Zelaya Returns to Honduras (Updated)
The unexpected return of the would-be dictator puts Honduras in crisis mode.
Updated as of 11:00 a.m. EDT, September 23
It was reported that water and electricity to the Brazilian embassy were turned off only briefly yesterday and that food has been sent in. The President of Honduras stated that Zelaya can stay in the embassy “for five to ten years” if he wishes. He said that “Zelaya will never return to be president of this country” but that he is willing to talk with him — but only if he recognizes the validity of the November 29 elections — and that he will face legal action. At least eighty-five diplomats and Zelaya supporters left the Brazilian embassy last night, and the curfew imposed on September 21 has been extended “indefinitely.”
Zelaya had been scheduled to speak at the United Nations General Assembly today but is “otherwise engaged.”
The means used by Zelaya to return to Honduras remain a mystery. There has been speculation that Zelaya was a passenger on a Venezuelan plane that landed without authorization on Sunday night in El Salvador and was met by a car belonging to the Salvadoran governing party. An article in International Business Daily cited the speculation and suggested that Venezuelan el Presidente Chávez must in some way have been involved. It noted:
All evidence points to Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez, who first announced the return and, as Zelaya’s closest ally, once saw Honduras as part of his “Bolivarian” empire. More important than just a vote in the UN, Honduras was useful to him as a shipping route for Colombia’s FARC drug traffickers, key Chavez allies.
Venezuelan journalist Nelson Bocaranda reports that former Venezuelan Interior Minister Ramon Rodriguez Chacin arranged for Zelaya to be spirited back in a car trunk, with Nicaraguan help.
If so, it wouldn’t be surprising. As one of three Venezuelan officials designated drug “kingpins” in an official Treasury Department report, and thus subject to arrest, he would likely have knowledge of smuggling routes into Honduras from his associates.
The Wall Street Journal observed, correctly I think, that:
This remarkable diplomatic pressure against a small Central American ally has only reinforced Mr. Zelaya’s refusal to compromise short of a return to the presidency, with all of the instability and potential for violence that could involve. It also probably encouraged him to gamble on returning to Honduras on Monday, figuring even that provocation won’t endanger U.S. support. And so far it hasn’t.
Now that he is back, Mr. Zelaya and his allies aren’t calling for calm. His supporters have flocked to Brazil’s embassy with cinder blocks, sticks and Molotov cocktails. “The fatherland, restitution or death,” he shouted to demonstrators outside the embassy. In anticipation of trouble and with concern for public safety, President Roberto Micheletti announced a curfew. But when police tried to enforce the curfew, the zelayistas resisted and there is now a Honduran standoff.
On Monday Mr. Zelaya said he owed his return and political survival to “the support of the international community.” He’s getting support from Nicaragua’s Sandinista President Daniel Ortega, the former guerrilla group FMLN in El Salvador, and especially from Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. But let’s face it: None of that support would mean very much without the diplomatic and sanctions muscle of the U.S.
So nothing much is happening at the moment, and it seems as though Honduras has decided to leave Zelaya hanging in whatever wind may be blowing in the Brazilian embassy.
———————–
Updated as of 1:25 PM EDT, September 22:
President Lula of Brazil this morning spoke with former President Zelaya and asked him “not to provide a pretext for coup leaders to invade the Brazilian embassy.” It has been reported by BBC that the situation around the Brazilian embassy is presently relatively calm and that according to the interim deputy foreign minister of Honduras, “in the next few hours Brazil would either hand him [Zelaya] over or grant him political asylum.” She also said that, despite the international condemnation of the removal of Zelaya from office:
… that does not permit any embassy to use its diplomatic territory … to urge a civil uprising. … It is fine that they support Zelaya’s return but by force is not the way to proceed. … When Mr. Zelaya was sent into exile, it was precisely to avoid what you are seeing now, disturbances directed by him.
There have been no reports of any attempt by Honduran authorities to enter the Brazilian embassy. However:
At least two tear-gas canisters landed inside the embassy compound, Reuters reported, and Mr. Zelaya said in a television interview with Telesur, a Venezuelan broadcaster, that he foresaw “bigger acts of aggression and violence” by the de facto government and possibly even an invasion of the Brazilian embassy.
A couple of errant tear-gas canisters, fired to disperse the mob of Zelaya supporters and apparently getting into the embassy grounds, hardly seems an act of “aggression and violence.” According to Mr. Zelaya, in an interview with Telesur:
Interim authorities were cutting off all supplies to the embassy. “I think they are going to employ a strategy of asphyxiating the embassy by surrounding it, cutting off the food supply, asphyxiating the people inside in order to demonstrate their force and power, and to try and humiliate the people in here who are really trying to find a solution, for dialogue at a national level.”
There have been no reports of arrests or injuries, and aside from Mr. Zelaya’s comments broadcast on Venezuelan Telesur, there has been no sign of any cut off of the Brazilian embassy. Had there been, the Brazilian government would most likely have condemned it; there have been no reports that it has done so.
————————
On Monday, upon learning of the return of former President Zelaya to Honduras, Secretary Clinton said that:
[Zelaya's] surprise return to Honduras offers an opportunity to end the country’s political crisis.
Now that President Zelaya is back it would be opportune to restore him to his position under appropriate circumstances, get on with the election that is currently scheduled for November, have a peaceful transition of presidential authority and get Honduras back to constitutional and democratic order.
Costa Rican President Oscar Arias concurred, saying: “I think this is the best opportunity, the best time, now that Zelaya is back in his country.”
Maybe, or maybe it’s a Hail Mary pass, which sometimes works but sometimes fails. In any event, the pressure is on, and the United States also called for restraint. OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza did so as well and said that he would go to Honduras “as soon as possible, probably on Tuesday.” However, the director of civil aviation of Honduras announced that all international flights to and from Honduras have been canceled due to the crisis until further notice. It was not indicated whether a special dispensation would be given for Secretary General Insulza.
