[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 22]
[House]
[Page 29898]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         DEMOCRACY IN HONDURAS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, following the antics of Zelaya, 
Chavez, and Ortega, there were growing concerns over the ability of 
free people in the Western Hemisphere to defend democratic principles 
and institutions against the assaults of these and other oppressors 
belonging to ALBA. However, the fierce commitment to democracy and the 
rule of law demonstrated by the people of Honduras have renewed our 
optimism about the future of freedom and the consolidation of democracy 
in our region.
  Last week the Honduran National Congress voted decisively to reject 
Manuel Zelaya's return to office. The Supreme Court made the same 
ruling months ago, and now it is final. The Honduran Supreme Court, the 
Attorney General, the National Commission for Human Rights, and the 
Honduran General Accounting Office were all consulted prior to this 
congressional vote and unanimously rejected Zelaya's return.

                              {time}  1715

  The United States has accepted the decision as a matter left to the 
discretion of the national Congress, and even some of Manuel Zelaya's 
strongest supporters inside Honduras have finally publicly stated that 
their mission is no longer publicly focused on his resolution.
  The writing is on the wall, Madam Speaker. The people of Honduras are 
ready to write the post-Zelaya chapter of their nation's history. The 
newly elected President, Porfirio Lobo Sosa, has already taken steps to 
help bring national reconciliation to Honduras. Last week, he began 
meeting with individuals from broad spectrums of the Honduran 
government and society to discuss long-term goals for the future and 
stability of Honduras, and he has already warned Chavez not to 
intervene with Honduras' sovereignty.
  The Honduran people have had enough of Chavez's meddling in their 
internal affairs. It is time for responsible nations--and specifically 
for us in the United States--to turn the page and rebuild the 
relationship with the people of Honduras.
  I am pleased that the Obama administration has finally lifted the 
travel alert on Honduras, which has had a severe economic impact on the 
well-being of American businesses operating in the country. However, 
this is just the beginning. Honduras is a traditional ally of the 
United States and a vital partner to us in our regional 
counternarcotics effort. It is under attack by narcotraffickers and 
their violent network. Just this morning, General Julian Aristides 
Gonzalez, the top anti-drug official in Honduras, was assassinated. 
Witnesses report that his body was riddled with bullets. General 
Gonzalez and other high-ranking law enforcement officials engaged in 
the counternarcotics efforts in Honduras are declared targets of the 
drug-trafficking network in the country. The use of Honduras as a drug 
transit country threatens our vital security interests.
  As such, the U.S. must immediately restore all assistance, 
particularly counternarcotics cooperation, to Honduras. Visas and other 
nonsecurity-related assistance must also be reinstated.
  Today, Honduran President-elect Lobo travels to San Jose to meet with 
President Oscar Arias. Tomorrow he will meet with Panamanian President 
Ricardo Martinelli in Tegucigalpa. Also on Thursday, Lobo will visit 
the Dominican Republic to meet with President Leonel Fernandez.
  Meanwhile, Zelaya stays hidden. He cannot face the truth of his 
transgressions. He has said, ``As long as I have Brazil's support, I 
will be here.'' Well, Brazil, the OAS and any other country or body 
should not help him be so cowardly. The OAS should stand up to Zelaya 
and the enablers of oppression so that freedom can prevail.
  Regrettably, the MERCOSUR countries--of which Brazil is a member--
announced during their meeting just today that they will not recognize 
the Honduran elections. But the Honduran people will not be deterred. 
They have spoken loud and clear. The Honduran people were brave enough 
to put their principles to the test. They looked to their Congress, 
they looked to their Supreme Court, and finally they looked to 
themselves and carried out peaceful and successful elections.
  In closing, Madam Speaker, I would like to quote from Honduran 
President-elect Lobo, who perhaps best summarized recent developments 
in Honduras. Following his victory--which was resounding--he said, 
there were ``no winners or losers, only democracy has triumphed. I am 
happy looking toward to the future. You keep asking, 'And Zelaya?' 
Zelaya is history, he is part of the past.''
  Madam Speaker, may democracy and freedom continue to triumph in the 
hemisphere and throughout the world.
  Thank you for the time.

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