While President Mel Zalaya seeks to re-enter Honduras and thereby confront the military coup that pitched him out of the country in his pajamas, Peter Kent - Canada's Minister of State for something or other - once again shows himself to be a stalwart defender of popular democracy and the rule of law:
Canada's Minister of State of Foreign Affairs, Peter Kent, said deposed Honduran President Manuel Zelaya should not return to the Central American country until there has been a negotiated solution to the political impasse.
Kent said in an e-mailed statement he welcomed the latest plan from Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, and asked both Zelaya and acting President Roberto Micheletti "to seize this unique opportunity to arrive at a peaceful solution." Kent also said he "reiterated to President Zelaya that he should not return to Honduras until such a settlement has been reached."
In the face of both the OAS and the United Nations voting unanimously to condemn the coup, what would be the harm in Kent keeping his mouth shut until the situation on the ground clarifies?
For a different (if somewhat ideological) take, have a look at Canadian human rights lawyer Graeme Russell's interview with The Real News.