New Corruption Charges Brought on Manuel Zelaya
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Former Honduran president Manuel Zelaya said Thursday that new corruption charges brought against him by Honduras’ newly elected government amount to political persecution.
Zelaya said in a statement from the Dominican Republic that the charges undermine efforts to promote national reconciliation following his ouster.
He said the charges “seek personal revenge and worsen the political persecution against me, forgetting national reconciliation.”
Honduras’ anti-corruption prosecutor is seeking to charge Zelaya with allegedly diverting $1.5 million in welfare funds to his campaign for a referendum on reforming the constitution.
Zelaya was recently appointed the head of a new political council in Petrocaribe, founded by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in 2005 as he prepared to begin a life of relative obscurity in exile in the Dominican Republic. Through this appointment, Chavez has ostentatiously incorporated Zelaya to his payroll. Many analysts agree that the appointment by Chavez was more than a gesture of friendship.
Meanwhile in Honduras, Zelaya already faces abuse of power and treason charges over his defiance of the Supreme Court order.
In his statement, Zelaya expressed anger that the military chiefs who participated in the coup have been absolved while he faces more criminal charges.
The military chief of staff whose soldiers hustled Zelaya out of the country aboard an airplane was replaced Thursday. Gen. Romeo Vasquez, who Zelaya tried to dismiss as head of the joint chiefs of staff, retired, and President Porfirio Lobo swore in Gen. Carlos Cuellas as his replacement.