Zelaya Wins, Honduras Loses (Updated Nov. 4)
Update No. 3, November 4
No decision yet, and it seems unlikely that Zelaya will be reinstated by his deadline, November 5
According to this article from a newspaper in Chile, OAS Secretary General Insulza stated that Zelaya must be reinstated. Insulza is quoted as saying:
“The only solution is to restore peace to the President (Manuel) Zelaya for the short time he has left in office.” He urged the Honduran Congress to “cease the rhetoric” and to get on with the reinstatement of Zelaya.
President Micheletti’s negotiating team has politely asked Insulza to butt out.
As noted in la Gringa’s blog:
Let’s just admit that the Guaymuras-Tegucigalpa-San José dialogues were a fraud. There is no “Honduran solution” to the Honduran problem. A Honduran solution will not be allowed and there is soon to be no Honduran sovereignty.
As I predicted, the development of a Honduran solution was only going to be allowed if the Honduran solution was the solution that the “international community” demanded.
Despite this rather pessimistic view, the National Congress has decided to wait to hear the views of the Supreme Court before deciding whether to reinstate Zelaya:
A board of 13 top lawmakers met and decided not to call a special session of Congress, currently in recess, until they receive non-binding opinions from the Supreme Court and the attorney general.
No timeline was established for a vote, throwing fresh uncertainty over the implementation of a U.S.-brokered deal signed last week to end the worst political upheaval in two decades in Central America.
Ricardo Lagos, one of the members of the Credentials Committee, is quoted as saying:
What we are trying to implement is an agreement that means that President Zelaya has to be returned to power and at the same time to make sure that the elections, the presidential elections, are going to be fulfilled in a democratic way on November 29.
That is not my understanding of the accord, as noted in the October 31 update to the article. According to the Panamanian newspaper la Prensa, only three of the thirteen-member group of congressional leaders voted to have the Congress decide immediately on Zelaya’s reinstatement. The three members also lost in their attempt to have a deadline set for the vote.
The Wall Street Journal reports that there may be no Congressional vote on Zelaya’s reinstatement until after the November 29 election, since the Congress is awaiting reports from Honduras’s Supreme Court, attorney general’s office and other institutions, and has set no deadline for when the reports must be received:
Even if Mr. Zelaya pulls out of the U.S.-brokered deal, the interim government appears to have the upper hand. In announcing the deal, the U.S. made clear that it would respect any decision by the Honduran Congress, and would recognize the November elections even if Congress blocks Mr. Zelaya’s return.
That may cause some friction with other countries in Latin America. Since the signing of the agreement, the Organization of American States and some Latin American countries have appeared to condition their support of the Honduran election on Mr. Zelaya’s return to power.
…
While many interpreted the deal last week as a sign Mr. Zelaya would return to power, Honduran politicians appear in no mood to change their vote from June 28, when they overwhelmingly voted to replace the president. With the election little more than three weeks away, analysts say neither side wants to risk losing votes by reinstalling a controversial president.
“Zelaya is the kiss of death,” says Miguel Angel Calix, a Honduran political analyst.
Honduras’s rival political factions disagree on what the deal was meant to achieve. Mr. Zelaya says he will consider the deal broken if he isn’t reinstated by Thursday. But the agreement itself offers no guarantee of reinstatement.
Things seem likely to become more contentious over the next few days.
Update No. 2, November 2
Although former Honduran President Zelaya has stated flatly that the purpose of the accord is his reinstatement as president, and that if it does not occur by November 5 the accord will have been violated, an article in the Honduran daily newspaper el Heraldo today stated (Google translation):
The Secretary of Political Affairs of the Organization of American States (OAS), Victor Rico, flatly told The Associated Press that “there is no deadline to restore power to Zelaya.”
He said that “according to concerted negotiations to resolve the political crisis in Honduras, there is no deadline for Zelaya to return the office because Congress is the only institution empowered to [make that] that determination.”
He stressed that “Congress is sovereign, and neither the OAS nor anyone else, [including] someone from outside of Honduras, can impose a time limit on Members, who will analyze and evaluate the matter as they have because that is not stipulated in the Agreement itself.”
Mr. Rico is a citizen of Bolivia. In May of 2009, he was appointed as the OAS Secretary for Political Affairs.