Brazil, whose relations with Zelaya-backer Hugo Chávez are rocky at times, hopes to help resolve the situation:
In New York, Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim said he was hopeful Zelaya’s return could start a new stage in negotiations to end the Honduran crisis and said his country was happy to play a role in any future settlement.
It seems likely that Mr. Zelaya’s surprise return to Honduras and the aftermath may upstage President Obama’s anticipated historic plans for his appearances at the United Nations.
Honduran President Roberto Micheletti spoke on television, saying that there had been no violence and asking the people to keep it that way. He also said:
It is not clear why Mr. Zelaya has returned to Honduras, only he knows. But I can only arrive at the conclusion that he trying to impede the celebration of our upcoming elections on the 29th of November, as he and his followers have been doing in the last weeks.
However, his presence in the country does not alter the commitment of all Hondurans to the electoral process which commenced close to a year ago during his (Zelaya’s) own term.
It will culminate with the elections of the 29th of November.
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Dan Miller graduated from Yale University in 1963 and from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1966. He lives in a rural area in Panama.
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84 Comments
1. "progressivewatch":Zelaya is going back to Honduras to start a civil war. This was in the cards from the start,if it were to become necessary. He is and will continue to be supported,encouraged and armed,in one way or another,by Chavez,Madam Hillary,Barack Obama,and others of the red stripe.
Sep 22, 2009 - 8:33 am 2. e:It will be interesting to see how this evolves. Unfortunately the Obama Administration is advocating exactly the wrong solution.
I pray Zelaya’s advocates run out of steam soon and the promised violence remains minimal.
Sep 22, 2009 - 8:39 am 3. geokstr:The response to the Honduran situation by the Obama administration tells as much about their respect for “constitutions” in general as it does for the Honduran constitution.
It has always been the view of the left that “constitutions” are “just words”, and mean only what a judge says they mean, the actual text and the intent of the founders be damned. This is “Critical Legal Studies”, a philosophy that is pretty much taught in all the law schools.
That’s why the “commerce clause” has been interpretted to mean that the federal government can do pretty much what it pleases, without limitation. And the few short words, “provide for the general welfare”, have been used to justify the handout of trillions of dollars in freebies in the last 50 years to buy the votes for democrats.
And note that this is a rachet that only turns one way – towards the left and the Collective. If Zelaya had been a right-winger instead of a leftist, the Obama administration would be in favor of the so-called “coup”, even if it was totally illegitimate and not based on their constitution.
Sep 22, 2009 - 8:47 am 4. David W. Lincoln:Zelaya, Obama, Chavez, Brazil, and those on that side, versus the people of Honduras, and those who defend them. Well, all I can say is, those who line up on the first side, they have a credibility deficit, and they are in a hole and they are continuing to dig.
So, why not a continental preparatory regime from Tijuana to tierra del fuego (excepting those countries which stand up to an even handed analysis of what is deemed to be a success)?
Sep 22, 2009 - 9:12 am 5. Dave:Let me see if I have this right.
No other government / country in the world recognizes Roberto Micheletti’s leadership as being legitimate?
And now Micheletti’s forces are attacking the Brazilian embassy, cutting off its electricity, water, and food?
Just checking.
Sep 22, 2009 - 9:20 am 6. gracie:I take it “we” will back Zelaya..hhmmmmmmmmmmm TOTALLY DISGUSTING, It’s like backing Hitler.
Sep 22, 2009 - 9:32 am 7. David W. Lincoln:Dave, not quite. israel and Taiwan have stood by Micheletti’s government, because they stood by the constitution which Zelaya (who started as a right winger, but crossed over to the other side so that Chavez would feel more comfortable, not unlike how the Kremlin has operated for centuries) wanted to re-write.
Sep 22, 2009 - 9:59 am 8. Rick Z:* Is there any doubt the Honduran government will demand Zelaya be handed over (and, presumably, arrested and put in jail). If Brazil refuses, it may well cause Honduras to order Brazil’s embassy closed, thus enabling authorities to enter the building and physically take Zelaya.
* Exactly what is the basis of the EU, OAS, US opposition to the present Honduran government? The country’s constitution forbids a sitting president from even attempting to modify the one-term limit.
Article 239 of Honduran Constitution:
“No citizen who has already served as head of the Executive Branch can be President or Vice-President. Whoever violates this law or proposes its reform [emphasis added], as well as those that support such violation directly or indirectly, will immediately cease in their functions and will be unable to hold any public office for a period of 10 years.”
Discussion of Article 239 (above)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0702/p09s03-coop.html
Given that the new government is from the same party as Zelaya, and no military are part of the new government, is the term “coup” accurate? Note that Article 239 says “immediately” .. no trial, no wiggle room. This is further discussed in the link, above.
The cast of characters supporting Zelaya are hard core left – Castro, Chavez, Ortega. Hardly shining examples of an open democracy. And THOSE are our allies in this situation ?
What is the US State Dept asking of Honduras ? To ignore their constitution? To invalidate their upcoming elections ?
Sep 22, 2009 - 10:01 am 9. robotech master:To 8. Rick Z
As was said in another post… following the letter of the law from a constitution is considered wrong under leftist ideals. The constitution exists to pacify the retarded ppl who would dare believe they have some kind of say over they’re live.
Sep 22, 2009 - 10:18 am 10. tommyd:good video interview.
http://www.foxnews.com/video2/video08.html?maven_referralObject=9708897&maven_referralPlaylistId=&sRevUrl=http://www.foxnews.com/ontherecord/index.html
Sep 22, 2009 - 11:02 am 11. tommyd:Zelaya has now moved to attempt a take over the only way he has left, by creating civil unrest and hoping to capitalize on that.
