The political and social crisis we are living through

Photo by Michael Kienitz.

After an escalating confrontation between the branches of the government of Honduras, on June 28, 2009, the Honduran military forceably removed President Manuel Zelaya from power and sent him to Costa Rica. Immediately afterwards, the Honduran congress elected Roberto Micheletti as the new president. The interpretation of the events and ideas on how to resolve the current crisis have created deep division and confrontation in Honduran society. Micheletti's government has not been recognized by any other government.

WCCN has decided to publish this communique from the Diocese of Trujillo, on the Atlantic Coast of Honduras, for two main reasons. Firstly, it is a very well-balanced analysis that shows the complexity of the current situation. Secondly, the diocese has been the main force behind Credisol, our new lending partner in Honduras. At press time, the situation on the ground remains unresolved.

-- WCCN Staff

Communique from the Diocese of Trujillo

Given in the city of Trujillo, on the eleventh day of July, 2009.

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.    (Ephesians 6:13-15).

As a diocese that has historically had a preference for the poor, we wish to share these thoughts as a search for the TRUTH, which is so necessary to do away with certain intransigent attitudes and to facilitate the dialogue that we should all practice as a way to seek the common good.

A. Background of the crisis

The current crisis is the result of a series of violations of the Constitution and of laws brought about over the last several decades by the political class, and sometimes forced through by economically powerful groups. There is a concept that sums up these attitudes: corruption. In our Diocese of Trujillo, this corruption has brought about all the negative consequences provoked by the as-yet unresolved problem of land ownership. Here are some examples: the lands of the former Regional Military Training Center (CREM), the Campesino Movement of the Sico-Paulaya Valley (which has cost several lives), the threats to expropriate the land of the Garifuna people, and the concentration of the best land in a few hands. This reality causes inequality and violence in our zone. Also, the presence of drug trafficking has seriously deteriorated people's lives, and has gained enough strength to cause fear that Honduras will turn into a narco-state.

Photo by Michael Kienitz.

The events of June 28, 2009 are the result of a series of disagreements of the Executive branch with the Legislative and Judicial branches, and of the actions taken by Mr. José Manuel Zelaya  against the decisions of the Supreme Court and the Supreme Electoral Council. They are also the consequence of the fact that in Honduras, there exists no Constitutional Tribunal to settle confrontations that may occur between the three branches of government.

However, we condemn the expatriation carried out by the Armed Forces against Mr. José Manuel Zelaya, because it violates the Constitution of the Republic and Zelaya's rights as a citizen. We also condemn the dictatorial attitudes imposed on the population: violations of the media, electricity cutoffs, restrictions of individual rights, etc., because they are also violations of the Constitution of the Republic and of citizens' rights.

The interpretation of the legality or illegality of these acts has divided the Honduran people. We are also divided on the way we conceive of democracy, and on whether or not the Constitution needs to be reformed, or a new one written. These are antagonistic attitudes, which we must not make irreconciliable, and which must not tear us apart as Hondurans.

B. Attitudes that have favored the crisis

1. Most of the population has stopped believing in the authorities, due the level of corruption which which they behave, or which they simply allow. The lack of true political leadership is worrisome, and in this situation, the populism of Mr. Zelaya has had a powerful effect on a large part of the population.  Populist measures are not always to the direct benefit of the people. In many cases, instead of the leader approaching the people to serve them, he takes advantage of them to benefit himself.

2. There is no will among the political class, generally, to confront the grave problems that afflict the people, and above all, the poorest of the poor.

3. Since its approval in 1982, the Constitution has been violated many times, and neither the governmental structures that should avoid this nor the people have acted in its defense. However, in the last few years, citizen consciousness has changed in favor of respecting it and of the right to real participation in democratic life, as the recent demonstrations have shown.

4. Inevitably, the economic crisis has had an impact on Honduras. However, the government has not designed a strategic plan, and the economically powerful groups are not willing to share their profits, which widen the gap between the rich and the poor, which are the overwhelming majority. The current crisis will sink our fragile economy even further.  

