Romeo Vásquez Velásquez

Romeo Vásquez Velásquez (born 29 January 1957) is a Honduran politician and retired Brigadier general. He was head of ^[1] the armed forces of Honduras from January 11, 2005^[2] to January 25, 2010. He was born in Siguatepeque, Comayagua. In 1972 he joined the army, and he attended the School of the Americas (SOA/WHINSEC) at least twice, in 1976 and 1984.^[3] Romeo Vásques, who also has a degree in economy and finances, is married to Licida Zelaya Lobo, from Olancho, and they have two children. He also has three other children.

2009 Honduran constitutional crisis

He was sacked by President Manuel Zelaya on June 25, 2009, for refusing to allow the armed forces to help in conducting a Honduran fourth ballot box referendum proposed by President Zelaya.^[4] Romeo Vásquez stated he had refused to help with the vote which was aimed at removing the constitutional term limit of one term per President because the Supreme Court had ruled the vote illegal.^[5] Zelaya has denied the referendum was intended to extend term limits, but in fact was to ask the people if they wanted to add the question of a constitutional assembly to the November ballot. Later the same day, however, five judges of the Supreme Court acted unanimously in favor of a ruling chief of staff, restoring him to office after declaring his removal unconstitutional. The resolution cites Article 40 of the Constitutive Act of the Armed Forces, Decree 39-2001, that establishes: "The head of the Joint Chiefs will run for three years in office and only be removed by resignation, incapacity absolute disqualification from office for final decision and loss or suspension of citizenship decreed by competent authority in accordance with the law and by the end of his time on active duty in the armed forces.^[6][7] The military forcibly exiled President Zelaya on June 28, 2009 precipitating the 2009 Honduran coup d'état. The Attorney General charged the military leadership for this act, but the Supreme Court dismissed all charges.^[8]

Political career

On March 9, 2010, President Porfirio Lobo Sosa appointed Romeo Vásquez Velásquez as the head of the state-owned telecom company Hondutel.^[9]

Vásquez Velásquez is running for president of Honduras in the Honduran general election, 2013, for the Honduran Patriotic Alliance party, formed in 2011.^[10][11]

References

1. Honduras al borde de un golpe de Estado técnico
2. General Carlos Antonio Cuéllar es el nuevo jefe del Estado Mayor de FF.AA. (in Spanish)
3. Cooper, Linda and James Hodge. "Honduran Coup Leader a Two-Time SOA Graduate" National Catholic Reporter, June 29, 2009.
4. "Honduras: Term Limit Dispute Deepens". New York times. June 26, 2009. p. A7. Retrieved June 26, 2009.
5. Freddy, Cuevas; Jorge Rueda; Carlos Rodriguez; Edith M. Lederer (26 June 2009). "Honduras heads toward crisis over referendum". Associated Press. Retrieved June 26, 2009.
6. Freddy Cuevas (27 June 2009). "Honduras heads toward crisis over referendum". Associated Press. Retrieved 2-7-2009. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
7. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124597369604957305.html Honduras Lurched Toward Crisis Over Election
8. "Estoy contento", dice Romeo Vásquez (in Spanish)
9. Romeo Vásquez Velásquez nombrado como gerente de Hondutel (in Spanish)
10. Alianza postula a Romeo Vásquez Velásquez (in Spanish)
11. Romeo Vásquez presentará 90,000 firmas (in Spanish)