While Iranians fight for their rights, Honduras is in the midst on an international political crisis. Since the last post was about what Iranians can learn from Cuban history, it is also fitting to reflect on parallels between what is currently happening in Honduras and what already happened in Cuba.

“Commandant Cowboy, the Constitution is FIRST”

The first thing I want to express before I continue is an opinion of mine, and a fact, that breaks with the orthodoxy of the pro-democracy minded people who support the new Honduran government and the ouster of ex-president Mel Zelaya: the forced expulsion of Zelaya was technically illegal. Before you go ahead and close this browser window or tab, hear me out. According to Article 102 of the Honduran Constitution, no Honduran citizen can be expatriated or taken to a foreign country by the authorities. It is one of their rights. Now, let’s put this in context: Zelaya was violating the Constitution and the will of the people in order to acquire more power for himself… the flagrant violation of the Constitution for the end of consolidating power in the hands of one man, namely Zelaya, would lead to authoritarianism. So if you weigh the violation of one man’s right to remain in his country versus the right of millions to be free, the choice is clear. The only thing I insist is that when a people take action to preserve freedom, they do so with both eyes open and recognize what they are doing right and what we are doing wrong. That being said, history teaches us that the expulsion of Mel Zelaya was the necessary and right thing to do.

Let’s take a little trip back to July 26th, 1953. The place is Cuba. It was that day that a young lawyer known as Fidel Castro led a pathetic and failed attack on the Moncada Barracks in the city of Santiago de Cuba. Castro was captured and sent to prison. It was in prison where he gave a speech where he declared that history would “absolve” him. Less than two years later, Cuban strongman Fulgencio Batista granted him amnesty and so began a chain of events that would lead to the victory of a communist revolution that has inflicted incalculable amounts of suffering on the Cuban people… all because they freed Fidel Castro.

Castro’s reign of terror

The lesson here is clear, when the Cuban government had the chance to stop a wannabe dictator, they gave him freedom instead. So now that the powers of the world are aligned against the Honduran people and demand for the restitution of the wannabe dictator Mel Zelaya, Hondurans must not give in. To allow him back in the country will give him, his foreign backers, and the socialist elements the opportunity to destabilize Honduras, dissolve Congress, and start dismantling democracy just like Hugo Chavez of Venezuela has done.

History is following a similar pattern here. Castro claimed to fight for democracy, just like Zelaya claims. Castro went from country to country getting support for his “revolution,” just like Zelaya is doing. Castro was immediately recognized by the United States after taking power, just like Zelaya is being backed by the US government now. The only difference is that the Honduran people still have a chance to stop him… let’s hope that the meeting in Costa Rica does not lead to a restitution of Zelaya. He must answer for his crimes against the Honduran Constitution and people, otherwise he will emerge as a self-proclaimed “hero” who will not stop trying to undermine democracy. The freedom of a people must not be sacrificed on the altar of international opinion.

¡Viva Honduras Libre!

-AG