Text: Francisco Collazo
Translation: Julie Schwietert Collazo
[vease abajo para la version en espanol]
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Photo of Tegucigalpa by Fellowship of the Rich

Latin America has a long history of military coups, and Honduras is also a Latin American country.

To understand the events that recently occurred in Tegucigalpa, one must understand the history of Latin America, a history that shaped and made possible this seizure of power by force and the establishment of a military government. That history is easier to understand if we take a close look at how power is distributed in an agrarian, almost feudal, society in this region of Central America.

Spain’s conquests in the Americas was an epoch of genocide and mass brutality. In addition, the social, economic, and labor systems the Spanish set up in the Americas produced a mix of Europeans, Blacks, and natives (or indigenous people), which, in turn, led to the establishment of strict ethnic and social hierarchies that would shape social organization for the rest of the colonial period and even until the present day.

Photo by Lon&Queta

Honduras’s independence, won in 1821, was important; however, the country would continue spending many more years struggling to establish itself as a new nation and nurturing unity in Central America. The invasion of Central America by William Walker and his soldiers was a move to try to seize the region as an American colony. Walker and his forces were booted out of Nicaragua in 1857, but in 1860 the unit invaded Honduras, where they were finally defeated and executed by firing squad.

Following the wars of independence with Spain, Honduras was divided into two groups: one that maintained the status quo of the country’s social and political norms that had been established during the colonial period, and the other that expressed a desire to make a clean, complete break with that period and all it represented. Although Honduras has had multiple political parties since that time, they have all adhered, more or less, to one or other of these ideologies.

Significant political, economic, and social problems exist in Honduras, which reactionaries characterize as stemming from a lack of order and control; historically, the dominant classes have called upon the armed forces to exert their authority and establish “normality.” But perhaps it’s this “order” and “normality” that have been the underlying problems in Honduras and in all of Latin America for the past 500 years, for they have led to the use of brutal force, violence, and repression. In Honduras, the memory of Batallion 316, a secret paramilitary group in charge of physically eliminating political opposition and dissident voices during the government of General Policarpo Paz Garcia, is still very much alive.

Latin American courts have traditionally played a passive role in these dramas, though they are typically allied with the dominant classes. In fact, the language of the law is often used to do away with the people’s rights. They’re not courts that must or even wish to apply a strict interpretation of the nation’s constitution to the legal business of the nation. There’s not a tradition of democracy nor a respect for rights. It’s the point of the pistol that talks. We saw that in Chile in 1973 and again in Venezuela not so long ago. Of the 30 countries that comprise Latin America, at least 25 have gone through a period of dictatorship. And when a civil politician is elected as president, he is often as corrupt and violent as the military dictatorships; Alberto Fujimori of Peru, Joaquin Balaguer of the Dominican Republic, and Juan Maria Bordaberry of Uruguay are just a few examples.

Photo by Lon&Queta

The government of deposed president José Manuel Zelaya, then, is marked by these historical burdens in a region that has been overwhelmingly poor, under-educated, and exploited for centuries. We should remember, after all, that Spain didn’t come to the Americas to establish schools and universities or to free people. President Zelaya is simply the latest victim of an entrenched violence that is both physical and psychological in Latin America, a violence which is often justified with a patriotic fervor and in the name of “liberty,” individual rights, equality and peace.

In Honduras, the oligarchy considers itself to be the absolute, uncontested bearer of truth and justice. They invest themselves with the right to take an elected President out of his home by force, dressed only in his pajamas, and then try to manipulate the masses through radio and TV, where they lay out emotional, partisan rationales to assert that the military coup was indeed justified.

Not too long ago, the mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, all but forced the City Council to accept his proposal to extend the city’s term limits law so he could serve a third term. It was a controversial power grab, but New Yorkers didn’t call upon the National Guard or military general to solve this political problem. Why? Well, although we’re comparing two distinct societies–one that historically has not had military coups and is far from having one–the comparison raises the question about the role that the institutions of law play in situations like these. At present, we don’t know exactly what the position of the Honduran court is. So far, we’ve only been exposed to reactionary opinions that reflect emotions and personal interests of a very specific segment of the Honduran population. Where are the courts? Where are the best minds of Honduras?

