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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Zelaya Returns to Honduras

Ousted leader announces return on TV, but interim government denies it

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(Newser) – Manuel Zelaya is back in Honduras, the ousted president told a Honduran TV station today, prompting thousands of his supporters to gather outside the UN building in the capital to celebrate. “I am here for the restoration of democracy, to call for dialogue,” Zelaya declared. The US State Department confirmed Zelaya’s return, though the country’s current de facto ruler denied it.

Zelaya wouldn’t say exactly where in the Tegucigalpa he was, but when a senior aide said he was inside the main UN building, as many as 4,000 supporters gathered outside, shouting “Yes, we did it!” Interim de facto president Roberto Micheletti called the reports “media terrorism,” insisting Zelaya remained "in a suite in a hotel in Nicaragua."

Supporters of Honduras' ousted President Manuel Zelaya shout slogans in front of the United Nations' building in Tegucigalpa, Monday, Sept. 21, 2009.
Supporters of Honduras' ousted President Manuel Zelaya shout slogans in front of the United Nations' building in Tegucigalpa, Monday, Sept. 21, 2009.   (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)
Supporters of Honduras' ousted President Manuel Zelaya shout slogans in front of the United Nations' building in Tegucigalpa, Monday, Sept. 21, 2009.
Supporters of Honduras' ousted President Manuel Zelaya shout slogans in front of the United Nations' building in Tegucigalpa, Monday, Sept. 21, 2009.   (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)
Honduras ousted President Manuel Zelaya speaks to members of the media outside the State Department in Washington, Sept. 3, 2009, following his meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Honduras ousted President Manuel Zelaya speaks to members of the media outside the State Department in Washington, Sept. 3, 2009, following his meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
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15 comments
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EddyTeach
Sep 21, 09 2:27 PM CDT
Fuera, Zelaya. You forfeited your presidency and citizenship. Reply
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-2
IN RESPONSE:
Fondue
Sep 21, 09 2:34 PM CDT
How? The man was arrested for asking a question.
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-1
IN RESPONSE:
EddyTeach
Sep 21, 09 2:46 PM CDT
Hardly. He was outed because the Honduran constitution requires it. It's very clear: presidents seeking to amend the constitution to extend term limits forfeit their presidency. Even after he blatantly broke this constitutional tenet, the Supreme Court and Congress of Honduras didn't push for his resignation-- they simply refused to put through the amendment process. Once Zelaya made it clear that he would use the aid of foreign governments like Hugo Chavez in Venezuela to force an amendment, the Supreme Court and Congress authorized his removal from office.
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+6
IN RESPONSE:
Fondue
Sep 21, 09 3:36 PM CDT
Well, I didn't know that. Are other government officials allowed to propose amendments to presidential terms, or is it strictly forbidden by all?
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-2
IN RESPONSE:
EddyTeach
Sep 21, 09 3:40 PM CDT
I believe that Congress can do it-- just another check on the president's power. I'm very proud of Honduras for stepping up for its democracy-- and rather ashamed that our government and media were so quick to label this as "another banana republic coup."
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+2

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