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

The 1982 constitution, which underwent a major revision in 1985, provides for a president and a single-chamber national assembly, both elected by universal suffrage for a four-year term. The president is head of both state and government, and may not serve two terms in succession. The size of the assembly, with 128 members in 1995, may be amended in the light of population changes.

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, until the return of civilian rule in 1980. The army, however, 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. The PN won the 1989 elections and Rafael Callejas was elected president. In 1993 the situation was reversed: the PLH returned to power and Carlos Roberto Reina Idiaquez was elected president.

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.

In December 1997, the PLH candidate Carlos Flores was elected president.

Trade agreement

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.

Presidential elections

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.

In the presidential elections of December 2005, Maduro was defeated by the PLH candidate: Manuel Zelaya was sworn in as president in January 2006.

Honduras (redirected from Spanish Honduras)