Mel Zelaya and Thomas Shannon in the tin-foil-lined room
Zelaya Says Honduras Deal Is Off, as Election Nears
Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya on Friday pulled out of an agreement that was supposed to solve the country’s political crisis, leaving the next moves to voters in a presidential election on Nov. 29 — and to Latin American leaders who will have to decide whether to accept the winner.
“This deal is dead. The other side has failed to uphold their end,” said Mr. Zelaya in a radio interview Friday. His move followed the Honduran Congress’s failure to vote this week on reinstating him.
The US’s reaction is important:
After Mr. Zelaya’s statement Friday, a U.S. State Department spokesman said the U.S. didn’t consider the agreement to be dead. “Both sides need to return to the table and negotiate the formation of a national unity government,” the spokesman said.
In case there’s any doubt,
Mr. Zelaya made his intention to withdraw from the agreement obvious late Thursday when he didn’t submit a list of candidates for a unity government. Earlier, Mr. Micheletti’s cabinet ministers had tendered their resignations to pave the way for the new government. On Friday morning, U.S. diplomats made a last-ditch, failed attempt to get Mr. Zelaya to submit names, according to a person close to the negotiations
Of course Zelaya didn’t submit a list of candidates: He insists on being reinstated. Why should he stoop to supporting anyone else?
The dishonorable man won’t keep his word, and from the tin-foil lined room where he stays with his teddy bear declared that the Honduran people have much to thank Hugo Chávez for.
The Honduran Congress and the government are standing up for the rule of law. Good for them.
(thanks to Dick for the link)
Zelaya and his advisors should have spent less time worrying about the fine print and concentrated on the plain text of the agreement. Buyer’s remorse!