The Political Fish

Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was kidnapped and forced into exile in Costa Rica this morning. The Honduran military surrounded the presidential palace in Tecigualpa in the early hours, and according to Zelaya, kidnapped him as he was still wearing his pajamas.

Allegedly the Honduran Supreme court had the military take the President after the president defied the courts ruling on holding a referendum to change the constitution. Zelaya had been elected to a non-renewable four year term in office, but planned on asking Honduran citizens to vote to extend his term. The Supreme Court rejected his calls for a referendum, but Zelaya planned on pushing forward in defiance.

Protesters took to the streets in the capital to protest the coup. Hundreds of protesters pelted the soldiers with rocks, and eventually the crowds were dispersed with tear gas.

Update: Apparently Hugo Chavez is threatening military intervention. Reports that the Venezuelan ambassador was taken hostage and later released. We will see where this goes…

Police have been ordered to fire upon protesters at the mass demonstration today in Tehran.  Also, reports have apparently been leaked from the Interior Ministry showing that Mousavi did in fact with the election, according the Telegraph. The leaked reports show that Ahmadinejad actually placed third behind Mir Hussein Mousavi as well as Mehdi Karoubi, another reformist candidate. 

The statistics, circulated on Iranian blogs and websites, claimed Mr Mousavi had won 19.1 million votes while Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had won only 5.7 million.

The two other candidates, reformist Mehdi Karoubi and hardliner Mohsen Rezai, won 13.4 million and 3.7 million respectively. The authenticity of the leaked figures could not be confirmed.

According to the Telegraph, Mousavi warned his supporters against going to the rally that he organized today, once they were alerted to the intentions of the Iranian forces and police. Reports coming out of Tehran via twitter indicate that demostrations went forward regardless of the threat of violence, with Mousavi himself appearing for the first time publicly since the election.

These people have decided to stare down gun barrels in their drive for freedom. Those of us in the USA should realize that the problems we have here pale in comparison. We do not have to worry about the threat of getting beaten or shot just because we want to stand up and demonstrate. These people are showing bravery and courage that we can use as an example. The hunger for freedom is insatiable. We should stand up and take notice of their courage.  They are an inspiration to freedom loving people around the world!