According to the same newspaper, the U.S. Consulate in Honduras has resumed the issuance of visas, and the president of the Supreme Audit Court (TSC), Renan Sagastume, has stated that criminal proceedings against Zelaya for both political and criminal crimes will resume as soon as a decision is made concerning his reinstatement. However, he stated that “[If] Mr. Zelaya is restored or not restored, does not matter because it is the fulfillment of our duties and no government body that we could prevent the Court to continue its work.”
According to another Honduran newspaper, la Tribuna, the National Resistance movement has stated that its boycott of the November elections and the distribution of propaganda will continue until Mr. Zelaya is reinstated.
La Gringa’s Blog provides an informative update as of November 1, and cites several news reports to the effect that Mr. Shannon secured Zelaya’s agreement to the accord by threatening that otherwise Mr. Zelaya’s son, presently in the United States, would be prosecuted for drug trafficking. She states that:
Zelaya has already made it crystal clear that he has no intention of abiding by the Guaymuras Accord unless it results in his restitution to office. As a result, despite the agreement, nothing has really changed. In or out of office, Zelaya will continue to try to destabilize the country with the help of his followers.
Zelaya continues to maintain that “If the coup d’état is not reversed, then the accord is going to break down, the accord would be null and the accord logically would be an absurdity” and that his reinstatement must be accomplished by November 5, the date for the establishment of the Government of Unity and National Reconciliation.
Update No. 1, October 31
The Republic of Panama has reestablished diplomatic relations with Honduras and will provide observers for the upcoming elections.
A Google translation of the text of the accord is available courtesy of el Tiempo, a Honduran daily newspaper.
Much of the accord is flowery boilerplate language and much is ambiguous. Three sections in particular bother me because they are too ambiguous for me to understand.
According to Section 5:
To achieve reconciliation and strengthening democracy in the spirit of the themes of the proposed San Jose Accord, both negotiating committees have decided, respectfully, that the National Congress as an institutional expression of popular sovereignty, using its powers, in consultation with relevant bodies to consider as the Supreme Court and in accordance with law, resolve as appropriate in respect of “to roll back the ownership of the executive branch to its status prior to 28 June until the end of the current governmental period on 27 January 2010.”(emphasis added)
The decision to accept the Congress should provide the basis for achieving social peace, political peace and governance demanded by society and the country needs.
This may mean that the Congress has plenary power to decide on Zelaya’s reinstatement, “as appropriate,” in consultation with the Supreme Court and on the basis of the Honduran law and Constitution. Or, it may mean that it can “roll back” things to the status quo ante as of July 28, the day when Zelaya was flown out of the country, and if he was not, in fact, the president as of that June 28, then it can’t roll things back to a prior date when he was. There is no deadline for the Congress to act, and I understand that it is in recess until after the November 29 elections; it may, of course, be called back for a special session.
There is a question whether Zelaya was still the president on July 28.
Article 239 [of the Honduran Constitution] specifically states that any president who so much as proposes the permissibility of reelection “shall cease forthwith” in his duties, and Article 4 provides that any “infraction” of the succession rules constitutes treason. The rules are so tight because these are terribly serious issues for Honduras, which lived under decades of military rule.
It would certainly be reasonable to contend that Zelaya had “immediately” forfeited the presidency no later than:
On June 25 — three days before he was ousted — [when] Zelaya personally gathered a group of “supporters” and led it to seize the ballots, restating his intent to conduct the “survey” on June 28. That was the breaking point for the attorney general, who immediately sought a warrant from the Supreme Court for Zelaya’s arrest on charges of treason, abuse of authority and other crimes. In response, the court ordered Zelaya’s arrest by the country’s army, which under Article 272 must enforce compliance with the Constitution, particularly with respect to presidential succession.
If the Supreme Court advises the Congress that Zelaya had ceased to be the president on or before June 25, and the Congress agrees to “roll back” the situation to June 28, then he could not only be denied reinstatement, he could be arrested and tried for treason.
My guess is that the Congress will do whatever it wishes, and that the Supreme Court’s opinion on the matter will not be considered binding. Section 5 is arguably subject to that interpretation.
Section 8 is also troubling. It provides:
Any differences in interpretation or application of this Agreement will be submitted to the Credentials Committee, shall determine, in keeping with the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Honduras and current legislation and by an authentic interpretation of this Agreement, the solution appropriate.