The wholesale robbery of liberties, the practice of slavery, and the tendency toward looting have all characterized the foundation of our nations in Latin America. More than 500 years after the arrival of the Spanish, the fruits of conquest are still being harvested.

It’s impossible to explain what’s going on in Honduras without taking time to examine the past. State-sponsored terror is latent and is by no means passe. It’s impossible to overlook the historical relations between the Garifunas (Honduran descendants of slaves and freedmen who came to Honduras from the British Caribbean), the “Turcos” (the Christian Arab immigrants who came to the Americas fleeing Muslim persecution during the Ottoman era), who control many businesses in Honduras, and the indigenous groups, who lost almost all of their lands.

If Hondurans lack access to health care, pensions, adequate education, and social mobility, we must acknowledge that the situation is not one borne solely out of today’s realities, but the result of hundreds of years of unfair policies. If we call servants “domestic workers” and still give orphaned children to rich families so their children will have company, this isn’t a contemporary phenomenon either; it has historical roots.

The military junta installed Roberto Micheletti as president and challenges any attempt to restore Zelaya to power. From the Rio Grande to Patagonia this story plays itself out again and again. Today it’s Honduras. Who will it be tomorrow?

[To see a photo essay of protests in Honduras following the coup, please click here. And to learn more about what a coup is, exactly, check out this article.

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No es extraño en la americalatina los golpes de estado y Honduras es tambien un pais de la americalatina.

Photo by rbreve

Para entender los sucesos recientes en Tegucigalpa hay que entender la historia que determina y hace posible la toma del poder por la fuerza y el establecimiento de gobiernos militares. La razon es simple si miramos de cerca como se ditribuye el poder en una sociedad agraria y casi feudal de esta region de Centro America.

La conquista de España en las Americas fue un episodio de genocidio y de brutalidad masiva. Esta produjo ademas una mezcla de europeos, negros, y nativos o indigenas como aqui se le llama que trajo como consecuensias jerarquias etnicas y sociales, dejando establecida asi la linea a seguir por esta nacion por el resto de sus dias hasta el presente.

La independencia de 1821 trajo por si mismo mucho mas anos de lucha para la nueva nacion Hondureña para tratar de mantener la union en la America Central. La invasion a Centro America por parte de William Walker y sus soldados de fortuna trataron de convertir a esa region en una colonia americana. Estos fueron sacados de Nicaragua en 1857 pero en 1860 invadieron a Honduras donde finalmente fue derrotado y puesto frente al peloton de fusilamiento.

Despues de las guerras de independencia de España la nacion quedo dividida en dos grupos, el uno que sigue la linea antes existente en el pais durante la colonia y el otro que desea romper con todo lo del pasado. Aunque a traves de su historia Honduras ha contado con mas de un partido dentro de las dos divisiones, todos ellos siguen una u otra linea ideologica.

Existen enormes problemas politicos, economicos, y sociales en Honduras que apelan a la derecha reaccionaria como falta de orden y descontrol que historicamente las clases dominantes han llamado a las fuerzas armadas para re-establecer el orden y la normalidad. Y que quizas esta misma orden y normalidad ha sido el problema de los ultimos 500 anos en Honduras y en toda la americalatina. Fuerza, violencia y represion son los resultados de esta crisis. Todavia se respira en Honduras los recuerdos de Batallon 316, grupo secreto de paramilitares encargado de eliminar fisicamente a los opositores politicos y a voces desidentes durante el gobierno del General Policarpo Paz Garcia.

