Honduras seems stable

Ah Central America, a bastion of governmental stability in an otherwise tumultuous world... Wait... No... I meant the opposite of that. In only-surprising-cause-I-momentarily-forgot-this-place-existed news, the Honduran congress voted to remove sitting president Manuel Zelaya due to their opposition to his desired referendum for an extension of his non-renewable four-year term. Armed forces raided the presidential residence in the pre-dawn hours Sunday, in what the small nation is begging the world not to call a coup.

Interim President Roberto Micheletti has imposed an overnight curfew in Honduras, hours after being sworn in. The Congress speaker took office after troops ousted elected leader Manuel Zelaya and flew him to Costa Rica. The removal of Mr Zelaya came amid a power struggle over his plans for constitutional change. Polls for [Zelaya’s] referendum had been due to open early on Sunday - but troops instead took him from the presidential palace and flew him out of the country... Many Hondurans say there is a total lack of information about what has happened to their country and their president. [Source bbc.co.uk].

The article cites that the Hondurans that do know that the fuck is going on have split views. As is usually the case with public figures, some think Zelaya is a hero, others think he’s a douche. The biggest argument here is over which is the biggest threat to democracy: the guy who wants to change the constitution to extend his role as leader (albeit by election) or the guys who threw a sack over his head and kidnapped him in the night. Most of the rest of the known world has criticized Micheletti and the Honduran government’s actions with many expressing concern over the impact this will have on a fragile democracy in the divided nation. Except Hugo Chavez:

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, meanwhile, blamed "the Yankee empire", and threatened military action should the Venezuelan ambassador to Honduras be attacked [Ed. Note: Attack the Venezuelan ambassador? Where the hell did that come from?] [bbc.co.uk]

Aw, he’s just pissed because he thinks we helped with that coup d’état attempt back in ’02 – which he never proved. And even if we did… dude, that was like seven years ago. That’s almost a decade. I mean, c’mon man. Holding onto that anger isn’t healthy, you know. In a related story, I for some reason now feel the urge to kick Sean Penn.