Taking into account this Agreement is the product of understanding and brotherhood among Hondurans, strongly request the international community to respect the sovereignty of the Republic of Honduras, and fully observe the principle enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations not interference in the internal affairs of other States.
Under Section 6:
The commission shall consist of two members of the international community and two members of the national community, the latter shall be chosen one by each of the parties.
The Credentials Committee will be responsible for attesting to the strict compliance with all points of this agreement and will receive for it the full cooperation of the Honduran public institutions.
The representatives of the “international community” seem likely to continue to side with Zelaya, and it seems likely that at least one of the remaining two members of the Credentials Committee will also side with Zelaya — even though they are required to act “in keeping with the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Honduras and current legislation.”
Section 1 of the accord establishes a “Government of Unity and National Reconciliation,” no later than November 5 (per Section 9). Its function is:
To achieve reconciliation and strengthen democracy under a Government of Unity and National Reconciliation, composed of representatives of various political parties and social organizations, recognized for their ability, honesty, competence and willingness to talk, who will occupy the various secretaries and deputy secretaries, and other state agencies in accordance with article 246 and following of the Constitution of the Republic of Honduras.
Article 246 provides:
The Secretaries of State are organs of the general administration of the country, and depends directly on the President of the Republic.
The Law will determine their number, organization, competence and operation, as well as the organization, competence and operation , as well as the organization, competition and functioning of the Council of Ministers.
It will be interesting to see how the members of the Unity Government are selected and who will be the president of the republic upon whom they are to “depend.” Unity governments are unusual in a country with three branches of government, where the president has specified powers, the Supreme Court has specified powers, and the Congress has specified powers. Honduras, unlike Britain for example, does not have a prime minister who can preside over a coalition government (cabinet) until he forfeits his coalition and it becomes necessary to declare an election which may result in a new coalition.
On other points, the accord seems to be reasonably clear. The parties have agreed that there will be no further efforts to amend the Constitution impermissibly (Section 2), as Zelaya did in the month or so preceding his ouster.
A “Truth Commission” will be established to determine what caused the disputes leading to Zelaya’s ouster and to suggest ways to prevent any recurrence. Perhaps somewhat ambiguously, the accord states that “the next government, as part of a national consensus, constitutes the Truth Commission in the first half of 2010.” My take is that this is basically a cosmetic thing; the next government will select the members of the commission following the inauguration of the new president in January. It will probably have little if any practical significance, other than perhaps to try to put the actions of the pro and anti Zelaya groups in the best possible light in order to encourage Honduras to move forward.
My sense is that getting on with their lives is the goal of most Hondurans, and if the Truth Commission contributes to the process, good. Unfortunately, there are some in Honduras who want to keep up the “resistance,” and whatever the Commission says may wind up being contentious.
Still, the Truth Commission is several months away and if things move along peacefully through the end of this year,
Here is an interesting perspective on what’s going to happen. The upshot is, “one never knows what surprises are in store.” That’s clearly true in the present context.
——–
October 30
In its continuing efforts to denigrate constitutional government and the rule of law, the State Department — represented by Mr. Thomas Shannon, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs — has forced an agreement on the Honduran government which may or may not result in reinstatement of former President Manuel Zelaya.
Although the formal text of the agreement has not been released, it appears clear that the question of his reinstatement will be submitted to the Honduran Congress and that the Honduran Supreme Court will have a voice in the matter. According to Fausta’s Blog, the eight points of agreement (her translation) are:
1. The creation of a reconciliation government.
2. Rejection of political amnesty.
3. Recognition of the November 29 elections.
4. Transferring control of the Armed Forces from the Executive to the Supreme Electoral Tribunal.
5. Creating a verification commission to enforce compliance with the agreement.
6. Creating a truth commission to investigate the events before, during, and after June 28, the date of Zelaya’s removal.
7. Requesting that the international community end all sanctions against Honduras and that they send in observers to the presidential election.
8. Supporting the proposal for a vote of the National Congress with the approval of the Supreme Court of Justice to reinstate all the Executive Power prior to June 28, that is, restoring Zelaya to power.
Four points remain to be considered, possibly on October 31.