His motivation is clear and he is only interested in taking control no matter what the cost.
He should be arrested and jailed. If one person dies in this it should be on Zelays head…
There is no crisis in the Honduras, the civilian gov. is in order , they are preparing for the regularly scheduled elections which by the way current President Micheletti can Not even run in so I wish the leftist could tell us just who is trying to usurp power here????
The American President obama should be ashamed of himself for not supporting the Honduran people.
Sep 22, 2009 - 11:12 am 12. Dan Miller:I suppose that the constitutional government of Honduras could cease to recognize the Brazilian Embassy and remove Zelaya by force. That would not appear to be a very prudent thing to do, however, and there would almost certainly be substantial violence; the pro-Zelaya media would play it up, and those few countries (such as Panama) promising to recognize the November 29 elections would be put on the spot.
Why not just ignore Zelaya and his minions to the extent possible, and proceed normally? Zelaya’s supporters seem to be in shorter supply than do those who favor his return to power.
If the Zelaya mob attempts to tear down the fence around the Brazilian Embassy, perhaps a modest show of force would be useful but nothing more. Should the Zelaya mob “rescue” Zelaya, so what? He would then be off the embassy compound, and could be arrested should that seem appropriate.
Should the Zelaya mob attempt an attack on the Honduran Government, as by storming the legislature, the Supreme Court or the executive offices, that would be the time to go after them with all necessary force.
The more attention paid to Zelaya the better for him and the worse for Honduras; the actions of the constitutional government thus far have seemed quite restrained.
Sep 22, 2009 - 11:13 am 13. Tania:How can you compare Zelaya to HITLER?! Wow!!! I’m speechless.
Sep 22, 2009 - 11:27 am 14. Ruvy:Dan, I think you are wrong here. The government cannot afford to ignore Zelaya for the same reason a doctor cannot afford to ignore a cancer. Zelaya will kill Honduran democracy, as surely as a cancer will kill a person. He must be removed, and jailed according to law. Execution would be better, but that does not appear to be on the books. If he got shot and killed “accidentally”, however….
Sep 22, 2009 - 11:38 am 15. Dan Miller:Ruvy, Comment # 14 — Zelaya is a noxious mosquito; sometimes they carry bad diseases and can’t be ignored. Here, however, my sense is that a very substantial percentage of the Honduran people want him to go away. Quietly. Let the child wave his cowboy hat and have his tantrum. He won’t be restored to the presidency, the November 29th elections will be held and, according to my notoriously defective crystal ball, eventually recognized by most countries.
As you note, I may well be wrong. However, I still think that the consequences of giving Zelaya too much attention are likely to be worse than ignoring him.
Sep 22, 2009 - 12:06 pm 16. Phineas:Disgusting. This would never have gotten this far if the United States had come down firmly for two principles: defense of constitutionalism and non-intervention – the latter once a bedrock of Latin American diplomacy. Instead, their bizarre quest to hit the “reset button” with Cuba and Venezuela have lead them to cough up this diplomatic hairball. And Honduras is left swinging.
The utter incompetence State and the White House have demonstrated in our foreign affairs since taking office has been nothing short of appalling.
Sep 22, 2009 - 12:36 pm 17. Lula fishing in Honduras!:USA should be CONDEMMING Brazil for this act, but I am sure the USA is in agreement with it!
Why is Lula fishing?
Sep 22, 2009 - 12:44 pm 18. Emphasis:Zelaya is the bait and Micheletti the fish. You dangle your bait in front of the fish to see if he’ll bite………These WORTHLESS POS countries are just looking for some Honduran soldier to shoot a few rounds into that building so that they can INVADE the country! The response of these countries to Honduras upholding its LAWS & CONSTITUTION has me?……….
What is amazing to me is that anyone would believe that Brazil was not aware of Zelaya’s intention of going to the Brazilian embassy. To believe otherwise strains credibility.
Sep 22, 2009 - 1:27 pm 19. vivo:On the other hand regardless of the economic positions that have bee taken by Lula of Brazil, his political past is completely red as in “communist”. You might want to take a look at what the “Sao Paulo forum” is, who created it, and what are its goals.
In my opinion this was done with the complicity of all of the reprobates groups including our own President. Pathetic.
Solution:
1. Get rid of Micheletti
2. Get rid of Zelaya
3. Elect a new centrist president
Sep 22, 2009 - 3:30 pm 20. Dan Miller:According to this report,
“The United States pledged Tuesday to do whatever it can to help Brazil’s embassy in Honduras, which was surrounded by soldiers and had its lights, water and phone lines cut off after deposed President Manuel Zelaya took refuge there.
“Our embassy in Tegucigalpa is in contact with their counterparts in the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa and we’re discussing what kind of assistance that we can provide to help them during this crisis,” said State Department spokesman Ian Kelly.
“It’s a very sensitive situation there on the ground, and I don’t want to get into the details of what kind of assistance we’re discussing.”
I have no other information on such a cut off. If true, it must have happened within the past few hours, since Zelaya was in communication with Venezuelan outlet Telesur earlier today.
It will be interesting to see what, if any, assistance the U.S. Embassy is able and willing to provide. Restoring electricity, water and telephone service (if, in fact, they have been cut off) would prove difficult if not impossible unless the U.S. wants to get into a physical confrontation with the Honduran Government.
Having been very active in promoting and extending the current “crisis,” the best thing the U.S. might do is to leave things alone. It would be better were the U.S. Government to recognize the constitutional government of Honduras and tell Chavez et al to stop their interference, but that ain’t going to happen.
Sep 22, 2009 - 3:35 pm 21. Dan Miller:There has been confirmation of the report of a cut off of utilities to the Brazilian Embassy, here. According to the report, the Brazilian Embassy has asked for assistance from the U.S. Embassy.
