Honduras

Pre-Columbian ruins at Copán, Honduras, Central America. Occupied between around 400 and 800, Copán was one of the most important royal sites of the Mayan civilization. The extensive ruins at the site include temples, pyramids, stelae, ball courts, and the carved Hieroglyphic Stairway leading to one of the temples.

Country in Central America, bounded north by the Caribbean Sea, southeast by Nicaragua, south by the Pacific Ocean, southwest by El Salvador, and west and northwest by Guatemala.

Government

Honduras has a multiparty political system with a presidential executive. The 1987 constitution provides for a president and a single-chamber legislature, the national congress, both elected by universal suffrage for a four-year term. The president is head of both state and government, appointing a cabinet of ministers, and may not serve two terms in succession. The national congress has 128 members elected by proportional representation from the country's 18 departments. The party system is dominated by the conservative National Party of Honduras (PN) and the centrist Liberal Party of Honduras (PLH).

History

Originally part of the Maya civilization, the area was reached by Christopher Columbus in 1502, and was colonized by Spain from 1526. Becoming independent from Spain in 1821, Honduras was part of the United Provinces of Central America until 1840, when it achieved full independence.

Independence

During the first 30 years after independence, power lay with the cattle barons. Violence and banditry prevailed in the countryside. In 1876, the Liberal Marco Aurelio Soto gained power and imposed order on Honduras. During his presidency, 1876–83, warfare ceased. He introduced the telegraph and supported road building.

However, for much of the 19th and early 20th centuries there was political instability and wars with neighbouring states. US involvement was significant, with the United Fruit company controlling much of the country's crucial banana production. By 1930, through the efforts of the United Fruit company and the Standard Fruit company, Honduras had become the world's leading exporter of bananas. In 1925 there was a brief civil war and from 1939 until 1949 a dictatorship was established by the leader of the Partido Nacional (PN; National Party).

Civilian rule

The government changed in a series of military coups. In 1963, a military coup overthrew the democratically-elected president Villeda Morales and the military held on to power until a return of civilian rule in 1981. Even then, the army still controlled security and was able to veto cabinet appointments and, although the 1981 general election was won by the Partido Liberal de Honduras (PLH; Liberal Party of Honduras), and its leader, Dr Roberto Suazo, became president, power remained in the hands of Gen Gustavo Alvarez, the commander-in-chief of the army. In 1982 Alvarez secured an amendment to the constitution, reducing government control over the armed forces, and was virtually in charge of foreign policy, agreeing in 1983 to the establishment of US military bases in the country. The US Central Intelligence Agency was also active in assisting Nicaraguan counter-revolutionary rebels (‘Contras’) based in Honduras.

Electoral reform

In 1984 Alvarez was ousted by a group of junior officers and the country's close relationship with the USA came under review. In the same year divisions arose in the PLH over selection of presidential candidates and in 1985 the electoral law was changed. Suazo was not eligible for the 1985 presidential elections, and the main PLH candidate was José Azcona. Although the PN nominee won most votes, the revised constitution made Azcona the eventual winner.

Tensions with Nicaragua

The presence of Contras on Honduran territory – thought to number 55,000 with their dependants in 1989 – provoked tensions with Nicaragua, which filed a suit against Honduras in the International Court of Justice. Nicaragua agreed to drop the suit if Contra bases were dismantled and the fighters demobilized, in keeping with a regional peace plan adopted in February 1989. Thus the presence of the rebels became a distinct political liability for Honduras.

Economic difficulties

The PN won the 1989 elections and Rafael Callejas was elected president. He was the first PN president since 1972. Faced with severe economic problems, on the advice of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) he followed an austerity programme, cutting public spending, laying off public sector workers, and devaluing the currency. Fuel shortages and rising unemployment led to strikes and unrest.

Border dispute with El Salvador resolved

The century-old border dispute with El Salvador, involving 440 sq km/170 sq mi, was settled in September 1992, awarding two-thirds of the territory in question to Honduras. As a result, Honduras acquired the region at the delta of the Goascoran River and about four-fifths of two areas along the Negro-Quiagara and the Sazalapa Rivers.

Military reforms

In the 1993 elections the PLH returned to power and Carlos Roberto Reina Idiaquez was elected president. President Reina inherited an economy still weighed down by heavy foreign debt, which was serviced by 40% of the country's exports. During his 1994–98 presidency he effected major reforms to the military, including the end of compulsory military service and the full transfer of powers still held by the military to civilians.

Hurricane Mitch

In December 1997, the PLH candidate Carlos Flores was elected president. During his 1998–2002 presidency, the country was struck, in October 1998, by Hurricane Mitch which left thousands dead and devastated the economy. But with the help of international aid the country gradually rebuilt its infrastructure and agricultural and industrial economic sectors.

In June 2000, Honduras, together with Guatemala and El Salvador, signed a free-trade agreement with Mexico, eliminating duties, over 12 years, on 65 % of Mexican exports and on 80% of the exports of the other three countries to Mexico.

Crackdown on crime

A political newcomer, Ricardo Maduro, was elected president in elections held on 25 November 2001. An industrialist from the opposition PN, Maduro defeated the candidate of the ruling PLH, Rafael Pineda Ponce. Maduro promised to crack down on crime and push ahead with privatization. On becoming president in 2002, Maduro brought troops out on to the streets of the large cities to accompany the local police. The National Congress passed laws making illicit association a crime. This led to the arrest and imprisonment of hundreds of members of criminal gangs.

In the presidential elections of November 2005, the PLH candidate, Manuel Zelaya, narrowly defeated Porfirio Pepe Lobo of the PN by 50% to 46% of the vote. The PN challenged the results, but Zelaya was sworn in as president in January 2006. He soon came under criticism for weak handling of the economy and failure to get to grips with the corruption.

Honduras (redirected from Hondoras)