Background
The surname 'Zelaya' is a word from the Basque language, meaning 'field.' Zelaya was born the first of four children in Juticalpa, Olancho. Two of his brothers remain alive: one is Carlos Armando and the other is Marco Antonio. Zelaya's mother, Ortensia Rosales de Zelaya, has been described as his best campaigner. His family first lived in Copán, then they moved east to Catacamas, Olancho.
He attended Niño Jesús de Praga y Luis Landa elementary school and the Instituto Salesiano San Miguel. He studied civil engineering in The National University of Honduras (UNAH), but left after four years with 11 courses completed, in order to engage fully in the agri-forestry business sector. He has engaged in various business activities, specifically timber and cattle, which were handed down to him by his late father. He is now a landowner in the department of Olancho. In 1987, Zelaya became manager of the Honduran Council of Private Enterprise (COHEP), as well as the National Association of Wood Processing Enterprises. The COHEP occupies a particularly important role in Honduran politics, as the Constitution delineates that the organization elects 1 of the 7 members of the Nominating Board that proposes members of the Supreme Court of Honduras.
Zelaya's father was given a 20 year prison sentence for his role in the Los Horcones massacre, which took place in the Zelaya family ranch Los Horcones in 1975, but, as a result of an amnesty decree, served less than two.
Since January 1976, Zelaya has been married to Xiomara Castro de Zelaya. They have four children: Zoe, Héctor Manuel, Xiomara Hortensia ("La Pichu") and José Manuel.
Read more about this topic: Manuel Zelaya
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