| (WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, commented today on the impending constitutional crisis brewing in Honduras and escalating tensions between the executive and the judicial and legislative branches, as well as the military. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:
“I am deeply concerned about reports that President Zelaya is moving to re-write the Honduran constitution to extend and expand his power, while retaliating against those who stand in his way.
“Zelaya’s actions appear to be the latest chapter of a disturbing trend that has developed in Latin America, where some leaders pay lip service to democracy while transforming their nations into authoritarian states. Already, Hugo Chavez, Fidel Castro, and other members of the anti-democratic ALBA group are rushing to support the power-grab in Honduras.
“The U.S. and other responsible nations must render their full support to the efforts of those in Honduras who are standing up for freedom and defending democratic principles and institutions.”
Background: The constitutional referendum called for by Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was deemed illegal by the Honduran Supreme Court. The Honduran National Congress voted unanimously against granting legitimacy to this effort through an Organization of American States (OAS) observer mission.
####
|
