Letters: Election dispute in Honduras

This is a comment on a news report titled "Honduras hopes to move past coup with election," published on www.thejakartapost.com on Nov. 29.

Latin American countries that are threatening not to recognize the election result in Hondoras are not enemies of Honduras. In my view, I think the only enemy of Honduras is Manuel Zelaya (the left-leaning president ousted in the June 28 coup), who has divided his people, caused the deaths of some and is still bent on destabilizing the country because of greed and lust for power after attempting an unconstitutional act that led to him being kicked out.

Yet he claims to be a patriot who has his country at heart. Are his supporters really OK and serious about returning someone like that to power? What type of democracy are they talking about? It doesn't matter whether Brazil, Argentina or Venezuela recognizes the result.

What matters is that the Honduran people have demonstrated far greater political maturity than these countries by standing up against a dictator and saying no for their rights. If Zelaya thinks he is a man, when the new government is sworn in, let him make the nonsense things he is making and let him see if he would not be arrested, tried and sent to prison for treason.

His moves and his blind supporters are an affront to democracy. The interim regime (I will not call it a coup regime) has done the right thing by conducting elections without interference. I believe it is this shame that is eating up Zelaya and his supporters, and that is why they are pulling out all the stops to discredit the election.

It is just a big score against these undemocratic thugs. In conclusion, I believe the elections are a step forward in resolving this crisis and so must be recognized by the international community.

Zelaya must be abandoned by the community and warned that if he stirs up trouble, he will be held responsible. The new government must assert its authority and exercise democracy as demanded and mandated by the people of Honduras.

Alieb Bombolai
Washington