“Brazil Foreign Minister Celso Amorim said Michelletti’s government sent an “impertinent and inadequate” note Monday to the embassy announcing it would seal off the compound.”
If the Honduran Government’s note was “impertinent and inadequate,” I wonder what it said and why it was so considered. Of course, most anything Honduras does to defend her constitution is viewed by much of the world as “impertinent and inadequate,” so the response comes as no great surprise.
So, what happens next?
Sep 22, 2009 - 3:57 pm 22. Regular Dave:Solution
1. Read constitution
2. Follow said constitution
3. Uphold democratic institutions that Zelaya is attempting to destroy.
Its sad that in America we would even have to debate this. Shame on every leftist that supports the dictator-wannabe.
Sep 22, 2009 - 4:36 pm 23. vivo:22. Regular Dave:
Solution:
3. Elect a new centrist president
Why deal with two misguided politicians?
Hondurans have the last word.
You get the President you deserve . . .
Sep 22, 2009 - 5:06 pm 24. Anonymous:quote:
“vivo:
Solution:
1. Get rid of Micheletti
2. Get rid of Zelaya
3. Elect a new centrist president”
Vivo wrong as usual..
Micheletti is the current Honduran President as specified by the constitutional prescribed order of secession. There is no need or legal reason that he should step down. He is the legal current President of The Republic of Honduras.
Zelaya himself gave up any claims to the presidency when he violated the Honduran constitution. The Honduran constitution is very clear on the law(s) that triggered the event. The only thing he has to look forward to is the execution of the legal arrest warrant in his name.
The Honduran people will elect whomever they see fit to in the scheduled elections. That is their business. The next president cannot be either Zelaya or Micheletti as the both of them, by prior holding the office, are no longer qualified to run.
Sep 22, 2009 - 5:38 pm 25. JohannS:Some tweets affirm that Zelaya was brought to Honduras by the US military. Anybody has any information?
Sep 22, 2009 - 5:38 pm 26. tommyd:quote:
“vivo:
Solution:
1. Get rid of Micheletti
2. Get rid of Zelaya
3. Elect a new centrist president”
Vivo wrong as usual..
Micheletti is the current Honduran President as specified by the constitutional prescribed order of secession. There is no need or legal reason that he should step down. He is the legal current President of The Republic of Honduras.
Zelaya himself gave up any claims to the presidency when he violated the Honduran constitution. The Honduran constitution is very clear on the law(s) that triggered the event. The only thing he has to look forward to is the execution of the legal arrest warrant in his name.
The Honduran people will elect whomever they see fit to in the scheduled elections. That is their business. The next president cannot be either Zelaya or Micheletti as the both of them, by prior holding the office, are no longer qualified to run.
Sep 22, 2009 - 5:40 pm 27. Dan Miller:According to this article from India, the president of Honduras
“has decided to set up a commission to begin discussion on ending the political standoff in the country after Manuel Zelaya was ousted from presidency in a military coup in June.
Micheletti said the team will include representatives of the civil society and foreign diplomats.
‘I make a call to the entire world: We are ready to dialogue,’ Micheletti told reporters Tuesday.
He requested the UN to send an ‘impartial’ representative to ‘listen the position of the Honduran people.’
Getting an “impartial representative” may difficult, but at least it would be better than Costa Rican President Arias, who was more of an enforcer than a negotiator.
Sep 22, 2009 - 5:56 pm 28. tommyd:Really funny that vivo doesn’t care to follow what is written in the Honduran constitution, he would rather just make something up as he goes so as to fit his own ideas as to right and wrong. Just don’t mind those little things called LAWS.
Of course as he supports the current Marxist regime in the U.S. it really comes as no surprise. That is what they want to do here as well.
p.s. Micheletti IS the legal current President of the Republic of Honduras.
The Honduran constitution contains all the fact you need on the subject.
Sep 22, 2009 - 6:34 pm 29. Allenda:Zelaya, at least have the conviction to be like me and put on a helmet, pick up a rifle and come out and fight! Coward! You let others die for you!!
Sep 22, 2009 - 6:52 pm 30. bobby gibson:Vivo, for a few weeks there, i thought that there was some hope for you. You almost made sense. I am in Texas waiting for permission from US customs to depart the US and drive to Honduras. I offer you a free ride to the beautiful free country of Honduras. There you will see what we have been living with for the past two years. Zelaya is a nut job who is more qualified to milk cows than govern a Constitutional Republic.
Sep 22, 2009 - 6:53 pm 31. George S.:My own feeling is:
1. Get rid of Obama.
2. Get rid of Hillary.
3. Get rid or the leaders in the House and Senate.
4. Get rid of Chavez, Castro, Ortega, Zelaya, The UN the OAS, and the Obama media.
5. Support the Constitution and rule of law in Honduras by allowing them to elect their own president in November.
Viva Honduras!!!
Bobby
bobbyhonduras@yahoo.com
put Zelaya in jail. send the Brasilian embassy packing.
Sep 22, 2009 - 8:15 pm 32. Matt:I would ignore Zelaya and I agree with the Honduran people – 73% indicate jail or eject him:
A Univision poll produced the following results: jail Zelaya (61 percent), open a dialogue (24 percent), eject him (12 percent), reinstall him (3 percent). Six thousand, six hundred and ninety-nine people voted in the poll.
My brother, a Honduran resident, thinks the 3% to reinstall is high.
Sep 22, 2009 - 8:20 pm 33. Regular Dave:Vivo @23
You obviously have no clue what is really happening in Honduras. There is going to be an election that does not include Micheletti. He can not and will not run. He is upholding the constitution that Zaleya is attempting to brush aside.
So yes, there will be an election that will not include either – unless leftists forces in other countries force their will on a constitutional democracy that is not a threat to the region or its neighbors.
