A military coup took place in the Central American country Honduras on June 28. Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was initially detained by the military and has since been swiftly sent to Costa Rica. The country is now in a state of political crisis.
Both the Organization of American States (OAS) and other Latin American countries have strongly condemned the Honduras coup and demanded that the constitutional and democratic system of Honduras be restored as soon as possible.
In recent years, the collective mediation mechanism adopted by Latin American countries has successfully defused a wide variety of political crises and military conflicts. The Honduras coup is now undoubtedly again testing Latin American countries' ability to solve crises in their own region.
Under the impact of military dictatorships, multiple coups have occurred in Latin American countries. However, since the 1980s, most Latin American countries have realized a peaceful transition from a military regime to an elected government, marking the military's gradual withdrawal from the political arena. The constitutional system has become increasingly stable and mature in Latin America.
It is generally believed among Latin American countries that while each country has its own political system and structure, political disagreements should be settled within the framework of their own constitutions through dialogue and legislation. Using force or even military coups to resolve domestic disputes will damage the democratic system and violate the Inter-American Democratic Charter signed by American countries in 2001.
Many Latin American countries including Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Venezuela, Ecuador, Columbia, Bolivia, Paraguay, Nicaragua and El Salvador have strongly condemned the Honduras coup and refused to recognize the new Honduran government. The countries demanded that President Zelaya be restored as soon as possible.
At the same time, Latin American countries have initiated a regional collective intervention mechanism, and prepared to take collective action with coordinated efforts by multilateral organizations such as the OAS, the Union of South American Nations and the Rio Group. The OAS has assembled representatives from each member state for an emergency meeting and called for the international community to take concerted action and stop the Honduran military from "severely damaging the democratic progress of the American continent."
In addition, the OAS plans to hold an emergency meeting for foreign ministers in the near future to discuss how to cope with the political crisis in Honduras.
Although President Zelaya has already been deported to Costa Rica by the Honduran military, he has refused to resign or go into exile. Latin American countries generally acknowledge that he is still the legitimate president of Honduras.
OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza said that it will be difficult for the new Honduran "government," which seized power through a military coup, to receive recognition from Latin American countries, and is likely to be isolated by the entire Latin American region.
Daniel Ortega Saavedra, current chairman of the Central American Integration System (SICA) and president of Nicaragua, announced on June 28 that member states of the SICA will hold an emergency meeting to discuss the situation in Honduras and support President Zelaya. Ortega suggested regional multilateral organizations like the OAS impose sanctions against the new Honduran "government."
Analysts point out that the new Honduran "government" is facing huge pressure from all sides with a lack of external support. Latin American countries generally believe that expelling an elected president by force violates the constitution, and is a setback to the democratic progress in Latin America. It is unacceptable under any circumstances.
In recent years, Latin American countries have greatly enhanced their ability to handle regional issues by means of a regional multilateral mediation and intervention mechanism, which has played an active role in maintaining the region's progress in stability and democracy. Not only has it significantly advanced the integration of the Latin American region, but it has also weakened the influence of the US on Latin American issues. The Honduras coup is once again severely testing this mechanism, and Latin America's next move will draw widespread attention.
By People's Daily Online
