Wrong to recognize Honduras elections

The Honduran elections held by a coup government Nov. 29 were inherently flawed.

Tens of thousands of troops and police officers manned polling stations and even distributed electoral literature. These forces have been responsible for killings, rapes, beatings, and detentions of people opposed to the coup. Media reports cited many people who said they did not vote out of fear.

The U.S. government is wrong to recognize these elections as legitimate, and is alienating us from Brazil and other allies who see the elections as consolidating the success of a coup. Honduras needs new, free and fair, elections - not held under a coup government - to move forward and have a recognized government. Such elections would be overseen by independent electoral observers unlike those on Nov. 29 and would be recognized by the both the international community and the Honduran people.

David Corcoran

Des Plaines