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DeMint encouraged by Honduras trip

By Eric Zimmermann - 10/03/09 10:06 AM ET

The Honduran government is upholding the rule of law and supporting democracy, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) said after returning from a fact-finding trip to the country.

DeMint led a delegation including Reps. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.), Peter Roskam (R-Ill.), and Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) The lawmakers met with Honduran President Roberto Micheletti, Supreme Court justices, and candidates in upcoming November 29 elections.

"[W]e saw a government working hard to follow the rule of law, uphold its constitution, and to protect democracy for the people of Honduras," DeMint said. "We are very encouraged by what we saw and we hope to be able to work with our administration to support the upcoming elections."

DeMint added that he'd have more to say after he briefed his Senate colleagues.

Micheletti took power when President Manuel Zelaya was forcibly exiled. The White House considers that move an illegal coup, but some conservatives, including DeMint, say the change in regime was the only way to stop Zelaya from unconstitutionally strengthening his grip on power.

DeMint's trip was almost blocked by Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, who was upset that DeMint had placed a hold on two administration nominees. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) eventually intervened to approve the trip.



Source:
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/61487-demint-encouraged-by-honduras-trip
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Comments (13)

"[W]e saw a government working hard to follow the rule of law, uphold its constitution, and to protect democracy for the people of Honduras," DeMint said. "We are very encouraged by what we saw and we hope to be able to work with our administration to support the upcoming elections."HOW IS A COUP FOLLOWING THE RULE OF LAW? DeMint is dangerous and needs to be held accountable for his actions that quite possibly broke the law.BY Mark on 10/03/2009 at 11:47
I respect the opinions of everyone and still have a hard time understanding why some Hondurans (a minority I may add) are still supporting a mad, corrupt, communist, dictator whose best friends are Chavez, Ortega, and the Castro brothers. My family has belonged to the liberal party in Honduras forever and all voted for Zelaya as many Hondurans did. He has though changed in many ways and if you ever hear any of the speeches Chavez made in Honduras you would truly understand why most Hondurans do not support his views. Chavez hates Americans(democ rats and republicans equally). Zelaya is following Chavez steps- Chavez called a constituyente and now he is able to run for the third time. Do you really believe that he is going to give up power? Zelaya is not for the poor he is only a puppet of Chavez and looking out for himself and the people who he had appointed who by the way were being paid big amounts of money. Have you heard him saying that there are toxic gases being put in the Brazilian embassy or that their are groups of Israelis attaking him? Seriously, is this sane!! Have you seen him trying to come in a Venezuelan airplane into Honduras- that was such a big show- but unfortunately he was instigating his followers to get on the runway to allow the plane to land. Have you heard how he calls for insurrection and says constituyente or death? Sometimes I think I am in the twighlight zone because I just can not believe how the world wants to impose this kind of person as our president. WOuld you want him as such? Chavez also said in interviews (UNIVISION-Jorge Ramos) that he was not seeking reelection. Look at him now he really wants to take all of Central and South America and make it Castro's dream - A BOLIVARIAN UNION- he has created the ALBA. You all have to be so naive to think that Zelaya is fighting so hard just to come back for a few months- dictatorship has always been his purpose. It is ridiculous how Cuba and Venezuela are part of the UN and OAS and Honduras has been kicked of both for not following democracy. Are you all blind? Cubans and Venezuelans do not have a democracy; they have their rights violated everyday. Look at the hunger strike of 150 students, the closing of so many stations and Chavez words of what should be done with protestors( pour them gas). Zelaya may fool many but not the Honduran people who know his family and the people that he has appointed to be his right hands!BY Thank you Senator! on 10/03/2009 at 12:11
The dangerous are the ones who support Chavez, Castro, Ortega and the mad, corrupt Zelaya. Do you really believe they follow the laws? DeMint has taken the time, as have many republicans, to read our constitution and knows that IT WAS NOT A COUP!!! Thank you republicans for defending the liberty and democracy of a small poor country who is fighting against communism and dictatorship. I can not understand why the democrats are siding with Zelaya and forcing us to fall into the hands of Chavez and become another Venezuela or Cuba.BY No coup! on 10/03/2009 at 12:17
Thank goodness for DeMint. The Honduan constitution said that Zelaya could not run again. In fact, once someone has served in public life, they cannot run again for office. Michaeletti could not run for office if he wanted to. They did the right thing, the constitutional thing and they are now upholding the law. Zelaya wants to become a lifelong president like his friend Chavez. I cannot understand why the U.S. is punishing this poor country by cutting off aid and revoking Micaeletti's visa so he cannot come into this country. This little country is a struggling democracy. Why are we siding with the dictators?BY Sandra on 10/03/2009 at 12:19
