A Hondurad Solutions

Silence has pierced through the streets, storefronts and universities are closed, and tension has reached the boiling point. This is the current state of Honduras, a country whose so-called political leaders are determined to let powerful egos consume the wellbeing of their small country.

When the military disestablished control from Honduras' President Manuel Zelaya, it caused a ricochet of shockwaves throughout Central America and the world. The military furthered the humiliation of Zelaya and Honduras by banishing the president to Costa Rica. The military foolishly acted on impulse, resulting in a massive political scandal instead of letting the situation subside when Zelaya was up for election in January 2010.

Since President Zelaya's abrupt departure, interim president Roberto Micheletti has been straddling a tight rope on political and civil issues. Micheletti has been an unpopular figure, because many feel he has steered Honduras into a violent and nihilist direction. In the past few months the country has been under constant bedlam since the military usurped power from the President.

Although Zelaya has gained many supporters as a result of the military coup, recently Zelaya was facing heat from the entire country of Honduras. Within the past year Zelaya seemed steadfast in turning the democratic country of Honduras into a autocratic state. By doing this, Zelaya could continue to rule without any sort of precedent. The military feared the amount of authority Zelaya would have and decided to take control of what they assumed was a dangerous situation.

However, now that Micheletti and the military continue their dominion over the country, martial law has gripped Honduras. Micheletti and Zelaya have chosen to play a game of tug of war where neither gain enough ground to end the political crisis that has ravaged the nation. The citizens in Honduras have been through absolute hell because Micheletti decided to suspend civil liberties and impose a strict curfew that the citizens must comply to. The suspension of civil liberties has turned the once peaceful country of Honduras into a smoldering powder keg that is about to explode. Since the government in Honduras is not responding with any sense of urgency other political leaders are.

Since it seems that the leaders of Honduras are simply not qualified to make executive decisions for the betterment of their country, the United Nations decided to try and pacify both sides with diplomacy. Yet, just as quick as the diplomats arrived to Honduras, they were abruptly shown the nearest exit. By doing this the military made a statement that they will be unwilling to relinquish any control. Ironically it appears that democracy cannot solve the internal struggles conflicting Honduras.

Yet none of the disastrous policy alternatives Micheletti and Zelaya have mandated could be any worse than what their decisions have done to the citizens of Honduras. The inhabitants are not allowed to express any of their opinions because the military has placed restrictions on what the people can say or do.

On September 23, thousands of protestors made a public demonstration by the Brazilian Embassy in Tegucipalpa, the capital of Honduras. What followed the demonstrators was an avalanche of soldiers, sheaths of armor, a torrent flow of tear gas, and a flood of water cannons. According to CNN, 80 people were injured due to the military's show of force.

However, no job in Honduras has been more affected by the halt in civil liberties than that of the journalist. Since Zelaya's departure three months prior, the government has tried to stifle the journalists using every method possible. It has turned into a cat and mouse game between the broadcasters and the military that has become more and more dangerous. Journalists in Honduras have been assaulted, detained, and even killed for sending information to the public.

The military has gone so far to limit the journalists in Honduras they raided the two largest broadcasting networks. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists the military raided the offices of Radio Globo and Canal 36. The networks are supporters of Zelaya and because of this, material and equipment was confiscated. Those in support of Zelaya, are not the only ones being persecuted. Micheletti supporters have been attacked and one reporter was killed for expressing his political views.

As politicians in Honduras try to find some middle ground, the citizens will continue to suffer the affects of whatever route they choose. The selfish disposition of the military and the government in Honduras will not be the real heroes in this battle of wills. The real heroes are those journalists who refuse to allow discrimination and injustice to deter them from their ultimate goal, the right to educate and inform the public freely.