Taiwan Today

Minister of Foreign Affairs Timothy Yang confirmed Sept. 29 that the Republic of China embassy in Honduras had provided temporary political asylum to the youngest daughter of ousted Honduran President Jose Manuel Zelaya Rosales. The embassy’s decision to grant asylum to Zelaya’s daughter, who was seven months pregnant at the time, and her 5-year-old child on June 28 was made “out of humanitarian considerations,” Yang explained. The incident happened on the same day that Zelaya was overthrown in a coup and forced out of the country. Yang said the embassy accepted the daughter’s request for asylum based on the fact that she was not directly involved in politics. Asked whether the decision would entangle Taiwan in the political upheaval in Honduras, Yang said “not at all,” explaining that the embassy immediately informed high-level officials of the move and gained their understanding for the embassy’s decision. According to reports, following the president’s forcible deportation, several members of Zelaya’s family, including his mother and wife, sought asylum at various embassies, including those of Mexico, Venezuela and several Central American nations. The reports said that Lai Chien-chung, the ROC’s ambassador to Honduras, agreed to the request by Zelaya’s daughter on humanitarian grounds after consulting with Taipei. However, the embassy denied asylum to the president’s wife as Taiwan’s government wanted to avoid becoming embroiled in the political standoff. Following Zelaya’s ouster, President Ma Ying-jeou, who was on an official visit to Panama to attend the inauguration of President Ricardo Martinelli, joined the international chorus of condemnation by making statements against the coup. Zelaya’s daughter and her child remained at the ROC embassy until July 10, according to Yang. (SB)