Again. The position our government is taking on this is tragic and wrong. That there are so many in this country so blind to this is telling about how far we have fallen
Sep 22, 2009 - 8:35 pm 34. Rakhiir:Zelaya’s act is amazingly provocative, it must be viewed as an attempt to incite a civil war in Honduras. If I were in the Honduran government I’d strongly urge the Brazilian embassy to kick Zelaya out the door. Failing that, I’d start imposing “sanctions” on Brazilian trade and travel into Honduras. I’d keep the embassy surrounded, expel the Brazilian ambassador and play high decibel heavy metal 24 hours a day at the embassy. If Zelaya ever appeared outside the embassy I’d throw him in jail and begin the trial for treason. This is not a joke. Zelaya’s action could easily result in the deaths of 10s if not hundreds of people.
What a nightmare that the U.S. Government actually supports this creep.
Sep 22, 2009 - 9:33 pm 35. Anonymous:“jail Zelaya (61 percent), open a dialogue (24 percent), eject him (12 percent), reinstall him (3 percent).”
Where was “shoot him down like a dog”?
Another particularly humorous solution would be to change all the ings on the fence from “Brazilian Embassy” to “Brazilian Embassy and Dictator Detention Center” — and erect guard towers to enforce the detention. If he takes a step off the embassy grounds…attempted escape.
Sep 22, 2009 - 9:49 pm 36. GaryC:The announcement by the Obama Administration that it will not recognize any election conducted in Honduras unless Zelaya is reinstated first, no matter who monitors the fairness of the election, is unacceptable.
If George W. Bush wants to establish his post-Presidential credentials, he should immediately volunteer to be part of a group of election monitors who will ensure that the election is free and fair.
Who knows, he might even win a Nobel Peace Prize. (Fat chance.)
Sep 22, 2009 - 10:05 pm 37. Chileno:Vivo: Solution:
1. Get rid of Micheletti
2. Get rid of Zelaya
3. Elect a new centrist president
Indeed! That’s what WILL happen… on November 29!
Sep 22, 2009 - 11:06 pm 38. Chileno:There’s no need for further talks or compromises. This dispute can be resolved by the “will of the Houduran people” November 29th.
If Zelaya’s supporters are really that numerous (doubt it), the scheduled elections will be a low- voter turnout sham, which would severely weaken Michelletti’s position and force a compromise.
But if in November we witness a free, fair, high turnout election, Hondurans will have expressed with their votes that Zelaya is no longer relevant. Regardless what Obama and others have said, it will be very hard to ignore the winner of a democratic election with millions of votes to his name.
And if Zelaya continues to make noise after the election, he will simlpy become a lingering nuisance, much like Lopez Obrador, when he declared himself the “Legitimate President” of Mexico after losing to Felipe Calderon in 2006.
Sep 22, 2009 - 11:30 pm 39. Chileno:The Univision poll cited in the article isn’t quite representative of Houduras, as it polls among all those reading the Univision article (whom I’d assume are mostly US-based).
More relevant is this poll, taken last night in Honduras: http://lagringasblogicito.blogspot.com/
An overwhelming majority of responders (19,187 -85%) stated that Zelaya’s presence in Honduras would not help solve the country’s political crisis (vs. 3,496 -15%- who said it would).
Sep 22, 2009 - 11:44 pm 40. vivo:37. Chileno:
“Indeed! That’s what WILL happen… on November 29!”
Who are the presidential candidates?
Porfirio Lobo Sosa
Bernard Martínez
Felicito Ávila
Elvin Santos
César Ham
Carlos H. Reyes
I knew the Hondurans had a solution and maybe that’s why the USA didn’t intervene. Just wait and be cool . . .
Sep 23, 2009 - 3:00 am 41. Brian Richard Allen:Wannabe dictator, Señor Zelaya, was fortunate the first time around to have been so politely shown the door by Honduras’ congress and courts. He should expect no such courtesy this time around and might reasonably expect, after due process, to go directly to prison.
But, meanwhile, surely Brazil’s gummint either expels him from its embassy — or reasonably expects its actions to be seen as hostile? As an act of war, even?
Sep 23, 2009 - 3:11 am 42. tommy gunn:In case there is any doubt what kind of president and administration the USA has brought to office, this situation confirms it. The US President and his Secretary of State are leftists radical (may I say communists) at heart. Their pasts are clear on this even if the US electorate refuses to read what is out there in the public domain. The President’s policies are to cozy up to all of the USA’s enemies and crap all over our traditional friends. This means to ally with rogue states, dictators, leftists and communists regimes in order to buy them off and at least quiet down tensions. This will allow the messiah to declare victory in the foreign affairs arena while supporting those radicals who want to destroy America and the freedom and free enterprise that we stand for. I am sick and tired of our government in the USA. I can tell you that they will be exposed. They will be challenged. We will connect the dots. I am confident that their communist ideology will not go over with the mainstream American public who supports Honduras and their legitimate rights to enforce the Constitution of their country. I cannot believe I am seeing this disgusting behaviour from America. It shames me greatly. But we will throw our bums out. I hope the Honduran people can hold out for better times. I pray for them too.
T Gunn
Sep 23, 2009 - 4:37 am 43. Dan Miller:Here is an interesting, if amusing, take on the situation in Honduras:
“The Imperialist regime in Washington under Obama and international capitalist media had settled comfortably on the idea that Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was a either too much of a coward or too much of a weakling to return to Honduras. The imperialists and their propagandists believed that Zelaya lacked the right stuff to return to his country in difficult circumstances to restore democracy and end the Micheletti dictatorship imposed by the US Government and by an array of bourgeois perverts at large.
“We don’t know whether Zelaya’s return will destroy the dictatorship….
“But we know that Zelaya has done all he could to do to destroy the dictatorship; that is, this US instrument of oppression and exploitation of the Honduran people.”