I have to admire the tenacity of the golpistas who continue to spread disinformation at every turn. For accurate information I encourage readers to go to quotha.net or www.narconews.com.BY Jack on 10/03/2009 at 13:04
I have followed this story closely and read the applicable parts of the Honduran constitution. I was stunned when the administration took the side of Chavez and Zelaya against the Honduran Supreme Court, Congress, Constitution and Elections commission.This was not a military coup! Zelaya was ordered removed by the Supreme Court in accordance with the constitution because he was going rogue and attempting to seize power beyond his term. The military did not take power for themselves. The constitutionall y designated civilian successor replaced Zelaya with the approval of the Congress. The only questionable action was summarily exiling Zelaya instead of jailing and trying him. That action would be corrected by jailing and trying him, not by reinstating him. What is the point of reinstating a president whose legitimacy is not recognized by the government and institutions of Honduras, and whose term would be over in January anyway?BY Donna on 10/03/2009 at 13:24
Senator John Kerry needs to be reminded of his June 26th statement made just 2 days before President Zelaya's removal from office. Below is an excerpt:6/26/09 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee John Kerry (D-MA) today expressed concern about the growing tension in Honduras over an unofficial vote, scheduled for Sunday, intended to build public support for rewriting the Honduran Constitution. “America values its longstanding partnership with Honduras, but a push to rewrite the constitution over the objections of Honduras's top court, legislature, attorney general, and military is deeply disturbing,” said Chairman Kerry. I voted for Sen Kerry during his Presidential run and thought he would have been the right choice for Secretary of State in the present administration BUT I am utterly dissappointed in his reversle and present position. The Obama administration has it all wrong.My thanks to all of Senators Congressmen that have taken the initiative to come to Honduras.BY Mary Monterroso on 10/03/2009 at 13:42
I could write pages and pages here but will simply say that regardless of what you belive about the coup or not, there is NO WAY IN THE WORLD that the human rights violations that have occurred since Mic[***]etti took power can be considered acceptable and part of a democratic policy. He has yet to lift the decree that is limiting constitutional rights, though most media sources make it sound like he has, and the police and military continue to harass and attack people. For once the NYT today has an accurate article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/03/world/americas/03honduras.html?scp=8sq=hondurasst=cse. The truth is that the people who have been out in the streets do not really support Zelaya but the only way they have to get back to democracy is to have the democratically-elected president back in power.BY Beth on 10/03/2009 at 17:52
Senator Demented is a liar. The coup was not legal and Zelaya - with several months left in office - never tried nor could he have stayed in office a second term. First, check out the article titled "Honduras: Coup d’Etat in Constitutional Clothing?" at the American Society of International Law web site. It clearly describes why Zelaya's removal and the so-called transfer of power were not allowed by the Honduran constitution - http://www.asil.org/search.cfm?displayPage=1258.Second, claiming that Zelaya could have changed the constitution so he could serve another term is patently ridiculous. A non-binding public survey (“Encuesta de Opiníon Pública Convovatoria Asamblea Nacional Constituyente” or “Survey of Public Opinion Convoking a National Constitutional Convention”) had been organized for June 28th to gauge popular support for asking voters in the November 2009 election if they favored convening a National Constitutional Convention to rewrite the Constitution. The survey would have been carried out by the National Institute of Statistics, rather than a government election body.Furthermore, the poll did not refer to extending Presidential term limits or any other issue, as suggested by Zelaya’s opponents. In fact, Zelaya’s term would have ended December 31st, 2009 and a successor would have been elected the SAME day as the survey was to be conducted. On the same day as the survey voters would have elected a new president, because Zelaya’s term would have ended. Under no circumstances could this survey have resulted in his Zelaya extending his time in office. Finally, the coup government's repression against the opposition has been severe. The Organization of American States, Amnesty International other human rights organizations have documented systematic human rights abuses – including murder, torture, rape and beatings – committed by the military and police. In order to prevent the opposition from being heard, the coup-government has imposed frequent curfews, banned demonstrations and meetings, prohibited movement through the country, censored the media, and sabotaged radio and television transmitting broadcasts and equipment. I want to hear someone supporting Senator Demented address these issues and justify the 'lock-down' of the country by the criminals in the coup government.BY Guerote on 10/03/2009 at 18:54
Eric: Micheletti is not the Honduran president. That would be Mel Zelaya. Also: have you asked Senator DeMint if he is also encouraged by the Micheletti coup torturing journalists? AP had two different stories about two different instances last week. Two burned by cigarettes and dumped out on the highway outside Tegu as a "message" to the resistance and two Guatemalan journalists stomped when the thugs went in to shut down Radio Globo.I'm sure someone who loves democracy as much as DeMint says would frown on torturing the press?BY Elizabeth Ferrari on 10/03/2009 at 20:30

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