The Campaign against Honduras, the Destruction of International Law and the Specter of Socialism

The attitude of the international community toward the internal political affairs of Honduras threatens to undermine the foundations of international law and, therefore, of international order. It is fitting that we review what is at stake.¹

All Countries are Equal Under the Law

The fundamental principle of law that regulates relationships, both between individuals and between nations, is that justice must be equal for all. It does not depend on riches or poverty, strength or weakness, but on its own intrinsic moral strength.²

The Principle of Sovereignty

By natural law, both individuals and States have a right to govern themselves and seek their own betterment and perfection according to their talents, guided by the light of reason, which clarifies the will and moves them to make the right choice.

Governments in relation to their subjects, and nations in relation to each other, can intervene and curtail that natural liberty only when there is a grave violation of the natural law which is damaging to the common good, be it national or international.

Accordingly, bringing international pressure against a given country, be it through the media, international financial organizations, or nations that use economic, political or military means to force a nation to modify its institutions, laws or policies, can be justified only in the face of grave and persistent violation of the natural law, as happens, for example, in communist and socialist countries such as Cuba and Venezuela.

In Honduras There Has Been No Violation of the Natural Law

However, that is not what is happening in Honduras, according to the most reliable public sources.

President Manuel Zelaya Rosales, at the end of his mandate, was removed from his post through the enforcement of legal provisions enshrined in the Honduran Constitution and which are fully compatible with natural law. These legal provisions reflect a specifically local situation produced by historical precedents and are aimed at preventing the chief executive from perpetuating himself in power such as happened with the Castro brothers in Cuba and Colonel Hugo Chaves in Venezuela.

Violating the Constitution

In violation of the Honduran Constitution, Mr. Zelaya sought to hold a referendum that would rewrite the Constitution and thus permit his reelection as president. When the chairman of his Joint Chiefs of Staff refused to obey his unconstitutional order, Mr. Zelaya sacked him. However, the Honduran Supreme Court, recognizing that the military commander’s destitution was null and void, reinstated him to his post.³

And by virtue of the danger the situation posed to the normalcy of the rule of law in the country, the legislative and judiciary branches of government, with the support of political parties, including that of President Zelaya, declared him deposed as mandated by article 239 of the Federal Constitution and expelled him to Costa Rica.

A Joint Statement by the Catholic Bishops of Honduras

A joint statement by the Catholic bishops of Honduras, read on television by Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga, clearly shows how the deposition of Manuel Zelaya Rosales was in full compliance with the Constitution. The statement reads:

Barely three weeks ago, in a General Assembly of this Episcopal Conference, we clearly expressed that social justice, dialogue and consultations within the legal framework are needs of our people to be recognized and respected.

Facing the situations of recent days, we have used the information found after searching competent instances of the State (Supreme Court of Justice, National Congress, Public Attorney’s Office, Executive Branch, Supreme Electoral Tribunal) and many other civilian organizations. All of those documents show that all Honduran democratic institutions are operating and in place, and the execution of their mandate has occurred in strict adherence to law. All three branches of the State: executive, legislative and judicial are within democratic legal boundaries, according to the Constitution of the Republic of Honduras.