READ THIS!! READ THIS!!

This is far and away the best article on the Honduras situation I have ever seen...Please READ THIS.

Wouldn't This Solve the Whole Issue?

It seems to me that free, fair and open elections would solve the whole problem in Honduras...Why not let them proceed?

Mary O'Grady of the Wall Street Journal says the same thing in this article....

I Can't Stand It!!

After reading the text of some of the speeches delivered at the UN today in support of Mel Zelaya I couldn't help but post here again.

The amount of mis information delivered today is nothing but unadulterated hooey! (I'm trying to not use my farmer talk here) I have been watching TV for 3 days straight locked up in a motel in Comayagua, and have seen the footage broadcast and listened to the government officials explain what they are doing and why, and it make sense. They are not here abusing people and attacking the Brazilian embassy or otherwise even hinting at the desire for anything more than an open and fair election in November. Who is the one advocating for violence, death, and a change in the electoral and constitutional process? Zelaya. The very man these people are supporting in the UN.

This is very sad.

If you don't believe me check this out.

Still Under Curfew!

I've been trying to get an update posted but the internet connections we have had on this trip have been pretty poor. Right now it seems to be good so here we go.

Bryan and I arrived on Monday 9/14 and after looking at a truck we may be buying headed right out to the villages. We celebrated Honduran Independence day in La Masica with the the people and children of the village. It was a real pleasure and honor to celebrate an important day in the culture of this country with the people. The children, with the help of the teacher, put on skits depicting important events in the history of Honduras and they did a great job. It always amazes me the things they can accomplish with the limited resources they have.

The next day we began looking at some new villages, one of which we may be adopting soon. It is a bit frustrating because every community has pressing needs but we can't do everything, so some of them we will not be able to help.

We were then surprised by the return of the exiled president of the country Mel Zelaya. With his return there has been a curfew enacted for 3 days now. The purpose is to try to stop his supporters from initiating acts of violence to which he has been calling them. Even with the curfew there have been serious acts of vandalism and looting in the cities of Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. Fortunately we are not in either of those cities and are safe in our hotel. We are getting a little bored and are very hopeful that the airport will be able to re-open tomorrow and that we will be able to leave for the US.

We ask for your continued prayers and good wishes for the wonderful people of Honduras as they navigate their way through these troubled times they are in. I have been saying this since the legal and constitutional removal of Zelaya on June 28th, that this is going to be a good thing for the country in the long run. I still firmly believe that!

Viva Honduras!!

--tom

Free, Fair and Open Elections

If you believe in Democracy then read this post by La Gringa.
These elections will be the most transparent in History. How then can the world not recognize the new president who will take office in January of 2010?

Honduran elections - The candidates

How Elections Are Run in Honduras

Below is a link and the text of a post from La Gringa. She is a mind reader because I was going to write a similar post explaining how elections work in Honduras but she beat me to it and did a wonderful job.

The only way for the world to recognize the electoral process that will take place in November is for the elections to be free, open, and massive. We are hoping and praying that the voter turn out will be the largest in Honduran history and that the transparency will be unprecedented.

The violent Zelaya supporters are threatening people and are trying to get the population to boycott the election. Which is more productive? A fair honest and open electoral process or a brutal fearful boycott? Seems quite obvious to me.


Honduran elections - The TSE


The government does not run the elections in Honduras. A special committee called the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE in Spanish) is the one that does all that. The TSE is an independent, autonomous institution that has nothing to do with any of the three branches of government. TSE runs the whole election show, not Micheletti, not Zelaya, not the military, not the congress, not the Supreme Court, but the TSE.

If you need proof that the TSE is independent:

In 1981 when Honduras was under military rule, the military and the Nationalist Party ran the three branches of government and the Liberal party won those elections.

In 1989 the Liberal Party controlled the three branches of government and the Nationalist Party won those elections.

In 1993 the Nationalist Party ran the three branches of government and the Liberal Party won those elections.

In 2001 the Liberal Party controlled the three branches of government and the Nationalist Party won those elections

And finally, in 2005 when Mel Zelaya of the Liberal Party won the election, the Nationalist Party controlled the three branches of government.


