Honduras Truth Commission Under Fire

The Truth Commission being formed under the coordination of former Guatemalan Vice-President Eduardo Stein is coming under increasing criticism from all sides of the political spectrum in Honduras. Members of the National Resistance Front against the Coup d'Etat are concerned that the commission is an attempt by the administration of President Porfirio Lobo to manipulate the facts of the events leading up to Mr. Zelaya's ousting and absolve the Honduran government of any wrongdoing. Meanwhile, members of the Democratic Civic Union are concerned that the commission will consist of individuals who are already biased against Mr. Zelaya's ousting and may not provide a complete and fair analysis of the events. The National Front wants special emphasis placed on the supposed illegality of Mr. Zelaya's ousting and the human rights abuses alleged to have been committed by the interim government of Roberto Micheletti and security forces. The Democratic Civic Union wants the commission's work to focus on the alleged abuses of power committed by Mr. Zelaya when he was president and the violence and destruction of property attributed to his supporters after his overthrow. (2/9/10) (photo courtesy AP)