[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 101 (Wednesday, July 8, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S7255]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           CRISIS IN HONDURAS

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I want to speak briefly about the current 
political crisis in Honduras. Vermont and Honduras have had a long, 
close relationship through the Partners of the Americas, and many 
Vermonters regularly travel to Honduras to engage in health care and 
other humanitarian and development work in rural communities.
  Last week a lawfully elected President--Manuel Zelaya--was forcibly 
removed from office and flown to a neighboring country by the Honduran 
military. The military and the Supreme Court apparently believed that 
President Zelaya was acting in a manner that was contrary to the 
Honduran Constitution. While such an accusation is troubling, military 
coups cannot be condoned, particularly when Honduras' Constitution 
contains provisions to handle such concerns--impeachment, for one.
  The sooner the Honduran military reverses course and allows President 
Zelaya to return the better it will be for Honduras and all of Central 
America. He has pledged to leave office at the end of his term, unlike 
other Latin American leaders who seem to believe constitutions are to 
be amended with the stroke of a pen so they can remain in office. When 
President Zelaya returns, if there is credible evidence that he broke 
laws, he should be held accountable in accordance with the laws of the 
country.
  While I condemn the actions of the Honduran military, I applaud the 
efforts of the Organization of American States, with the support of the 
Obama administration, to defuse this situation diplomatically. Removing 
Honduras' membership and beginning to impose sanctions in concert with 
widespread international condemnation is the appropriate response.
  We should also recognize that the people of Honduras appear to be 
deeply divided over President Zelaya. Rural Hondurans in particular 
have been dissatisfied with his performance as President. When he 
returns to office I hope he reconsiders his priorities and focuses his 
efforts on improving the lives of the people of Honduras who are most 
in need of the government's assistance.

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