Deal or no deal in Honduras (Guardian)

[struggle4progress]

After brokering Manuel Zelaya's return to power in Honduras, the US must force the coup government to honour the agreement
Mark Weisbrot
Wednesday 4 November 2009 21.30 GMT

... the ink was barely dry on the accord when leaders of the coup regime indicated that they had no intention of honouring it. Some of them clearly saw the agreement as just another delaying tactic. They have talked of postponing congressional approval of the accord until after the 29 November elections, or even voting not to restore Zelaya.

If the Honduran congress delays or rejects the restoration of Zelaya, it will violate the clear intent of the accord. The agreement states: "The decision the national congress adopts should establish a basis for achieving the social peace, political tranquility and democratic governability the society requires and the country needs." This and other language makes it clear that the negotiators – who have the ability to deliver the votes in congress – agreed on Zelaya's restoration.

Furthermore, justice delayed here is justice denied. Two-thirds of the legally allowed campaign period has already lapsed, under conditions of dictatorship that made free election campaigning impossible ...

Washington's credibility is really on the line. The Obama team brokered this accord and got a commitment from the coup leaders. If they go back on it, how much will the Obama administration's word be worth on anything else? Everyone knows that Washington has the ability to force the coup regime to comply. There are billions of dollars of its assets in the US that could be frozen or seized. Seventy percent of the country's exports go to the US. The coup regime has no international legitimacy and no standing to challenge the US under international treaties for any economic sanctions that might be invoked ...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/nov/04/honduras-zelaya-agreement-obama-clinton

[struggle4progress]

1. US backs slow-moving Honduran crisis settlement (AFP)

WASHINGTON — ... "We believe he should be restored to power," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters. But he said the United States was focused on implementing an agreement reached at the weekend with Zelaya and the de facto government led by Robert Micheletti, which calls for the Honduran Congress to decide on Zelaya's reinstatement after consulting the Supreme Court. "We are committed to the agreement. We're committed to its implementation. We'll continue to assist and support the implementation process, but it's up to the Hondurans to actually carry through," he said. Kelly would not comment on what the United States would do if the Honduran Congress voted against Zelaya's reinstatement, or if it takes no action before November 29 elections that will choose his successor ... http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gVbbM58Es9z0-bT5CKXjEHZjiIPA

[struggle4progress]

2. Ousted Honduran leader asks Clinton stand on coup (AP)

By OLGA RODRIGUEZ (AP) – 3 hours ago
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Ousted President Manuel Zelaya is asking the Obama Administration to explain why, after pressing for his reinstatement, U.S. officials say they will recognize upcoming Honduran elections even if he isn't returned to power first. In a letter sent to the U.S. State Department on Wednesday, Zelaya asked Secretary of State Hillary Clinton "to clarify to the Honduran people if the position condemning the coup d'etat has been changed or modified." His request came after Washington's top envoy to Latin America, Thomas Shannon, told CNN en Espanol that the U.S. will recognize the Nov. 29 elections even if the Honduran Congress decides against returning Zelaya to power. "Both leaders took a risk and put their trust in Congress but at the end of the day the accord requires that both leaders accept its decision," Shannon said ... http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jAkMGKIUDg_ngUiZboxQbYj5_DPwD9BOSEJ00

[Judi Lynn]

5. Appalling. What DOES it take for us to actually get a Democratic adminitration? What an ugly turn,

from a very ugly, repellant person, Tom Shannon.

Adding insult to injury, this article closes with a gifted observation from the Cato Institute spokesman:

Juan Carlos Hidalgo, project coordinator for Latin America at Washington-based Cato Institute, said he doesn't expect Hondurans to be swayed by U.S. pressure.

"If Congress doesn't reinstate Zelaya, it certainly will be a diplomatic embarrassment for the United States since they pressured so much for his reinstatement and even threatened to not recognize the election results," said Hidalgo. "But not recognizing a popular vote was a dead-end road for the U.S. and they knew it."

Yeah, we all know about that "popular vote" they anticipate.

http://www.avizora.com.nyud.net:8090/atajo/informes/honduras_textos/images/0030_roberto_micheletti_01.jpg http://surversion.files.wordpress.com.nyud.net:8090/2009/07/goriletti.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com.nyud.net:8090/_AYeev3Ko2F8/SlZZXRwgvPI/AAAAAAAAAHM/IVTLkFIPGLA/s320/gol.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com.nyud.net:8090/3600/3674878601_34193bcc7d.jpg

http://uribestiario.files.wordpress.com.nyud.net:8090/2009/09/goriletti2.jpg

http://www.albedrio.org.nyud.net:8090/images/temphn/goriletti2.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com.nyud.net:8090/_tl-6sVSdTVU/SlIQR4XjN-I/AAAAAAAAA6A/XMUMF2T0IRg/s400/p_06_07_2009.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com.nyud.net:8090/_8q8xT5hz7Hs/SsOAznCL0cI/AAAAAAAAAHw/ofNxbatoQiA/s400/Goriletti.gif

[Braulio]

6. I told you so

Since the Congress is an elected body, equal in power to the President, they may decide not to take Zelaya back. In which case he's done for. Michiletti will go back to the barn, a new President will be in charge of the executive branch, and they'll go back to sameo-sameo.

[struggle4progress]

3. Honduran Congress consults Supreme Court on agreement to end crisis (Xinhua)

2009-11-04 10:17:29 Print
TEGUCIGALPA, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Honduran Congress on Tuesday requested the opinion of the Supreme Court of Justice, the Prosecutor's Office, the Public Ministry and the Human Rights Commissioner on a political agreement to end the political crisis in the country.

On Friday, representatives of Honduras' de facto leader Roberto Micheletti and those of ousted President Manuel Zelaya signed an agreement for the Honduran Congress to decide whether Zelaya would be restored to power.

The agreement also includes the creation of a national reconciliation government.

According to the agreement, the Congress would announce its final decision after considering the opinion of the Honduran Supreme Court of Justice ... http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-11/04/content_12383869.htm

[struggle4progress]

4. OAS chief has no doubt on ousted Honduran president Zelaya's .. restoration

009-11-04 04:10:20

SANTIAGO, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- General Secretary of the Organization of American States (OAS), Jose Miguel Insulza, said on Tuesday that he has no. doubt .. the Honduran Congress will approve the restoration .. of ousted President Manuel Zelaya, to .. end .. the political crisis in Honduras.

"I hope, and .. I am not going to prejudge. The agreement is the Congress to decide President Zelaya's restoration,(and I hope the Congress) to bring back the things to June 27 .. and leave without validity the resolution that appointed another President," Insulza told a local radio station.

"That is going to happen, I have all the hopes for it to happen. I hope the Congressmen of Honduras will balance the pros and cons of this situation and they will give the right step, I do not have doubts it will happen," Insulza said.

Insulza also said his intention is to reintegrate Honduras to the OAS in the coming weeks ... http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-11/04/content_12381809.htm