The eighth point is the major point agreed upon, but it is unclear when or under what constraints the National Congress will vote. The lack of clarity will continue at least until the official text is released. Based on the unofficial translation provided above, Zelaya’s people and the Honduran government are to “support” a vote at the Congress “to reinstate” Zelaya — as distinguished from “on whether to reinstate Zelaya.” Does this mean that they are all required to “support” a vote in favor of Zelaya’s reinstatement or just to support having the Congress vote? There seems to be even less clarity on whether they are to “support” Supreme Court approval of reinstatement should the Congress vote for it and whether the Supreme Court or the Congress is to have the first say.
Here is a slightly modified Google translation of a statement by President Roberto Micheletti, with the Spanish text included in italics. The Google translation had to be modified slightly because it was in a few respects incorrect or less clear than the Spanish text:
“My government has decided to support a proposal to allow a vote in Congress with a prior opinion of the Supreme Court,” the president said.
“Ya no hay problema porque hemos decidido que si procede o no (la restitución) lo debe decidir una institución competente del país; nosotros decíamos la Corte, ellos el Congreso; ahora le aceptamos: bien, vamos al Congreso,” manifestó Arturo Corrales, miembro del equipo de Micheletti.
“Now, there is no problem because we have decided that whether or not there should be a reinstatement must be decided by a competent institution of the country. The Court will tell us, as well as the Congress. Now we accept; fine, let’s go to the Congress,” said Arturo Corrales, Micheletti team member.
“No obstante, las instituciones del Estado, incluida la Corte, harán sus informes previos al Congreso,” precisó.
“Nevertheless, state institutions, including the Court, will make their previous reports to Congress,” he said.
This suggests that the Congress will act after the Supreme Court gives approval. It also suggest that whether Zelaya is to be reinstated will be up to the Congress, probably subject to whatever the Supreme Court may have said. President Micheletti’s understanding of the accord may be different in significant respects from Mr. Zelaya’s.
It appears the Obama administration does not approve of compliance with national constitutions.
Constitution? What’s that?
There is lots happening, and the Spanish language text of the accord is now available. I am trying to understand it, and hope to have an update up tomorrow.
Here is a Wall Street Journal editorial entitled Honduras 1, Hillary 0. At the moment, it seems pretty much on the money. I hope it is correct.
it is a sad turn of events.
Honduras has been Obamaboozled.
If obama can get a dictator in honduras reinstated then we should all expect for him to claim that as one of his big jobs down.
The fact that the honduras constitution is very very clear cut in what a power hungry nut like Zelaya can do to get himself the boot… and for someone who is supposedly a US constitutional “scholar”(aka obama) doesn’t understand even the most basic ideas behind constitutional law shows that in fact he doesn’t believe in constitutional law and never has…
1. ITF: “It appears the Obama administration does not approve of compliance with national constitutions.”
Nope. It just disapproves of military coups ousting democratically elected leaders.
Contitution!!! We don need no steenken constitution!!!
After all, they’re “just words”, which is what all the law schools teach now. It means whatever you can get a friendly judge to say it is.
Look for a similar push to repeal the amendment limiting the president to two terms here in the very near future.
What has happened in Honduras can have a positive effect on those of us who live here, and on the United States government. If there is a complete investigation into the part the Obama Administration played in the Zelaya coupe. I suggest that the Obama administration be asked these and many other questions
1. What did Obama and Hillary know, and when did they know it?
2. Did they know that Zelaya has been involved with Chavez in smuggling drugs through Honduras?
3. What is Obama’s connection to Hugo Chavez?
4. Why did Ambassador Hugo Llorens quickly side with Castro, Chavez, Ortega, etc. against the constitution and the rule of law in Honduras without a complete investigation?
Only time will tell if Honduras will be handed to Hugo Chavez. If Zelaya is restored as President, i believe that the worse is yet to come, and we are seeing a preview of Obama’s plan for the US. Will those who love freedom in America call for a complete investigation into the Zelaya coupe?
Viva Honduras!!!
Boo! Honduras wusses out!
The Honduran Supreme Court ought to do everyone a favor and remind them all of the rule of law by refusing to go along with this farce.
And if the Honduran Congress were to vote on the matter regardless, they too should, once again, unanimously reaffirm their prior action, refusing to let this bum anywhere near the capital.
Dan,
Thanks for keeping us, who live in the beautiful country of Honduras, and the world informed about what is happening here.
