Media Reaction Rio de Janeiro, Unacceptable (Coup in

UNCLAS RIO DE JANEIRO 000172 SIPDIS STATE INR/R/MR; IIP/R/MR; WHA/PD DEPT PASS USTR USDOC 4322/MAC/OLAC/JAFEE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR OPRC OIIP ETRD XM XR BR SUBJECT: Media Reaction Rio de Janeiro, Unacceptable (Coup in Honduras) Unacceptable On July 30, 2009, center-right daily O Globo writes, "The unanimous reaction towards the coup in Honduras shows how much this type of action, frequent in the past, is even more unacceptable nowadays in Latin America. There are countries with democratic institutions that are more solid than others, but the consensus in the region is that these revolutionary adventures are, or should be, out of the question. Meanwhile, within the democratic structures that have become the norm for the continent- the last coup was in 2000 in Ecuador- a tendency for heads of state to try to stay in power is gaining strength. The instrument for doing so is not the coup, but the utilization of democratic space to bend institutions for one's own benefit. The maneuver's pioneer is Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, with his 'Bolivarian revolution,' and his 'socialism of the 21st century.' Chavez developed a 'Bolivarian kit', which consists of augmenting the power of the State and the executive branch and shrinking that of the judiciary and legislative branches. In a way that, according to some, democracy still exists in Venezuela. Another Chavez style initiative was to export the 'Bolivarian kit' to Bolivia, Ecuador, and Nicaragua in an attempt to form an anti-American leftist block with Cuba. Chavez's most recent client is Manuel Zelaya, the president of Honduras deposed of on the eve of a referendum that would have allowed him to stay in power-a principal ingredient in the 'Chavista' kit... the PT did well to discard the idea of a third mandate for Lula, something that has yet to be decided in Columbia in relation to Uribe. Zelaya's problem was that his initiative to stay in power was blocked by Congress, the electoral court, and the Supreme Court. His attempt to change the command of the Army, whose duty was to guarantee the realization of the referendum, was also blocked by the court. It is up to the leaders of Honduran institutions and Zelaya to negotiate, without a democratic rupture. The army should go back to the barracks. That is what Latin American leaders, President Obama, the OAS, and the European Union all say in unison. The message is clear: the new Honduran government will not be recognized. The legitimate president is Zelaya. If he disrespects the constitution, this path should lead to impeachment in accordance with the law. Even if the Honduran military's actions can be seen as a counter-coup, nothing, not even the Chavez style interference in the country's domestic politics, justifies a departure from [adhering to] the rule of law. MARTINEZ