C. Lessons we should learn

1.  Dialogue: Once the first confrontations between those supporting and opposing Mr. Zelaya's return to power ended, demonstrations have become more orderly. Only in this climate is it possible to hold dialogue. Dialogue is not possible when one side acts with violence. Nor should dialogue be conditioned by the number of people on each side, or on their hidden interests. When the TRUTH is sought, it does not reside exclusively on one side, sometimes not even the side with the most people.  The way out of this crisis and the consequences it will leave for the future depend on the capacity for dialogue at all levels.

2.  The value of the Constitution and the laws: One point of agreement among the entire population is the need to respect the Constitution, and not allow it to be violated. In 2004, the National Congress of the Republic eliminated all kinds of immunity before the law. The present crisis also leaves us with the lesson that the people have the need and the right to participate in the writing of the laws that rule them, and not merely the duty to obey them. As Christ affirms, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.” (Mark 2:27) Human beings were not created to obey laws; laws are at the service of the dignity of human beings.

Photo by Michael Kienitz.

3. Citizen consciousness: The crisis also leaves us with the lesson that the growing citizen consciousness is a force that neither the political parties nor those in power have appreciated. This citizen consciousness reminds us that we are all responsible for resolving the problems of our nation. It has been proven that intervention by other countries has not managed to be either objective or disinterested. We accept that we are part of the international community; however, we Hondurans are aware that we must take the lead in creating our own future.

4.  The true strength of democracy: Article 5 of the Constitution of the Republic says, “The Government must be supported by the principle of participatory democracy, from which national integrity is derived, which implies the participation of all political sectors in public administration, with the purpose of assuring and strengthening the progress of Honduras, based on political stability and national conciliation.”

The current crisis must become an opportunity to make real the principle of real and participatory democracy, overcoming merely electoral, formal, and representative democracy.

5. Media: Impartial and objective information is necessary to approach the TRUTH. Recently, we have witnessed bias in the news, repression and censorship of some media, and the suspension of the right to free speech. This is not the way to understand each other and be able to hold dialogue. 

D. Proposals:

a. It is urgent to write a National Plan, as the fruit of national consensus, which includes a social pact. The efforts of the government and all its institutions, as well as organized civil society, should direct all their efforts toward this. The dialogue that facilitates this National Plan must be transparent and made known to the entire

b. It is necessary to enter into a legal process in which the people can be consulted about the possible and necessary reforms to the Constitution for citizen participation to be real in our democracy. It should be an indispensable condition for all candidates in the next election to declare their intentions with respect to this process, which should begin during the first year of the next government.

Photo by Michael Kienitz.

c. As a guarantee for the future of the nation, the proper institutions of the State should investigate the acts of corruption both in Mr. Zelaya's government and those of previous governments, as well as in State institutions, with the purpose of determining who is responsible.

d. Our energy should not be spent on the battle over whether Mr. Zelaya should return as President, or whether or not Mr. Micheletti should stay or go, but rather on building another Honduras, and we will only achieve this if the citizens and the political class begins to share a vision of a nation meant for the good of all, and if we exercise the moral right to veto the many corrupt leaders and politicians.

E. Exhortation

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”  (2 Corinthians 5:18).

We exhort the Honduran people to put away attitudes of rejection, and accept paths of RECONCILIATION. Reconciliation does not mean we stop enforcing justice or renounce the search for and defense of what we believe to be the TRUTH. Reconciliation consists of being able to sit down at the same table to continue to finding paths to walk together, as brothers, sisters, and compatriots, into a better future for all.

We exhort the people of our Diocesis of Trujillo, in the Departaments of Colón and Gracias a Dios to not close themselves up in an obsession with one person, political party, or ideology, but rather to struggle to solve our real problems: 

• Improve the quality of education.
• Reconcile positions on the search for solutions on the ownership of land.
• Hold dialogue with the government on the necessity of improving roads.
• Demand the government create a plan for the cultural, economic, and social development of the Mosquito Coast.
• The proper authorities must guarantee citizen security and act within the law to stop the presence of drug trafficking in the region.
• The problem of deforestation in our departments must be turned around, not only by confiscating cut wood, but by stopping the felling of our forest reserves and the destruction of our environment.

We remind Christian people of the need to pray always and in each moment, so the Lord will give us grace to be agents of agreement, peace, and unity.

“Love — caritas — is an extraordinary force which leads people to opt for courageous and generous engagement in the field of justice and peace.” (“Caritas In Veritate,” Benedict XVI, June 2009).

(Translation by Steve Herrick)