I read some place many years ago that, “The only reason that there has not been a communist coup, in the United States, is because we do not have an ambassy there.”
Viva Honduras!!!
I hang my head in shame that my country has decided to ignore the rights of another country’s democracy. Obama and Chevez have decided that Honduras – and then the US – will all become socialist banana republics – George Washinton is spinning in his grave. I fear for the future of my 1 and 3 year old grandsons. How did we lose our freedoms so easily?
You have to hope the November election is recognized and obliged.
Either way, Zelaya is out.
I feel for the Honduran people. Making strides towards a Democracy and this turd slithers back in. Hopefully for but a few weeks(I know. ‘Don’t be so gullible McFly’).
zelaya will not be reinstated. the US state department is not that stupid, and has been stalling for time as well as the hondurans.
this is a very nice face saving move for all concerned, and life will be good. elections will be held and the whole mess will be rapidly forgotten.
even obama does not want the real nut case in havana to extend his influence.
It really looks like this is a win for Honduras. From what I can tell, all Zelaya gets is the right to ask to be reinstated. This is unlikely since the Surpreme Court has twice said no and Congress voted to depose him in the first place. This would allow Honduras to end the sanctions the U.S. and other countries placed on them and they would have their upcoming elections recognized.
What this really represents is a face-saving exit for Clinton and the Obama administration who boxed themselves in early in this controversy by relflexively taking the wrong side.
Viva Honduras!
I’ve been posting here for awhile and to be honest I’m shocked. I’ve seen utter ridiculousness far too often here yet this one is off the charts.
You support the overthrow of democratically elected leaders by the military?
Wow.
My, how the left loves slavery and tyrants.
Orwell’s nightmare was of a “boot stamping on a human face – forever.”
That’s biblio’s wet dream.
It boggles the mind. Its as if the world’s gone crazy. A decent enough nation deposes a leader on the grounds he was using illegal methods to extend his power. And now it looks like we’ve nearly bludgeoned them to accept their wannabee dictator…
15. 48 Laws of Power:zelaya will not be reinstated. the US state department is not that stupid, and has been stalling for time as well as the hondurans.
I hope the Hondurans can refuse this ‘deal’ but I don’t share your faith that the State Department is secretly sabotaging its own stated goals.
Perhaps we see the future plans for our country from the Won.
To 17. jharp
I assume your talking about obama supporting having chavez and other militaries overthrow the legally elected government of Honduras…
“the US state department is not that stupid”
Don’t count on it.
To 21. robotech master
Don’t take the troll’s bait. You can’t argue with someone who insists on calling the sky green. The fact the military was following the orders of the legally elected government to protect it’s constitution is not part of the official talking points and therefore, has never entered the troll’s train of thought.
Unless you enjoy endlessly repeating “It’s blue!” to his “It’s green”… Well, ok, sometimes that is funny for awhile.
jharp:
The problems is when lefties get legitimately elected, some then try to dismantle the very system they used to get elected. Think Zelaya, Chavez and Allende. In the case of Zelaya and Allende, a military overthrow was neccessary to ultimately restore democracy. Maybe the same will happen to Chavez.
Remember, Hitler too was democratically elected.
Democracy is more than one man, one vote, one time.
29 de noviembre!
“Nope. It just disapproves of military coups ousting democratically elected leaders.”
In Constitutional Republics, the Constitution is the supreme law of the land. Even elected Presidents are not above the law, and can be removed (impeached) for cause. In Constitutional Republics, we do not elect kings, emperors, sultans, fuhrers or grand kommissars.
Zelaya was removed from office in accordance with the Honduran Constitution, by action of the Honduran legislature and with concurrence by the Honduran Supreme Court. It was the equivalent of our Constitutional Impeachment for High Crimes and Misdemeanors.
The Administration’s interference, in this fashion, in the internal affairs of a foreign nation, is an act of subversion, and tantamount to an act of war.
There is another subversive waiting in the wings – he should realize there is no power on earth big enough to protect him if he tries to emulate Zelaya’s attempt to nullify Honduras’ Constitution.
Obama and Hillary supporting Zelaya! Is this what Rahm meant when he said to never let a good crisis go to waste? Poor Honduras, they can’t expect any help from us. What a disgrace that we have come to this.
