Wife of ousted Honduran leader to run for president

[Judi Lynn]

Wife of ousted Honduran leader to run for president
13 Mar 2012 22:44
Source: reuters // Reuters

TEGUCIGALPA, March 13 (Reuters) - The left-wing party of ousted Honduran president Manuel Zelaya on Tuesday named his wife as its presidential candidate in elections next year.

The new Liberty and Refoundation Party (LIBRE), which is supported by unions, farmers and women's groups, said it would nominate Xiomara Castro to run for the top job in the small central American nation, which is racked by criminal violence.

Although the former Honduran first lady is a relative novice to politics, opinion polls have shown her running first or second in voters' preferences.

The Honduran army, acting on a court order with backing from Congress, whisked the left-leaning Zelaya out of the country in June 2009 after he tried to hold a referendum seen by the opposition as an attempt to extend his term as president.

More:
http://www.trust.org/trustlaw/news/wife-of-ousted-honduran-leader-to-run-for-president

[Bacchus4.0]

1. she fled to the US embassy during the removal of Zelaya

The morning of the coup, Castro said she and her teenage son Hector sneaked to the U.S. embassy, then stayed there until the attorney general's office said no charges would be filed against Zelaya family members.

The pair then headed to the residence of U.S. Ambassador Hugo Llorens.

Castro remained out of sight for nine days after the coup. But she came out of hiding at the request of the family of Isis Obed Murillo Mencia, 19, a protester from Zelaya's home state of Olancho who was shot by soldiers at the airport Sunday during Zelaya's unsuccessful attempt to return.

Castro said she would like to return to her home, but refused to say if she had left the ambassador's residence. But she also said if anyone had wanted to harm her, they would have done so during the coup.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x18415

[Peace Patriot]

2. Great news! Xiomara Castro showed tremendous courage and leadership...

...during the coup and was a leader on women's issues, as first lady, before the coup. I hope she wins the presidency but I have to say that the gross U.S. interference in Honduras' election system--not to mention its control of the coup government, its funding of the coup government, the hundreds of murders of leftist political activists and journalists that have occurred under this coup government and the increased U.S. military presence in the country--have me worried that a win by Xiomara Castro will be prevented or overturned.