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President Zelaya Sacks Head of Joint Chiefs

President Zelaya Sacks Head of Joint Chiefs

Last Updated on Thursday, 25 June 2009 13:21

In a move designed to consolidate power and gain control over Honduras’ armed forces, President Zelaya sacked the head of the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Romeo Vásquez Velásquez on June 24, further escalating the political crisis in Honduras fueled by Mr. Zelaya’s insistence on staging a public referendum (the so-called “cuarta urna”) on whether or not to elect a National Constituent Assembly to re-write the country’s Constitution.

In line with the rulings by Honduras’ Congress, Supreme Court, Attorney General, and Commissioner for Human Rights that the referendum is illegal, Gen. Vasquez has refused to support the process. In a sign of solidarity with Vásquez, the heads of all three branches of Honduras’ armed forces, along with the Secretary of Defense, submitted their resignations to the president.

President Zelaya has reportedly named the chief of the Presidential Guard to replace Vásquez. Honduras’ Attorney General, Luís Alberto Rubí, has ruled the ousting of Vásquez to be illegal and called for his immediate reinstatement.

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Comments (4)

Jose Manuel Zelaya was trying to violate our constitution and because of that he was condemned but let's see the other side of the coin, Roberto Micheletti has violated our constitution,too and what have happened to him?. Answer: he is the president of Honduras rigth now. Remember; according to our constitution no one can change or modify ´´Los articulos petreos´´ but Micheletti and many another congressmen modified them and because of that here in Honduras we do not have the person (Designado presidencial) that according to law has to replace Manuel Zelaya. Where were all the people and organizations that is accusing Manuel Zelaya rigth Now?. HONDURAS OPEN YOUR EYES. The congress, the Supreme Court and a few other organization felt affraid of what Manuel Zelaya was doing because it would reduce their power and that is the reason why the condemned him, otherwise they were supporting him. Manuel Zelaya is guilty, Yes. but Micheletti is guilty, too. All the people that is in favor of Micheletti is violating the constitution,too. At the end of this chapter in our history the winner are going to be the ones that have been ruling our country for decades and for the rest of the country that God help us. sorry if i misspell any word but i am just learning english.

Over 3000 protesters assembled in front of the National Congress today in a show of solidarity against the illegal activities of the Honduran President. The peaceful demostration was puncuated by a 25 block march from Congrewss to the offices of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Honduras military, where they demonstratorsd were joined by the commanders of the Honduran armed forces and hundreds of reservists who declared the actions of the Presdient illegal and unconstitional. This growing movement of Democracy and Peace has earned the support of the Joints Chiefs of Staff of the Honduran Armed Forces.

What is a Venezuelan plane doing in Honduran soil at this time of crisis?
Apparently some venezuelan government officials landed a while ago in Toncontin Airport carrying materials that were supposed to be used on the Cuarta Urna referendum on sunday.
However, the Supreme Court has already ordered for all the materials to be taken away, so it makes you wonder what these venezuelan officials are really doing right next to the Honduran Air Force at the same time that President Zelaya is heading in that direction with all his paid followers.

I dropped my mother and sister off at the airport today late morning, and I noticed the presence of about 10 military guards, armed and in uniform, located outside the building and observing the entrance to the airport and its surroundings. There was also a significant presence of national police at the airport.

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