In 2009 the military overthrew the government of Honduras, removing democratically elected President Zelaya from his home at gunpoint and flying him out of the country. Chiquita Brands International Inc. (formerly United Fruit) and Dole Food Company have been implicated in sponsoring the coup in response to Zelaya’s plan to increase the minimum wage in Honduras by 60%, which they complained would cut into corporate profits.
The new military government was not recognized by most of the international community, while the US refused to call Zelaya’s overthrow a “coup”.
Within months, the IMF offered the military regime millions of dollars, with the regime committing to deep macroeconomic reforms, including privatization, social spending cuts, freezing pubic sector wages as well as mass layoffs, and pension reforms; all under the pretest of decreasing national debt. The reforms have worsened poverty and misery for the people of Honduras beyond measure.
Sound familiar?