Latin America and the Caribbean

* This version has been revised to reflect the 2003 repeal of Article 205(15) of the Honduran Constitution.  See endnote 44.  The author is indebted to Mr. Frank Walsh for bringing this oversight to his attention.

Introduction

Legal confusion has clouded the recent de facto change of government in Honduras. Some of this arises from the passionate political debate over President Manuel Zelaya and his de facto removal. Without entering that debate, this analysis addresses only questions of international law and related questions of law.

Presentación

El reciente cambio de facto de gobierno en Honduras se rodea por confusión jurídica. Algo de ella es consecuencia del debate político apasionado sobre el Presidente Manuel Zelaya y su destitución de facto. Sin entrar en ese debate, este análisis se dirige exclusivamente al derecho internacional y a las cuestiones jurídicas relacionadas.

Introduction

Legal confusion has clouded the recent de facto change of government in Honduras. Some of this arises from the passionate political debate over President Manuel Zelaya and his de facto removal. Without entering that debate, this analysis addresses only questions of international law and related questions of law.

1. Introduction

In a 94-page judgment issued October 8, 2007, the International Court of Justice (ICJ or Court) found unanimously that Honduras, not Nicaragua, has sovereignty over four disputed islands in the Caribbean Sea.

Update: The Mercosur Exemption Reversed – Conflict between WTO and Mercosur Rulings and Its Implications for Environmental Values (December 31, 2008)

On January 23, 2007, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rejected Uruguay's request for "provisional measures" against Argentina "a form of injunctive relief"aimed at putting an immediate end to blockades of bridges and roads connecting Argentina and Uruguay by Argentine citizens protesting the construction of a disputed pulp mill project on the Uruguayan side of the border. The project is the subject of the Pulp Mills Case (Argentina v.

On May 4, 2006, Argentina instituted proceedings before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against its neighbor Uruguay claiming that Uruguay has breached a bilateral treaty obligation to consult with Argentina before taking action on a pulp mill project affecting the River Uruguay, which partially constitutes the joint boundary of the two South American countries.