Honduras: “What we got here is… failure to communicate.”
The line from Cool Hand Luke comes to mind when you read La Gringa’s post:
Shannon clarifies the Accord; Zelaya disputes it
In this CNN (Español) video from yesterday, November 3, you will hear US Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Shannon clarify that the restoration of Zelaya to the presidency is not guaranteed by the Guaymuras-Tegucigalpa-San José Accord and that it is a decision to be made by the Honduran National Congress. He states that installation of the National Unity Government is a separate matter from the restitution. He also states that the US and the OAS will accompany Honduras to their elections.
Shannon specifically denies the rumor that he pressured Zelaya to sign by saying that Zelaya’s son would be prosecuted on drug charges in the US.
Shannon also insists that both Micheletti and Zelaya agreed to abide by the Congress’ decision: “The future is in the hands of the Hondurans.”
The interview, in Spanish:
Zelaya in turn claims he must be reinstated, and sent a letter to Hillary Clinton asking to clarify.
La Gringa also has an article at Pajamas Media, Democracy Alliance in Honduras Declares OAS Chief ‘Persona Non Grata’
A blow against the Chavistas by a leading civic group that also wants to ban OAS observers from elections later this month.
In a noon press conference, a large Honduran civic group declared José Miguel Insulza, the secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS), persona non grata in Honduras.Armida López, the president of Alianza por Honduras en Paz y Democracia (Alliance for Honduras in Peace and Democracy), read the press release to the media.
Lopéz referred to Insulza’s interventionism in Honduras, his abusive comments in violation of the recent accord, and Chavez’s influence over Insulza. The APD press release asks the Honduran government not to allow Insulza in the country because he is not worthy of the position that he occupies. Additionally, it asks to not allow a general assembly of the OAS in Honduras since the OAS has chosen to remove Honduras from the organization — and has not invited the country to the meeting.
Additionally, the group asks the Honduran Supreme Electoral Court (TSE) to not permit OAS functionaries to serve as election observers because they do not believe that they are unbiased; the group accuses Insulza of being under the influence of Hugo Chavéz.
Again, as Shannon said in his interview, the Hondurans are taking things in their own hands.
I’ll be talking about this in today’s podcast at 11AM Eastern. You can listen to the archived podcasts at your convenience.
Related reading:
Honduras: Ousted Leader Questions U.S. Policy
Deal to restore Manuel Zelaya in Honduras at risk
Supporters of ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya say lawmakers are stalling efforts to bring him back to office before a Nov. 29 election.
UPDATE
Ed asks, Did Obama throw Zelaya under the bus?
Tags: Fausta's blog, Manuel Zelaya, Mel Zelaya, Roberto Micheletti
November 6th, 2009 at 8:59 am
I would love to have Insulza take a plane to Honduras and be denied entry. He is among the relatively few Unidad Popular diehards who never admitted the errors of President Allende.
(That the left has governed for two decades in Chile and has followed the Pinochet template of privatization, not Allende’s nationalization template, makes my point about “relatively few.” )
November 6th, 2009 at 9:11 am
Supporters of ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya say lawmakers are stalling efforts to bring him back to office before a Nov. 29 election.
From just looking at the headline,before reading the article, my reaction is that the Hondurans may be bullied, but they aren’t dumb. Crafty comes to mind.
November 6th, 2009 at 9:26 am
[...] LaGringa was in Pajamas Media the other day. I somehow had missed it, but Fausta had this link. Good for you LaGringa! Your writing is excellent and the information passed is [...]
November 6th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Hello, I was just referred to this blog by a friend a couple of days ago in San Pedro Sula. I am a Honduran, and yes: we are taking matters into our own hands, but Zelaya is not the only problem. As a matter of fact, he is not the problem anymore, we have more threats that we need to worry about, beginning with PEPE LOBO. This man not only studied in Russia and supported Mel’s “4ta urna”, but now he clearly has admitted to support the “Asamblea Contituyente” which is the reason why Mel was ousted in the first place. We need to OPEN OUR EYES and understand for whom we will be voting on November 29th. I’ve made up my mind that ELVIN SANTOS is not only the best candidate (both professionally and ethically wise), but is the only man who can guarantee Honduras a 4 year Presidential term (not one day more) with no “Constituyente” nor Comunism.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
I am so proud of the Honduran people. Their courage and determination is remarkable. Long live democracy and long live the Hondurans in freedom.