Obama and Hillary supporting Zelaya! Is this what Rahm meant when he said to never let a good crisis go to waste? Poor Honduras, they can’t expect any help from us. What a disgrace that we have come to this.
The WSJ take.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703399204574505541545624488.html
The answer to all the questions about Obama rolled into one incident from a third world.
Obama will attempt to change the constitution of the US ala Chavez.
Obama has already placed 30% of the US private economy into his (gov) hands , ala Chavez next is the health bill, next cap and trade and finally, he will win 99,75 % of all votes ala Castro.
Thank you all who voted for your dictator just to be cool and part of history. Idiots.
From a Russian point of veiw: After we get what we want, those who helped us get there, will be placed under the boot.
Honduras I pray for you. You fought bravely.
The murder and kidnapping of family members of the current government might have changed a few minds.
7. bibio44:
“… (The Obama administration”) … disapproves of military coups ousting democratically elected leaders.”
1. There was no “military coup.” There was the to-the-letter observance of the Law and the removal from (the physical) office of the criminal usurper of the elected office.”
And the president has yet to meet another lying, looting, thieving, fiat-ruling ratbag basta*d dictator he didn’t love.
Or an American tradition, institution, Law, Constitutional-protection and/or individual he didn’t despise.
15. 48 Laws of Power:
“” … zelaya will not be reinstated. the US state department is not that stupid … “”
The for-decades-now self-anointing, self-appointing and self-perpetuating basta*d-offspring of the Soviet-agents, Alger Hiss et al-descended “US” state-department brahmanas and its carefully-cloned for-its-uniform-mean-spirited-stupidity so-called Foreign(er) Service(rs) — are not only that stupid, they’re that evil!
America has no more efficacious nor enduring enemy than that headquartered at foggy bottom.
15. 48 Laws of Power:
“” … zelaya will not be reinstated. the US state department is not that stupid … “”
The for-decades-now self-anointing, self-appointing and self-perpetuating basta*d-offspring of the Soviet-agents, Alger Hiss et al-descended “US” state-department brahmanas and its carefully-cloned for-its-uniform-mean-spirited-stupidity so-called Foreign(er) Service(rs) — are not only that stupid, they’re that evil!
America has no more efficacious nor enduring enemy than that headquartered at foggy bottom.
I’m sure this is just a play for time. In four weeks, there will be an election, and Zelaya’s name is not on the ballot. Once that election happens, this whole controversy is moot. And yes, jharp, I do believe in the military acting to overthrow a democratically elected President if he proceeds to make himself into a domestic enemy of the Constitution by attempting to subvert its restrictions on his power. That is the military’s job- protect the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic- no distinction is made between foreign invaders, insurrection or usurpation of the Presidency, all these actions make one an enemy of the Constitution, and it is the DUTY of the military to neutralize that threat by whatever means necessary.
I sent in an update earlier, but in the meantime here is an interesting view from a blogger in Venezuela.
I am in favour of those governments who concluded that Zelaya should be re-elected (even though the Honduran constitution only allows for one term) that they be replaced by governments in exile.
Between their malfeasance and http://guidoromero.wordpress.com/2009/10/26/backdoor-taxes-hit-americans-with-public-financing-in-the-dark/ they have as much credibility as a terminally ill patient is prepared to run a triathlon in world record time.
quote:
” jharp:
I’ve been posting here for awhile and to be honest I’m shocked. I’ve seen utter ridiculousness far too often here yet this one is off the charts.
You support the overthrow of democratically elected leaders by the military?
Wow.”
What’s ridiculous is the obvious inability (or laziness) of some to read and comprehend a fairly simple document such as the Honduran Constitution.
What is obvious is how leftist take positions based not on any assessment of actual facts but based purely on ideological agendas.
You last sentence is a total fabrication which you must regurgitate to promote your false propaganda.
Here is a link to an article by la Gringa, in Honduras, suggesting that Zelaya and his merry band are likely to attempt quite a bit of mischief if he is not reinstated very quickly. Here is her translation of an article reporting some of Zelaya’s comments made shortly after the accord was signed:
****
“Zelaya noted that the timetable for implementation of the agreements provides that a government of national unity and reconciliation should be installed by November 5th.
