Honduras Coup A Wake Up Call
The era of coups is not over. While the CIA may not have been involved in this one – the US Government seems to be supporting the ousted president – the people who pulled off the coup were certainly trained in the infamous “School of the Americas.” The events in Honduras are indicative of two things. The first is, true to tradition, the Latin American oligarchs believe that any reform is too much reform. President Zelaya is no socialist, or “populist firebrand,” as the news media love to say, but a wealthy rancher, a Liberal who tried to introduce health care and education. With that time dishonoured Latin American tradition, comes political polarization. On the one side you have the reformist government, supported by the mass of working people and campesinos, and on the other the oligarchy. There is no third position, period, point final. If the reform movement is overturned in this polarized situation, the military takes over and repression, terror, “disappearances” are the result.
Hopefully, the Honduras coup will have a positive effect in Latin America – that it will serve to further radicalize the struggle and that people will not let down their guard for a moment with the machinations of the oligarchy and its wannabees.
UPDATE
For an anarchist view of the coup (in Spanish) see
http://www.anarkismo.net/article/13596
http://www.anarkismo.net/article/13605
http://toparquia.blogspot.com/
posted by Larry Gambone at
5:31 PM
9 Comments:
Obama needs to get on the right side of this issue, like you are...
http://www.averagejoele.com/news/not-a-coup-in-honduras/
Overthrowing the government because of a possibility of ending term limits is an excuse. The real fear is reform that comes with that government. There are no term limits in Canada, the UK, Australia, NZ, France etc, and it doesn't make us any less democratic than the countries that have it. Indeed, we are more democratic than countries that have it.
I believe there was rogue elements involved. The US wants stability. They won't overthrow the oligarchy, but I doubt that Obama is happy.
Monthly Review says people are talking to soldiers, telling them not to support the coup. Masses are outside the palace, and will not let him in. Possible general strike Monday.
The "term limits" has nothing to do with that.
Look to the ballot: where it talks in term limits?
http://gallery.pictopia.com/yahoo/photo/ptl%3Aap%3Axt-mt-ap-orig_name_EFX110_2009-06-27/
Even if the new Constituinte Assembly was aproved the possibility of reelection, Zelaya will be already out of power at this time.
Its two sides of the political class fighting over who should have power.
There's no radicalism here, there's no pro-freedom or liberty aspect, its just the same old game of the powerful arguing with each other whilst screwing over everyone else.
Yeah, one side talks a bit radical, but just like Chavez they're committed to violence, oppression and state capitalism.
Anonymous. Heard much the same in reference to Allende from the momios there. Same too about Arbenz in Guatemala For oligarchs and their supporters any action that aids the ordinary person is reprehensible and therefore that politician is the “worst ever.”
Tristan – cynicism is not analysis. I also heard this line used against the Sandinistas In a highly authoritarian and inegalitarian system, ANY source of reform or change becomes an opening from which further change can develop. Sometimes a more intelligent member of the ruling class will initiate change leading to further radicalization.
Miguel. I wonder why the corporate media is bleating about term limits, if it isn't even on the ballot. More disinformation a la their attacks on Chavez?
Interesting that the one president who didn't murder trade unionists is considered "one of the worst." Maybe that was his problem for the oligarchs.
I'm sure Zalaya will be returned to power soon. The oligarchy overplayed their hand. Obama is playing both sides, to go with winner.
After 2002, the ruling class criticized Bush for recognizing the coup too quickly.
It's a stretch to say that Obama is supporting Zelaya. The U.S. had strong connections to the coup planners, and NYT reporting revealed that top-level U.S. officials were in communication with them leading up to Sunday. Why didn't they stop them?
Further, the administration hasn't classified the event as a coup because, if they did, they'd be legally obligated to stop funding the Micheletti government.
I wrote about this at more length here:
http://www.whyweworry.com/blog/2009/07/10/the-honduran-coup/
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