The Honduras fight

Re “Coup sparks violent protest,” June 30

The situation in Honduras is complicated because both sides have acted undemocratically: President Manuel Zelaya by pushing through a referendum apparently to remove his term limits despite a contrary Supreme Court ruling, and his opponents through a military coup.

On balance, Zelaya should have international support, to discourage military interference in democratic institutions, but that support must be conditioned on Zelaya’s promise to respect the courts and relevant judicial decisions.

Paul Kujawsky

Valley Village

The action by the Honduran government to oust Zelaya was justified.

Removing Zelaya, who imagined himself the Hugo Chavez of Honduras, preserved democracy.

The United States should support the Honduran government’s action, which prevented a dictatorship.

Thomas Keiser

Arcadia

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I am a Honduran citizen, currently living in my home country amid this crisis.

I am proud to be Honduran and proud to say I support the actions and decisions taken by my Congress and Supreme Court.

Our ex-president had driven this country into an abyss; coached by Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro, he has lied and manipulated and coerced whomever was necessary to remain in power, in blatant disobedience and violation of our constitutional laws. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and this man unfortunately could not be stopped by the normal and legal procedures.

I most emphatically support the removal of this man from power.

Luz Maria

Sabillon de Acosta

San Pedro Sula, Honduras

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The president of Honduras was ousted for trying to get a referendum to stop term limits, presumedly to extend his leadership and create a socialist system as Hugo Chavez did in Venezuela.

I think we have a president who is turning this country in the same direction -- and the majority of people are praising him.

R.J. Mendelson

Playa del Rey

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I am shocked at the comments coming from the Obama administration concerning the events in Honduras.

When a sitting president knowingly breaks the law in a transparent effort to join other dictators in Latin America in amassing as much power as possible and squashing opposition, it is the duty of the people to rise up and preserve their democracy. The legitimate government of Honduras acted perfectly well within its rights.

To now threaten the legally appointed new president of Honduras with cutting off aid and not support the Honduran people’s right to a free and legal democracy is disgusting.

This is not the United States of America that my parents gave up everything for, escaping from the clutches of Fidel Castro’s brutal dictatorship.

Luis Navarro

Van Nuys

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Zelaya attempted to hijack the presidency, repeatedly defying the authority and opposition of the country’s Congress, election officials and Supreme Court, on whose order he was removed from office. No coup.

The power is in the hands of a civilian who was next in line to the presidency.

I see no reason to censure anyone in Honduras but its ex-president.

Michael Wiener

Manhattan Beach