Oh well. At least the statement that Zelaya “has done all he could” is encouraging.
Sep 23, 2009 - 8:09 am 44. Ron:Let’s call out the real losers and traitors: When Bush/Cheney was voted into office in 2000, all of Latin America was pro-American except for Venezuela and Cuba. When Bush/Cheney left office in 2008, nearly all of Latin America had in anti-American regimes: Ecuador, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and yes, Honduras. I’m leaving out a few more, but you get the point: BUSH/CHENEY ARE TRAITORS. They must be tried for turning our own hemisphere into a communist anti-American swamp. They’re the biggest losers we’ve ever had. The Republican party should disband, purge, and reform with genuine patriots. It’s easy to bash Obama, but we have no alternative because our party is the party of LOSERS.
Sep 23, 2009 - 8:11 am 45. AdrianS:Hillary Clinton has demeaned herself. She is of less importance now that she has declared that Zelaya should be returned to the presidency. Has she no clue about, or is politically dumb to, the rulings of the Honduran Supreme Court that banned Zelaya, or the legislation passed by the Honduran congress against Zelaya — by those even from his party. There was NO coupe.
This Hillary dictatorial directive to return Zelaya, while strangling Hondurans, no doubt comes from Barack “Mulato” Hussein Obama — socialist pig to the gills.
Honduras is no doubt trying to avoid what has happened in Venezuela — electoral dictatorship; seen as something nasty during the Bush administration and now looked upon as something good by the Obama’s socilaist gangsters.
Sep 23, 2009 - 8:40 am 46. Sebastian Shaw:The would-be-dictator’s return to Honduras is a bust according to Hotair.com:
http://hotair.com/archives/2009/09/23/zelaya-return-a-bust/
Only 85 people showed up for Zelaya’s return. No one is interested in dictators having power; President Obama should take heed. However, Obama is too arrogant to care.
Sep 23, 2009 - 8:49 am 47. LwC:Per the Wall Street Journal, though the order to remove Zelaya from the court followed the constitution, the military’s choice to remove him from the country was not. He was supposed to be tried for his crime, and have a right to defend himself in court.
As the government seems willing to try him now, can Dan Miller explain why the military did not simply follow the constitutionally valid procedure fully in the first place? The explanation provided in the WSJ is that the military officers were afraid of violence, so they followed their own rules. At the very least, this muddies the “upholding the constitution” argument.
The WSJ reports also uniformly refer to Zelaya’s referendum as nonbinding. My understanding of the term nonbinding is that it means it was not actually going to change anything. And Zelaya was reported to have said he would step down in January, so I also don’t understand why the Honduran court did what it did. But that is moot, they had the right to do it.
What I want to understand is why such pre-emptive measures were necessary. Zelaya was about to be replaced (is about to be replaced) in an election. His removal didn’t change that. His referendum had been rendered worthless (nonbinding). His removal didn’t change that.
In short, I don’t see why this crisis needed to occur, so if Dan Miller could provide an explanation, I’d appreciate it.
Sep 23, 2009 - 8:50 am 48. Dr. Grammar:@AdrianS: Are you an immigrant or just a home schooling victim? It’s “coup” not “coupe” and “socialist” not “socilaist.” Also, “electoral dictatorship” is what we native English-speakers call an “oxymoron.” Look it up, I’m sure you’ve heard the “moron” part of the word aimed your way more than a few times.
Also, if you’re going to emigrate to a truly civilized nation like America, then don’t pollute our great culture with your primitive Old World racism. Much as I dislike our president, the fact that we can elect a “Mulato” as you call him derisively only shows how much more advanced we are over immigrant vermin like yourself.
The more I think about it, the more I’m coming around to agreeing that allowing in immigrants is more of a problem than a benefit to our Republic.
Sep 23, 2009 - 8:54 am 49. Filibust:@LwC,
Sep 23, 2009 - 8:59 am 50. Dan Miller:The problem was spelled out perfectly by AdrianS: Obama is a “Mulato,” therefore Zelaya is an Islamofascist-communist dictator. If that’s not logical to you, then clearly you need to have your head checked.
LwC, Comment #47,
The chief legal officer of the Honduran military acknowledged back in July that the military had gone beyond the order to arrest Zelaya by sending him out of the country. He stated that it was done to avoid violence. In retrospect, it may have been a bad decision; at the time, it probably seemed to be a reasonable way of preventing violence of the type which Zelaya’s attempt to return to Honduras in July precipitated and which his recent return may yet precipitate.
It seems reasonably clear that violence is what Zelaya wants. As noted in an update to this article, and in the linked Wall Street Journal article, Zelaya wants violence, not peaceful discussion. “His supporters have flocked to Brazil’s embassy with cinder blocks, sticks and Molotov cocktails. ‘The fatherland, restitution or death,’ he shouted to demonstrators outside the embassy. In anticipation of trouble and with concern for public safety, President Roberto Micheletti announced a curfew. But when police tried to enforce the curfew, the zelayistas resisted and there is now a Honduran standoff.”
Article 239 of the Honduran Constitution, in English translation, states “The citizen who has played the title of Executive Power may not be President or Vice President of the Republic. The who broke this provision or propose its reform, as well as those who support directly or indirectly, cease immediately in the performance of their respective positions and will be disqualified by ten (10) years for the exercise of public office.” (emphasis added) It may be a strange provision, but it is the Honduran, not the United States Constitution, and it is up to the Honduran Supreme Court to interpret it, not to the United States, Venezuela or any other foreign power. In any event, the replacement of Zelaya by now President Micheletti was in accord with the Honduran Constitution and laws of succession.
This article provides a reasonable explanation of what happened.
