USA. Mistakes were made, but they were all done with the best intention to protect the contry and maintain peace. Ultimately, they underestimated how quickly the propaganda matchine would spin the removal into a faulsely characterized coup d'etat. That can be debated at nausium, but the fact remains that they prevent the country from following the same path as Venezuela, a country where free speech is non existant, oposition members are under constant attack by the courts, and any oposition to Chavez is labeled a USA plot. Honduras has remained free, and for that, I will forever be proud of these courageous men and woman from the congress and supreme court, and the military, who did the very best they could duirng a very complicated and situation, and were the first to stand up to this attack on democracy in Latin America.
When one looks at all that Mel did leading up to June 28, 2009, it is clear that the only option left to deal with a president that was repeatedly violating the Constitution he was sworn to uphold, was to remove him from the office. It was right and just to do this.
I agree that you will likely see an initial spike in violence as the gangs, cartels, and insurgents in Honduras push back. The trick is to keep it a sustained presence while reforming the police force in Honduras as a whole. This means increased training, pay, numbers, and equipment. Make the police a force that people actually believes are there to protect them, to chase down criminals, and will come to your aid when called. It is rediculous to have a situation where police do not have enough money for gas for their vehicles. If you do not do this, then once you go back to current levels, crime will come back as well.
This also will ultimately fail if we fail to address the real cause of this violence: namely drugs, political instability, lack of oportunity, and an education system that is ineffectual. The war on drugs has failed just as prohibition failed, and it is time to legallize them.
Will the surge work. I sure hope so and only time will tell.
Some situations are "extraordinary" and were not contemplated when the Constitution was drafted. For instance in the US, freedom of speech is legal, but you can't walk into a movie theatre and yell out "fire" causing panic when there is no fire.
Mel was clearly an extraordinary situation. The Supreme Court did the right thing here. Mel called "fire" causing a national panic and the potential for many more deaths.
I am so ashamed. We are completely bereft of genius and it makes me sick. Logic, method, and reason have been banished from our land; they are simply not welcome here.
Marco makes some very good points. I'm not sure whether the court was inept in not providing complete instructions or whether it was on purpose so as not to be blamed for what later happened. It is very hard to believe that everyone's actions were made in a vacuum without communicating with the other parties.
I do, however, think there is some validity to claim of the fear of bloodshed during that time, whether that is a legal basis, I don't know. I remember Hugo Chávez's threats of intervention and that "blood would flow" in our streets. Some in safer countries might say that Chávez is a loud-mouthed buffoon not to be taken seriously, but I remember that there was a lot of panic in the 2-3 days before June 28, especially in Tegus, but even as far away as La Ceiba, with businesses closing, people stocking up on food and gas, etc. Of course, I wasn't privy to military intelligence during that time, but I was pretty scared.
One point I'd like to nitpick with is the use of the word "precedent". It seems that Honduran laws have always been mere suggestions that can be overlooked or made exceptions for when convenient and that even the constitution can be changed on whim to suit individual circumstances. Personally, I think enforcing article 233 of the constitution would go a long way to improving things.
Editor
Oh, wait, not everyone. There are those silly people, the silly ones, the ones who believe in Democracy. They're unhappy. Ingrates, how dare they?
Wow, sounds like a nice experience there. I could completely see the picture there. BTW, I am Honduran, although I lived in the states for almost a decade. I think it would be wonderful to meet you in real life. I live in SPS because I'm a student so let me know if you wanna do something some time.
my email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
BTW, I do not think Mr J would much believe President Obama either. "On matters of fashion, go with the flow; on matters of principle, stand like a rock."-- TJ
This also will ultimately fail if we fail to address the real cause of this violence: namely drugs, political instability, lack of oportunity, and an education system that is ineffectual. The war on drugs has failed just as prohibition failed, and it is time to legallize them.
Will the surge work. I sure hope so and only time will tell.
Police officers make for poor dentists.
Farmers make for poor lawyers.
Why can't people who specialize in something, stick with what they are good at? A Bishop will make a very poor President.
Mel was clearly an extraordinary situation. The Supreme Court did the right thing here. Mel called "fire" causing a national panic and the potential for many more deaths.
I am so ashamed. We are completely bereft of genius and it makes me sick. Logic, method, and reason have been banished from our land; they are simply not welcome here.
I do, however, think there is some validity to claim of the fear of bloodshed during that time, whether that is a legal basis, I don't know. I remember Hugo Chávez's threats of intervention and that "blood would flow" in our streets. Some in safer countries might say that Chávez is a loud-mouthed buffoon not to be taken seriously, but I remember that there was a lot of panic in the 2-3 days before June 28, especially in Tegus, but even as far away as La Ceiba, with businesses closing, people stocking up on food and gas, etc. Of course, I wasn't privy to military intelligence during that time, but I was pretty scared.
One point I'd like to nitpick with is the use of the word "precedent". It seems that Honduran laws have always been mere suggestions that can be overlooked or made exceptions for when convenient and that even the constitution can be changed on whim to suit individual circumstances. Personally, I think enforcing article 233 of the constitution would go a long way to improving things.