How could all of this have happened in a third world country that does not respect the law or the constitution, where coups happen all the time, and where people are still stuck in the 1970's? Simple, the TSE is a democratic, autonomous, independent institution (Article 51 of the constitution).

The three magistrates of the TSE and the substitute member are selected by congress and serve a 5-year term. The current magistrates were chosen in May 2009, under Mel Zelaya's administration. Nominees for the TSE cannot be directors of any political party or political candidates. During their tenure, they can not assume any paid position except for teacher. They may not participate directly or indirectly in any political activity in any manner except to exercise their suffrage in the elections. (Article 52 of the constitution.)

The TSE has asked several countries to observe the elections and would like to have thousands of observers. They have also indicated that citizens will be allowed to observe the counting of ballots in the polling places. The magistrates have promised the most open, fair, and transparent elections ever.

International observers could help to verify that for the world.

My Honduran Brothers and Sisters Make Me Proud!

In a letter to Hillary Clinton after it was announced that she was cutting off aid to Honduras, one of the government officials of Honduras, Óscar Matute, said the following. (my translation)

"In the long history of the world few generations are given the role to defend liberty in the moments in which it is in the most danger."

Who said that originally?

John F. Kennedy

Óscar Matute went on to say, "None of us would change places with any other person in any other generation, we are a peaceful people with deep Christian values and we have forged ahead in the struggle with hoe and rifle and have built our character in one of the most difficult geographies in the Americas."

God Bless Honduras! (no one else is)

The Spanish text came from this article in La Prensa one of the major newspapers in Honduras. The translation is mine.

--tom

I Can't Believe They Did This!

Below is the text of a release from the US State Department suspending all Humanitarian Aid to Honduras. AMAZING!! I can't say any more.
-------

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman

For Immediate Release September 3, 2009
2009/869

STATEMENT BY IAN KELLY

Termination of Assistance and Other Measures Affecting the De Facto Regime in Honduras

The Department of State announces the termination of a broad range of assistance to the government of Honduras as a result of the coup d’etat that took place on June 28. The Secretary already had suspended assistance shortly after the coup.

The Secretary of State has made the decision, consistent with U.S. legislation, recognizing the need for strong measures in light of the continued resistance to the adoption of the San Jose Accord by the de facto regime and continuing failure to restore democratic, constitutional rule to Honduras.

The Department of State recognizes the complicated nature of the actions which led to June 28 coup d’etat in which Honduras’ democratically elected leader, President Zelaya, was removed from office. These events involve complex factual and legal questions and the participation of both the legislative and judicial branches of government as well as the military.

Restoration of the terminated assistance will be predicated upon a return to democratic, constitutional governance in Honduras.

The Department of State further announces that we have identified individual members and supporters of the de facto regime whose visas are in the process of being revoked.

A presidential election is currently scheduled for November. That election must be undertaken in a free, fair and transparent manner. It must also be free of taint and open to all Hondurans to exercise their democratic franchise. At this moment, we would not be able to support the outcome of the scheduled elections. A positive conclusion of the Arias process would provide a sound basis for legitimate elections to proceed. We strongly urge all parties to the San Jose talks to move expeditiously to agreement.

Apologies..

I'm sorry this blog has gotten off course. I have been extremely burdened with the happenings in the political world of Honduras and they are very much intermingled with the political life here in the US right now. This is a very pivotal time in the history of Honduras and I cannot ignore what is taking place there.

At some point in the near future I will again be posting the highlights of the work we are doing with the villagers, but until things settle down please be patient and keep the people of Honduras in you prayers.

Starting last winter I began praying the Franciscan Benediction. In part it says, "God bless me with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people so I can work for justice, freedom, and peace." God has certainly given me that blessing, and I must do everything I can to see this thing through in Honduras. Won't you join me??

--tom

Zelaya Wants What Best for Honduras..NOT!!

Right!! Zelaya wants whats best for the country...uhhh huhh. He is asking the US to declare the actions of June 28th a Military Coup. That would result in the removal of 100% of the US aid to Honduras. How does that help the people Mel?? (Insert vulgarity of your choice here)

Check out the article here.