Will economic pressure push Honduras?
Professor Terry McCoy at the University of Florida's Center for Latin American Studies talks with Bob Moon about the military coup in Honduras and whether the Central American country can cope with economic pressure for countries like the U.S.
Terry McCoy, professor at the University of Florida's Center for Latin American Studies. (latam.ufl.edu)
More on International, South - Central America
TEXT OF STORY
BOB MOON: Honduran leaders who ousted their leftist president in a military coup over the weekend are vowing to resist diplomatic pressure to restore him to office. The more pertinent question may be -- Can they deal with economic pressure the U.S. or other nations might bring to bear? We spoke this morning to professor Terry McCoy at the University of Florida's Center for Latin American Studies. He says the country is already in dire economic straits, and much of that stems from a lack of money sent home by Hondurans who've come here to the U.S. seeking work.
TERRY MCCOY: Those Hondurans who are in the United States now are in service industries, construction, and heavy layoffs in those areas meant that these people are losing their jobs, which means that they have less income to send home.
Moon: I'm looking at an AP photo of a supporter of the ousted president in front of a street bond fire. And I was struck by the fact that in he background is a familiar American corporate logo -- the golden arches of a McDonalds. So the U.S. really does wield a lot of influence down there.
Mccoy: Yeah, I mean Honduras like most, all Central American countries, is closely linked to the United States and has been historically. Hondurans are quite familiar with U.S. consumer goods. Many of them either have relatives or friends in the United States or have visited themselves. And so, Hondurans and their economy are closely linked to the United States.
Moon: So given that, the fact that the U.S. has looked very unfavorably so far on this coup, is going to be pivotal, yes?
Mccoy: Yeah, It's going to be interesting to see what happens now because there's been universal condemnation of the coup throughout the Western hemisphere. Secretary of State Clinton and President Obama have both spoken out against it. So I think there's going to be a very solid block criticizing and demanding that Zelaya be restored to the presidency.
Moon: Terry McCoy is a professor at the University of Florida's Center for Latin American Studies. Thank you for joining us.
Mccoy: My pleasure.
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From Buenos Aires, 07/06/2009
Respectfully to brothers from Honduras. The best way to respect democracy, is via strict compliance with laws. If Mr Zelaya is corrupt and megalomaniac, is to be decided by a court of law, and only after he is declared guilty, the constitution should be invoked to decide his replacement, and decide his punishment. Whoever approves the pulling of a president from bed at 4 in the morning and his expulsion from the country, whichever the claim, by no means acts in the name of democracy.
From Coral Gables, FL, 07/05/2009
Stacy Simmons, Obama is not naive. He knows what he's doing. As his parents, relatives, friends and mentors, Obama is a Marxist who hates the U.S., just like Castro, Chavez, Ortega, Morales, Correa and Zelaya. Those of us who have suffered from the cancer of �socialism of the XXI century� (Marxism) that is destroying Latin America realize that Obama is infecting the U.S. with the same cancer. Obama�s presidential campaign and the campaigns of Chavez, Morales, Correa, and the rest of the Marxist gangsters were very similar. Even the slogans � CHANGE and YES WE CAN were the same. Except that Obama seems to be outdoing Chavez in the speed at which he�s destroying the economy and the country.
07/02/2009
When finally Honduras was waking up a coup d'etat comes that pretends to keep in the hands of the rich and the powerful the destiny of a country where 95% lives in poverty.
06/30/2009
I am Honduran and have been following Zelaya�s complete disregard for the constitution very closely for the past years. Zelaya's administration was a complete disaster. He violated many laws in his quest to rally public support to replace the constitution and dissolve the other government branches. He sparked the polarization of the Honduran society by constantly blaming the constitution and the private industry for the countries high levels of poverty. As a Honduran I was shocked as I saw the way the actions taken by the Supreme Court to order the arrest of Manuel Zelaya were depicted by the global media. This was not a Coup, it was a civilian arrest ordered by the Supreme Court because of the former president�s constant unlawful actions, the latest of which was to carry on with an action the court had declared illegal. This referendum under the guise of a poll was designed to be manipulated at will by Zelaya and his cronies. Further investigation of the Referendum have shown that Zelaya was about to emit a law on Sunday that would transform this �meaningless� poll into an ILLEGAL Referendum that would call for a National Constituency Assembly. This would have dissolved the other two branches of government and would have resulted in real chaos. The Supreme Court, 122 members of a 128 body of Congress, the Honduran Human Rights commissioner, the Tribunal Supremo Electoral, all democratic institutions designed to maintain the balance of power in any democratic country, condemned the former president�s actions leading to this move. In my opinion, decisive action needed to be taken to prevent my country from falling under the control of Hugo Chavez�s empire. It is the media�s responsibility to diffuse accurate information showing all sides of the story, especially the side of the HONDURAN people. He is no longer our president! Don�t come back Manuel, unless its behind BARS!
From Atlanta, GA, 06/29/2009
I remember when George Bush was elected in 2004, despondent leftists took pictures of themselves saying "I'm Sorry," to the world.
I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to the good people of Honduras for our miserably naive president and our inept Secretary of State. They have nothing to say about the massacre of the Iranian people and are still willing to negotiate with this illegitimate regime and at the same time are declaring their support for a president who attempted to destroy your right to free elections.
I promise the people of Honduras and Iran that the American people will wake up and by 2010 will make this president powerless to continue his clueless agenda, and completely out of the White House by 2012.
06/29/2009
I can't believe the support that the international community has given to the ex-president Zelaya. He violated the constitution, he was illegally trying to change it just to stay in power (like chavez). The congress and supreme court acted in defense of the constitution.. they had the courage to stand against a criminal seeking his own interest (and chavez) and took action. The congress and the supreme court had him exiled rather than putting him in prison. And they have stated that there WILL be elections in november (this is real democracy). The military are not incharge, no political party has taken over... they just made sure that the law was followed. No one should be above it, not even a president.
06/29/2009
I consider of enormous impotance to tell the truth about the situation in Honduras! We, the people of Honduras feel abandoned by the international community! We have just acted to defend our laws, our freedom, our democracy. No coup has taken place here, but a lawful destitution of a corrupt megalomaniac who used socialism as a crutch to support his ultimate goal of staying in power indefinitely under strict compliance of Chavez's so-called socialist franchise! Long Live Dmocracy, Long Live our Freedom, long Live the Rule of Law.... Long Live The Republic of Honduras!
From Providence, RI, 06/29/2009
A coup is when the military takes over. Stop calling it a coup if there is a civilian, constitutional, president. All branches of government supported the 'coup' including Zelaya's own political party who already has an endorsed candidate. Let the already scheduled elections take place and get over it. Why is the American press, President, and Secretary of State pro-communist? This guy was trying to establish a communist dictatorship and the people said "No!" His commie friends Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez aren't happy? Good. They can console themselves with Cuba, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Bolivia. No, you can't have Honduras. We should support the Honduran constitution, supreme court, congress, attorney general, political parties, and yes, the military. Let freedom ring!
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