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Democracy News
Honduras Drops Arrest Warrants For Former Ousted President Zelaya
March 31, 2011
By: Randi Zung | Printer Friendly
On March 25, a Honduran Supreme Court judge dismissed three arrest warrants for former President Manuel Zelaya, paving the way for him to return to the country without fear of detention. Zelaya – who was ousted in a June 2009 bloodless military coup – was forced out of the country at gunpoint after he attempted hold a referendum to alter the country’s constitution in order to stay in power. Zelaya was exiled to Costa Rica, but later snuck back into Honduras and took refuge at the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa. Following an exit deal, in January 2010, Zelaya was safely transported to the Dominican Republic with his family. Zelaya continues to assert that all of the charges against him are politically motivated. The three warrants were originally issued in July 2009.
Despite the arrest warrants being dropped by the Supreme Court, BBC News reported that judge Oscar Chincilla said that Zelaya would be still be held accountable for corruption charges. The Supreme Court, along with the Honduran Congress and the army, all maintain that Zelaya’s referendum was unconstitutional.
The Associated Press reports that Zelaya was originally charged with seven crimes – including abuse of power and treason – and five of the charges were later dropped after the Honduran Congress granted him amnesty in January 2010. The two remaining charges include fraud and falsifying documents. Commenting on the judge’s ruling, Zelaya’s attorney, Anahim Orrellana stated, “We want the charges to be dropped.” Current Honduran President Porfirio Lobo has previously stated that he would like to see a legal solution for Zelaya’s return to Honduras.
Recently, daily clashes between Zelaya supporters and the Honduran authorities have erupted in Tegucigalpa. In an email to the Associated Press, Zelaya accused the police of brutality and trying to break up his supporter base.
Associated Press - Arrest warrants for Honduran ex-president dropped
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