The new president of Honduras, Roberto Micheletti, is dealing with the growing diplomatic isolation of his country following what has been termed a ‘coup’ over the June 27-28 weekend that saw former President Manuel Zelaya trundled out of bed by elements of the Honduran military and forcibly taken to exile in Costa Rica. The ambassadors of Spain, France, Italy, and Germany have been called home for consultations.
Micheletti, who was confirmed in the presidency by his country’s congress, insists that he has not taken power by means of a coup d’etat and that he is counting on God for the world to accept him as the leader of the Central American nation. In a July 2 interview with the ABC daily of Spain, Micheletti said that 80 percent of his compatriots support his presidency, a claim that has been bolstered by the throngs of supporters appearing on the streets of Tegucigalpa, the capital city. Some protesters in the Honduran capital brandished placards telling President Obama, in English, that they too have a dream of democracy.
The leftist leaders of Nicaragua, Ecuador, and Venezuela met in the capital of Nicaragua to discuss the situation in their sister republic, while Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez apparently sought to quell fears that he was planning to invade Honduras. Over the weekend, Chavez said he was putting his military on alert, following reports that his ambassador in Tegucigalpa was manhandled by Honduran security forces.
President Barack Obama, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have expressed their concerns over the irregular succession of power in Honduras, even while it remains uncertain just what the United States or the Organization of American States might do in response. According to President Micheletti, “I am concerned that President Obama – for whom we have a great deal of respect and admiration, as we do for his people – should shun us without having heard out explanation. However, of Señor Chavez we can expect anything: he has already threatened to invade the country. This is a lack of respect. He thinks that we small countries should submit ourselves to a bellicose and powerful country. We will not fight, we want peace; but if he tries anything here there will be thousands of soldiers ready to defend the nation.”
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