“In his view, Congress should have resolved his reinstatement in office by that date, because according to him, ‘this agreement, this dialogue, the resolutions of the OAS and United Nations have only one purpose: to reverse the coup by placing the president who was in office illegally dismissed rightful.’
“‘If the National Congress in the session you have, is going to reaffirm that what they did was appropriate, then, gentlemen, we have done absolutely nothing but deceived the international community and the Honduran people with this agreement,’ he said.
“‘I remind members of the Supreme Court that they themselves are accused before the International Criminal Court and have a pending indictment and it is an accusation which will run its course. The same is being processed for the state attorney general, the heads of the Armed Forces, Mr. Micheletti, with all ministers and their own national congressional directive,’ he recalled.
“Additionally, his latest right-hand man Rasel Tomé, who has an arrest warrant waiting for him when he leaves the embassy, has urged Zelaya’s followers to pressure congressmen by calling and posting themselves at the congressmen’s homes.”
****
Things may get messy very quickly.
On a positive note, this time the military can just take him at the airport and put a .38 behind his ear. That would put a stop to any comeback. The rst of the world would raise ‘ell, but within 30 days they ( the media ) would forget about it.
If Zelaya refuses to obey the law, his opponents are under no obligation to obey it either. Law applies to all parties, or it isn’t the law, just dictates from a dictator.
Then new elections can be held and the good citizens of Honduras can choose. If they have any sense, that election will be held with ballots, not bullets. Of course, if they are looking for a lasting result, bullets are the way to go.
Remember Ayers plan to making Socialism permanent in the USA involves 100 million Americans being “re-educated” and the hard core capitalist ( about 25 million by Ayers estimate) being executed.
Ayers is welcome to try, but that is a different topic.
It now appears that the Honduran Congress will consider the accord beginning on Tuesday, November 3. Monday is a holiday, and the members are scattered about the country campaigning for their own reelections.
Assuming that the Congress begins to consider the matter on Tuesday, it will probably take some time; the Supreme Court has to make its position known, and that is unlikely to happen immediately. The debate in the Congress seems likely to be rather contentious. Nevertheless, Zelaya is demanding that he be reinstated by Thursday, November 5.
New elections in Honduras will be a welcome change.
However, please do not allow Carter to sanction the process. We saw how this worked in Vzla.
Out of the goodness of my heart, i offer to help the Zelaya camp. I suggest that someone in the room with him tear a hole in the tin foil window covering, just large enough for the mind altering rays to get through. It should not be too difficult to connect. He has a very large head, although his brain seems to be rather tiny. Any alteration to his mind, would be an improvement.
It may even be possible for an outsider to enter the room, and do the good deed. Just go to the door and say something like, “i am from the UN, US State Dept., OAS, or EU and i am here to help”. That should get you a pass.
Viva Honduras!!!
Here is a fascinating statement of the pro-Zelaya position.
It has been reported that U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and ex-President Ricardo Lagos of Chile will arrive in Honduras on Tuesday, November 3, and will be two of the four members of the “commission tasked with monitoring the creation of a power-sharing government in Honduras.” The remaining two members will be selected by the two major Honduran political parties.
Secretary Solis has a reputation as an environmental and labor activist, and has supported “card check” legislation among other things. As a legislator she received substantial labor contributions. She is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and “rated a lifetime “liberal quotient” of 99 percent” from the Americans for Democratic Action. She is considered a close ally of House Speaker Pelosi. She was sworn in as Labor Secretary on February 24, 2009.
Former President Lagos was a leader of the Socialist Party of Chile. In 2007, he was appointed by U.N. Secretary Ban K-Moon to the post of Special Envoy on Climate Change. “A moderate Socialist who “described himself as ‘an independent of the left,’. . . Lagos received a law degree from the University of Chile and a doctorate in economics from Duke University in North Carolina.” According to this, he is “a left-wing anti-American socialist whose hero is Salvador Allende, who almost turned Chile over to the Soviets, and a great friend of Hugo Chavez.” I have no idea whether this is correct.
In any event, these two members of the Commission do not seem to portend well for the restoration of Constitutional government in Honduras.
Meanwhile, the Sandinistas are circumventing the rule of law in Nicaragua in order to make Ortega President for Life–and Obama’s Washington barely takes notice.
But the prolog to this potential national tragedy was written by the smug feckless Bush/Rove/DeLay/Lott government.