Photo by Lon&Queta

Las cortes en americalatina juegan un papel pasivo de aliado a la clase historicamente dominante. De hecho muchas veces utiliza su lenguaje para despojarles los derechos a la mayoria y mantener el status quo. No es una corte que tiene y quiere aplicar con firmeza las leyes constitucionales de su nacion. No hay una tradicion democratica, ni respeto por el derecho ajeno. Es a punta de pistola que se habla. Esta situacion se vivio en Chile en 1973 y en Venezuela hasta hace muy poco. De los 30 paises que conforman latinoamerica, al menos 25 ha vivido con dictadura en un momento u otro. Y cuando elijen a un president civil es muchas veces tan corrupto y violento como los militares: Alberto Fujimori (Peru), Joaquin Balaguer (Republica Dominicana), y Juan Maria Bordaberry (Uruguay), para mencionar unos pocos.

El gobierno de José Manuel Zelaya esta recojiendo los escombros historico de una America pobre, analfabeta, y explotada por siglos. Despues de todo debemos recordarnos que España no llego a las Americas para fundar escuelas, universidades y hacer a los hombres libres. Presidente Zelaya esta siendo testigo de una violencia engranada en lo mas profundo de americalatina, sin pudor y justificada por la reaccion con fervor patriotico y en nombre de la libertad, el derecho individual ,la igualdad y la paz.

En Honduras las clases oligarcas se sienten los duenos absolutos de la verdad y la justicia. Tienen el derecho de sacar an piyamas al nuevo presidente electo y ofrecen por la radio y la television comunicados de prensa que ponen en su vision partidaria y emocional las razones y causa para este golpe militar bien justificados.

En hechos reciente el el mayor de la ciudad de Nueva York Michael Bloomberg trabajo durante su mandato para extender su termino por mas tiempo. Sin embargo los nuevayorkinos no emplearon la Guardia Nacional ni sus generales para solucionar este cambio politico. Por qué? Bueno, aunque estamos hablando y comparando dos sociedades distintas– una que historicamente no ha tenido golpes militares y esta muy lejos de producir uno– refleja cual es el papel historico que juega en la sociedad sus instituciones legales en todo esto. Hasta el momento no hemos sabido cual es la posicion de la corte hondureña que regula y controla las funciones legales del gobierno en el dia a dia. Solo hemos estado expuestos a reacciones y opiniones que van unidos a sentimientos y a intereses personales. Donde estan las cortes? Donde estan las mejores mentes de Honduras?

Robo masivo de libertades, esclavitud, y saqueo han sido los elementos que nuestras naciones se fundaron. A mas de 500 años de la llegada de los españoles todavia se esta recojiendo el fruto de esta conquista. Todo esto en la americalatina refleja el dicho “De tal palo tal astilla”.

Photo of Hondurans by junebug6467

Es imposible explicar los hechos de la Honduras de hoy sin detenerme en el pasado porque me dejaria desnudo y sin palabras. El terror del estado está latente y de ninguna manera moribundo. Sería imposible explicar Honduras sin detenerme en la historia de las relaciones entre Garífunas (personas decendientes de negros esclavos y de libertos venidos a Honduras del caribe Britanico), Turcos (nombre que se le dio a los inmigrantes arabes de religion cristiana perseguidos por los Musulmanes durante el reinado Otoman) y que controlan una gran parte de los negocios en Honduras e indigenas que perdieron casi todas sus tierras.

Si en Honduras las personas andan sin asceso a la salud, beneficios de retiros, derecho a educacion y no es posible la mobilidad social, puedo decir con toda honestidad que no ha sido un invento de un dia. Si a las sirvientas les llaman hoy “trabajadoras domesticas” y todavia se le regalan niños huerfanos a los ricos para que le sirvan de entretenimientos a sus hijos para que tengan compañia, tampoco ha sido invento de un dia.

Photo by Nathan T. Baker

La junta militar establece a Roberto Micheletti como presidente y desafia con sus declaraciones cualquier intento de instalar al presidente constitucional electo Jose Manuel Zelaya. Desde el Rio Bravo hasta La Patagonia esta historia se repite una y otra vez, hoy es Honduras y mañana quien será?