Mel Zelaya & "Friends" (what not to do...)

The coup government's investigation into former President Mel Zelaya’s operations are revealing some "curiosities". While images have not yet been revealed of some other alleged finds (busts, bookends in likeness, an array of silhouettes / plaques, commissioned artwork for possible future currency use, etc.), this collection of life-sized statues was found in the Presidential warehouse. Officers leading the investigation, apparently, couldn’t resist setting them up in the courtyard and inviting journalists in for a photo shoot.

If your Honduran history is a little rusty or you are not good at deciphering statues, in addition to Zelaya the others are: Dionisio of Herrera (Choluteca-Honduras-born, he was head of state in Honduras and also later in Nicaragua and was elected and declined the same post in El Salvador; he in Francisco Morazan’s uncle); Francisco Morazan Quezada (Tegucigalpa-Honduras-born, he, like his uncle, was head of state in several Central American countries, and is considered one of the finest statesman and generals in C.A. history; virtually every modern legal notion in Honduras, from freedom of speech and religion, to trial by jury were the result of his political and legal work - all based on a self-taught education, as he barely completed elementary school; he is the national hero of Honduras); Jose Trinidad Cabanas (Tegucigalpa-Honduras-born, he was Francisco Morazan’s lead general, and was later President of Honduras; known for defending the then progressive nature of Morazan‘s policies); & Jose Cecilio del Valle (Choluteca-Honduras-born he wrote the 1821 Central American Declaration of Independence and was the first President of the United Provinces of Central America).

It remains unclear what Zelaya’s legacy will be, but it is far from obvious he belongs in this company; in fact, his political opponents probably consider the matter a joke that isn't all that funny. Though, for lack of a better category, this was placed here in "humor". By any objective measure Zelaya has but a handful of accomplishments, most of which were handled on credit and the country is now nearly bankrupt. While this statue collection may seem just “weird“ when viewed from afar, for many Hondurans it only reconfirms suspicions that Honduras was not the focus of his work, he was - and that he viewed himself far differently that his population or supporters did (no living Honduran of any fame has ever engaged in acts like this; such things are generally considered the job of historians 50 years later, not for-hire public relations people on the taxpayer's payroll). As an acting President, in any country, making statues of yourself might fall on the list of things, "what not to do...".