As to why crisis had to occur, it didn’t. If other nations had simply kept their hands off an internal affair of Honduras, it probably would not have occurred. The only “threat” posed by situation in Honduras to any other country was to Venezuela, by standing up to Chávez and trying to prevent a situation similar to what prevails there from occurring in Honduras.
The international demand that Zelaya be reinstated as president was absurd. It was wrong-headed of the United States Government to insist that Honduras ignore her own constitution and reinstate a person ousted as president by the civilian government in accordance with it. Honduras’ scheduled November 29 elections will proceed as scheduled. That should be the end of the “crisis,” if other countries cease trying to dictate how Honduras should handle her own internal affairs. Here is the text of a recent article written by President Micheletti. If his words are heeded, and there is no significant international interference, the crisis will end; with such interference, it may well not end.
Sep 23, 2009 - 11:14 am 51. Dan Miller:Libyan leader Moammar Qadhafi had warm praise for President Obama at the United Nations today, saying that he would like President Obama to remain the President of the United States “for life — and even longer.” Although Press Secretary Robert Gibbs joked about the idea, if it’s good enough for Venezuela and maybe for Honduras, what the heck; why not?
Sep 23, 2009 - 11:36 am 52. Dan Miller:Zelay’s supporters at the Brazilian Embassy are diminishing in number, while the rest of the people are having a difficult time getting food.
“People determined to stock up for the uncertain days ahead trudged past bandana-masked youths sitting on boulders they had used to block roads.
“About two dozen people at a supermarket littered with overturned shelves hunted through shards of glass and smashed potato chip packages for undamaged food.
“Police said they arrested 113 people after scores of business were looted as protesters skirmished with officers throughout Tuesday night.”
Sep 23, 2009 - 1:26 pm 53. Bill:“Solution:
1. Get rid of Micheletti
2. Get rid of Zelaya
3. Elect a new centrist president”
3) all ready in the works. As for the US not recognizing the winner. In elections that were clear shams throughout the world, the US has had little problem playing realpolitik there. The difference is that Obama childishly wants to do whatever W didn’t (and vice versa) even (heck, especially) when it made sense, to show that he’s all about “Change.” Chavez was antiBush, so the pinhead must, at minimum, enable Chavez.
1) Micheletti will do that when (3) occurs. He’s already made it clear that he’s off to the gazebo with the Mrs when this is done. More still, he triple dog dared Mel to come back by having BOTH of them stand down at the same time and let the elections move forward by the next person in line taking powers. Mel doesn’t want that. He wants more time to screw things up for his successor — one of whom is is own ex vice president — because it’s all about him.
2) done, by Zelaya’s own action according to the constitution, and validated by the US Congress’s (and that’s Pelosi’s and Reid’s Congress, I might add) own research office in their review.
Pesky Facts.
Naughty Facts.
Sep 23, 2009 - 3:34 pm 54. Dan Miller:Here is an account of what’s happening in Honduras today, with photos. It is well worth reading.
Sep 23, 2009 - 5:13 pm 55. Gringo:Re Vivo’s suggestion: at one point Michelletti offered to resign provided that Zelaya would not be reinstated. That didn’t go very far. Wonder why?
Sep 23, 2009 - 7:51 pm 56. Linda Mae:Let us hope that the “crisis” created by Zelaya will not escalate to asking the UN to “step” in and calm the disorder. I’m sure that Chavez has troops ready to go. They are using Alinsky’s rules – create a crisis and never let it go to waste. I hope the citizens and the legal government of Honduras can keep it together until the time for elections arrives. Obama and Clinton are traitors to democracy – but what can you expect for those whose goal is One World Order. I feel as if I am in a Sci Fi movie. Help!!!
I’ll send out another email to the Secretary of State’s office – no response from the last one.
Sep 23, 2009 - 10:07 pm 57. LwC:Thank you, Dan Miller, for your response.
I read the editorials at the links you provided. Just to be clear, in my comment, I was actually referring to the news coverage provided by the WSJ’s Jose De Cordoba. .
And I still wonder how events would have transpired if Zelaya had been brought to court in Honduras, rather than Costa Rica.
This is today’s WSJ reporting .
Sep 24, 2009 - 5:22 am 58. Dan Miller:Thursday Morning Update
Former President Zelaya now claims that he is being subjected to noxious gasses and mind-altering radiation by Israeli mercenaries, who are planning to assassinate him.
“Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim told CNN en Español that his government asked Zelaya to tone down his rhetoric while he remains an embassy guest. The word ‘death’ should not even be mentioned,” he said.
“The U.S. Embassy here spent the day denying rumors that Zelaya planned to move to American grounds. The rumor may have started because U.S. Embassy vehicles were used to evacuate Zelaya supporters who left the Brazilian Embassy willingly Tuesday.”
Meanwhile, President Micheletti said that he would be willing to meet with Zelaya and an OAS delegation to discuss the November elections, only. The U.S. announced that in view of the possibility of dialogue, no new sanctions are currently contemplated, despite Zelaya’s demand for them.
The U.N announced that it would not provide any “technical aid that would have supported and given credibility” to the elections.
Sep 24, 2009 - 6:07 am 59. Chuck Pelto:TO: All
RE: Heh
I’ve been trying to figure out just WHY the Obama administration has been trying to stifle what happened in Honduras.
It’s because they’re afraid that if it works there, it could well happen HERE if the Obama administration attempts to do to US what Zelaya tried in Honduras.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
Sep 24, 2009 - 6:14 am 60. Chuck Pelto:[The Truth will out.....]
P.S. I wouldn’t put it past the Obama administration to be helping the Zelaya supporters in their counter-revolution.
P.P.S. If my suspicion that Obama DOES want to attempt the Zelaya technique with US….
…..watch for a ban on personal ownership of firearms and/or ammunition. Perhaps by this UN treaty I’ve been hearing more and more about.
