Honduras: pressure builds on coup regime as Mesoamerican summit opens

[Judi Lynn]

Honduras: pressure builds on coup regime as Mesoamerican summit opens
Submitted by WW4 Report on Thu, 07/30/2009 - 02:29. Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, hosting the 11th regional Tuxtla Group Summit in the Pacific coast resort of Tamarindo, called for "absolute ostracism" of the de facto government in Honduras until it accepts his proposed "San José Accord"—a compromise plan that entails returning the ousted president to power. Arias said the de facto regime "isn't convinced" and "hasn't yet recognized that President Zelaya should be reinstated." He said that "sanctions should continue to be applied."

Zelaya, camped out on Nicaragua's northern border, has been invited to the summit, but it is not known if he will attend. Among the presidents of the Central American nations, only Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega is not attending. The presidents of Mexico and Colombia are both in attendance.

Reflecting the sense of deja vu on the isthmus, Arias said, Arias said: "What is frustrating is to see how Latin America looks to be perpetually on the verge of development, trying to cross the threshold. Then it turns on its hinges like a revolving door to go return to the same place it was 10, 20 or 30 years ago." (Tico Times, Inside Costa Rica, AFP, AP, July 29)

Tide turning against coup regime?
The US July 28 revoked the diplomatic visas of four Hondurans now serving under Roberto Micheletti's de facto government. Arias said the move shows that Washington is willing to exert "strong pressure" to reach a settlement. (Bloomberg, July 29)

In a letter to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Honduras-operating companies Nike, Adidas and Gap called for "peaceful and democratic dialogue, in place of military action." While the letter stated the companies "do not support, have not suported, and will not support" any parties to the conflict, it did express support of US, UN, EU and OAS efforts to bring about the "restoration of democracy in Honduras." (Honduras Laboral, July 30, quotes retranslated from Spanish)

An earlier statement by industry groups only called for maintaining "stability" in Honduras.

Armed forces blink?
The Honduran armed forces have issued a statement agreeing not to block Arias' plan, and the National Congress has said it will study the terms. On the eve of last weekend's protests at the Nicaraguan border, armed forces chief Gen. Romeo Vásquez told Honduras' Radio Globo, one of the few media outlets critical of the coup: "We will not fire on our people." "The armed forces are not the ones responsible for this internal division," Vásquez said on the radio show, during which he also talked with Zelaya's wife Xiomara Castro, who remained in Honduras and has been prevented from reaching the border. (AFP, July 25) (Despite this assurance, there was in fact deadly repression at the protest.)

Micheletti blinks?
Micheletti, meanwhile, has remained utterly intransigent on Zelaya's return. In a guest editorial in the Wall Street Journal, he makes the same sort of noises—but slips in the possibility of accepting the San José Accord.

More:
http://ww4report.com/node/7636

[Judi Lynn]

1. Argentine FM calls for more international pressure on Honduras

Argentine FM calls for more international pressure on Honduras
2009-07-31 15:44:30

BUENOS AIRES, July 31 (Xinhua) -- The Argentine foreign minister on Thursday called for more international pressure on the Honduran de facto government to force it into a deal with ousted President Manuel Zelaya.

Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana, speaking at a conference of political parties from Latin America and the Asia-Pacific, said most Latin-American countries agree that more punitive steps should be taken against the post-coup government and that Zelaya must be returned to office.

Taiana reiterated that Argentina would continue to support Zelaya's reinstatement and the restitution of constitutional order in Honduras.

He said the Argentine government refuses to recognize any government formed through a coup.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-07/31/content_11804865.htm