The days of puppet regimes, of power grabbers, and fake presidents as well as prime ministers will soon be totally over. Honduras whose president Manuel Zelaya was deposed by Micheletti for attempting, (attempting pa lang ha...) to change the Constitution has been supported by the European Union by its suspension of aid, a very difficult decision. Please read below the news which is very difficult to access. Big news organizations do not carry Honduran news regularly; this why I have had to search thoroughly through the Googles. Or is my server "hacking" the news that I can read?
What this means Friends is that, the EU is setting us an example that through collective decisive acts, eventually, true democracy will be placed on solid footing in the governance systems all over the globe. No longer will any individual or power groups be allowed to grab positions and declare themselves rulers. In this new millenium, that is just a normal, laudable act to do. But I wonder, how close can they get to stopping countries from invading militarily like what the US did in Iraq? Or even stopping the conduct of wars in solving internal and external problems? Their answers to that can totally define what is meant by INTERNATIONAL UNITY AGAINST VIOLENCE. - WSO
Prompted by the breakdown of the second round of negotiations in Costa Rica, the European Union has suspended development aid to Honduras, valued at $90 million (US), until the current political crisis is resolved. The figure represents aid for the period 2007-10.
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the EU’s External Relations Commissioner, said that this had been a “difficult decision” based on exceptional circumstances, but added that she strongly urged all parties to avoid any action that might increase tension in Honduras.
This is the latest in a series of similar retractions by the international community, who have been unanimous in their support of former President Manuel Zelaya. The withdrawal of financial aid is a symbolic gesture, which demonstrates the EU’s refusal to acknowledge the legitimacy of the interim government headed by Roberto Micheletti. Agreements on a new trade treaty between the European Union and Central America have also been put on hold.
Zelaya was flown out of the country by the military on June 28. Since then, Micheletti´s interim government has failed to garner any significant international support.
In the days following Zelaya’s ousting, the World Bank placed subsidies to Honduras on hold. Oil shipments from Venezuela ceased almost immediately. And with Honduras’ suspension from the Organization of American States, all member countries were advised to “review their relations” with the country.
Several countries have now withdrawn their ambassadors, demonstrating their condemnation of the current government. In a move that has exacerbated tensions with Venezuela, top Venezuelan envoys have now been ordered out of Honduras, accused of meddling in governmental processes. In a July 21 speech, interim President Micheletti gave a 72-hour deadline for diplomatic staff to leave. He also cited Venezuelan aggression, through repeated threats of military action, as a reason for the expulsion order.
The announcement by the European Union has further increased Honduras’ diplomatic isolation. Yet it is feared that those who will feel the brunt of these methods will be the country’s poorest communities – ironically many of whom support calls for Zelaya to be reinstated.
Zelaya has now urged his supporters to impose targeted sanctions against the leaders of the interim government – a list of whom he has provided. Economists have warned that such sanctions would be difficult to enforce.
from HONDURAS ONLINE THIS WEEK. Honduras is the third-poorest country in Latin America, behind Paraguay and Haiti. A large proportion of development loans from the West is spent on medical care; it is estimated that 50,000 children under the age of five die each year from drinking unclean water.
The nation is also still feeling the effects of Hurricane Mitch, which struck in 1998, crippling an already-fragile infrastructure. Micheletti’s government may have enough residual funds to last until the planned November elections, but the impact of the withdrawal of aid is likely to last a lot longer.
The U.S. is the largest individual lender to Honduras, with an estimated total of $200 million each year. Although the U.S. government acted quickly to suspend development aid, with an estimated value of $20 million, the bulk of U.S. subsidies, for essentials such as clothing and shelter, are continuing until further notice. But U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has hinted that Washington could impose more severe sanctions if the interim government does not acknowledge Zelaya’s right to return.
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