Bolivia, July 13: Bolivian President Evo Morales says Honduras military coup was a warning from Washington to stop the growth of governments opposed to US imperialism.
“This threat doesn’t scare us; on the contrary, with more force, we will be stronger,” Morales said on Sunday.
On June 28, the Honduras military ousted President Manuel Zelaya after his decision to hold a referendum to lift presidential terms limit. Zelaya had come to power after his victory in a democratic presidential election in the country.
The last leftist leader elected as president in Latin America ended his country’s alliance with its traditional ally, the United States, and teamed up with Venezuela, Ecuador and other anti-US leftist leaders in the region.
Honduras’ Supreme Court, Congress and military say they legally removed the president for violating the constitution. The Congress installed Roberto Micheletti as the interim leader.
Micheletti ruled out Zelaya’s return to power, saying that he may be granted an amnesty if he returns quietly to Honduras to face justice.
On Sunday, the interim government lifted a two-week-old curfew that was imposed after the coup.
Meanwhile, leftist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez urged President Barack Obama to withdraw troops from an air base in Honduras to protect the new government.
Washington has maintained the Enrique Soto Cano air base in Honduras for 23 years. The base houses about 350 US soldiers.
The Honduran military is known to be trained and closely influenced by the US military with a history of dictating governmental policies and legislations.
Chavez also accused Obama of “wiggling” around the political crisis and warned if he does not take action, “he will end up worse than” former president George W. Bush.
The United States has spoken out against the coup and says it supported efforts to restore Zelaya to power. Costa Rican President Oscar Arias has been mediating between Zelaya and Micheletti.
Representatives of Zelaya and Micheletti met with Arias on Thursday and Friday and agreed to hold future talks, but no date was set.
——Agencies