Dan,
I read this article yesterday. It was a sickening experience. A sad day for democracy – a shameful day for America
Wanted: caption for this photo of Shannon and Zelaya. Shall we dance comes to mind.
Preperation by obammy mammy for when he is impeached, tried, convicted of high treason and then calls the un in to overthrow the United States.
There is no other explanation, none.
Prepare for the revolution of the retaking of America.
Another job “saved” by Obama!!!
Yes, there will be hell to pay soon. the only part of our country that I doubt is the NE. The rest would fight to the bitter end. The NE will want to know where the welfare checks are.
Where is the Obana-Hillary outrage over Daniel Ortega’s tyranny in Nicaragua? With the US embassy there under seige, and the US ambassador on the run from the sandinistas, after the Supreme Court declared their constitution to be unconstitutional.
Who can explain the US State Department’s different reactions to Honduras and Nicaragua? Could it be possible that it is because Honduras is fighting for freedom and democracy, while the child rapist Ortega is tightening his communist grip on the good people of Nicaragua? When will Hillary’s smart deplomacy kick into action? I predict the 12th. of never.
ok, so perhaps the state department is stupid, and evil and corrupt.
i agree, we are finished, screwed, done, stick a fork in all of us. but i cant help it, as an eternal optimist, i see the glass as half full in the “agreement”, and do not see a path to zelayas return to power. it is a transparent way to run out the clock, hold new elections without the “funny” ballots.
as for ortega? he is simply a thug, a drug lord, and will have the life span of a hunted criminal if he doesnt correct his evil ways soon. he is pushing the limits people are willing to tolerate and will fall to the same sword he used to get into power……….
Former President Zelaya is reported to have sent a letter to Secretary Clinton, requesting a “clarification” of the U.S. position on the “coup” and the meaning of the accord. Zelaya apparently noticed that Mr. Shannon, in a press conference on November 2 (after the signing of the accord), had said that Zelaya’s reinstatement is up to the Honduran Congress, in consultation with the Supreme Court, and that the U.S. will recognize the November 29 election regardless of whether Zelaya is reinstated. The position taken by Zelaya, that the accord requires his reinstatement, is inconsistent with that of Mr. Shannon.
Here is a link to an interview with Mr. Shannon on November 3. It is in Spanish. It seems quite clear that, under Mr. Shannon’s interpretation of the accord, it is up to the Congress whether Mr. Zelaya is to be reinstated.
U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and former Chilean President Ricardo Lagos arrived today in Honduras. They stated,
“I hope we can put all our efforts into moving forward the accord that was signed by the Hondurans,” Lagos said in brief remarks to reporters.
“You have designed a clear road and we’re very honored to be able to play the role of verifiers,” he added.
Meanwhile, Solis said that she felt “very proud” to be in Honduras representing President Barack Obama, who “is very focused on this matter.”
“I want to work with you and see where and how we can find a solution,” she emphasized.
“Clear road”? President Obama “very focused” on the situation? That’s cool.
Zelaya gets reinstated and he is just gonna shoot all those that kicked him out. or they will meet with unfortunate accidents as all the PC crowd would say. why would they let the military carry out the wishes of a democratic elected congress?
Here is a perceptive take on Zelaya’s recent letter to Secretary Clinton about Mr. Shannon’s press conference as well as on the Solis – Reina joint press conference. La Gringa notes that
the Verification Commission press conference was used to spread propaganda by Jorge Arturo Reina who gave a completely inappropriate and divisive speech, to the shock of many. US Secretary of Labor Hilda Solís was sitting next to him and a couple of times appeared very uncomfortable with his vitriolic rhetoric.
She continues,
I think that it is telling that Zelaya chose a representative to the Verification Commission who was not on his original negotiation team, unlike Micheletti. I have not heard any statements by Zelaya’s three Guaymuras negotiators disputing the interpretation of Micheletti’s negotiators that the National Congress is free to decide the issue.
I think she is right.
Isn’t it hilarious that the only place Obama can influence is the law-abiding democracy acting in a reasonable manner? And even more so that his influence is entirely negative?
Worst. President. Ever.
We’re a bunch of volunteers and opening a brand new scheme in our community. Your site offered us with valuable information to paintings on. You’ve done an impressive task and our entire neighborhood will be grateful to you.