Sep 24, 2009 - 6:25 am 61. Chuck Pelto:TO: Linda Mae
RE: Try….
the Left Behind series.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
Sep 24, 2009 - 6:29 am 62. Aaron Byrnes:[If you're not getting 'paranoid', you're not paying attention.]
Drudge has the following about Zelaya:
“Honduras’ Zelaya claims being subjected to mind-altering gas, radiation — ‘Israeli mercenaries’ planning to assassinate him…”
Just keep these statements coming. A little discomfort and stress and Zeleya starts channelling Jeremiah Wright.
Sep 24, 2009 - 7:13 am 63. Dan Miller:Here is a good article on the twisted media coverage of the situation in Honduras. It provides a link to la Gringa’s Blogicito, which has daily updates on what is actually happening there. She notes that Zelaya
“must be feeling lonely as most of his supporters voluntarily requested to be evacuated from the Brazilian Embassy − which they were, but only under the supervision of the Attorney General’s office, transported by the US Embassy, and after being reviewed by a doctor so there could be no false claims of abuse. There was talk that he may be moving to more comfortable quarters at the US Embassy,” but the embassy has denied that it will happen.
Sep 24, 2009 - 8:14 am 64. Fred Beloit:Now Zelaya shows himself to be not only a wanna-be dictator, but a crazy wanna-be dictator.
http://legalinsurrection.blogspot.com/2009/09/zelaya-insane.html
Sep 24, 2009 - 9:15 am 65. Dan Miller:In case anyone may have missed it, the Congressional Research Service concluded that the “coup” in Honduras was not one, and should be a cause for relief rather than anxiety. It was issued as an August 2009 Report to Congress and can be found here To summarize, quoting the Washington Examiner, it concludes:
* The Honduran Congress appears to have acted properly in deposing President Manuel Zelaya. Unlike in the United States, the Honduran Congress has the last word when it comes to interpreting the Constitution. Although there is no provision in Honduras’s Constitution for impeachment as such, the body does have powers to disapprove of the president’s official acts, and to replace him in the event that he is incapable of performing his duties. Most importantly, the Congress also has the authority to interpret exactly what that means.
* The Supreme Court was legally entitled to ask the military to arrest Zelaya. The high court, which is the constitutional venue for trials of the president and other high-ranking officials, also recognized the Congress’s ouster of Zelaya when it referred his case back down to a lower court afterward, on the grounds that he was “no longer a high-ranking government official.”
* The military did not act properly in forcibly expatriating Zelaya. According to the CRS report and other news stories, Honduran authorities are investigating their decision, which the military justified at the time as a means of preventing bloodshed. In fact, Zelaya should have been given a trial, and if convicted of seeking reelection, he would have lost his citizenship. But he is still a citizen now, and the Constitution forbids the expatriation of Honduran citizens by their government.
* The proper line of succession was followed after Zelaya’s ouster. Because there was no Vice President in office when Zelaya was removed (he had resigned to run for president), Micheletti was the proper successor, as he had been president of the Congress.
The report is lengthy, but well worth reading. Perhaps President Obama and Secretary Clinton might find time in their busy schedules to do so.
Sep 24, 2009 - 1:18 pm 66. Dan Miller:Nuts. I should have closed the italics tab immediately after Washington Examiner. Sorry about that.
Sep 24, 2009 - 1:20 pm 67. LwC:Thank you for posting the link to the CRS report.
Sep 24, 2009 - 2:52 pm 68. Chuck Pelto:TO: Dan Miller
RE: What LwC Said….
….THANKS!!!!!
Regards,
Chuck(le)
Sep 24, 2009 - 3:18 pm 69. Dan Miller:[The Truth will out.....]
Thanks, LwC and Chuck. I wish I had similar hope and perhaps confidence. I don’t.
Sep 24, 2009 - 5:09 pm 70. Chuck Pelto:TO: Dan Miller, et al.
RE: With Man….
…there is no hope.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
Sep 24, 2009 - 6:19 pm 71. Dave:[The only hope is God.]
Re: #50.
“Article 239 of the Honduran Constitution, in English translation, states “The citizen who has played the title of Executive Power may not be President or Vice President of the Republic. The who broke this provision or propose its reform, as well as those who support directly or indirectly, cease immediately in the performance of their respective positions and will be disqualified by ten (10) years for the exercise of public office.” (emphasis added) It may be a strange provision, but it is the Honduran, not the United States Constitution,”
So basically the constitution can never be changed or amended. Any politician who proposes to do so can be removed from office.
Incidentally, Micheletti himself tried to change the constitution some years ago.
http://narcosphere.narconews.com/notebook/kristin-bricker/2009/07/micheletti-tried-change-honduran-constitution-1985
Sep 24, 2009 - 10:06 pm 72. tommyd:And yet our President and Sec. of State continue to support a leftist dictator wannabe.. WHY?
Thanks Dan for the great link to the CRS doc..
Sep 25, 2009 - 4:56 am 73. Dan Miller:http://media.sfexaminer.com/documents/2009-002965HNRPT.pdf
Dave, Re #71 — The Honduran Constitution has been amended and still can be. There are, as I recall, only three provisions in it which can not be changed. Article 239 relates to multiple presidential terms in office. Here is a summary of amendment procedures:
“Title VII, with two chapters, outlines the process of amending the constitution and sets forth the principle of constitutional inviolability. The constitution may be amended by the National Congress after a two-thirds vote of all its members in two consecutive regular annual sessions. However, several constitutional provisions may not be amended. These consist of the amendment process itself, as well as provisions covering the form of government, national territory, and several articles covering the presidency, including term of office and prohibition from reelection.”
Sep 25, 2009 - 5:51 am 74. Dan Miller:Update, Friday morning, September 25
Former President Zelaya met yesterday with representatives of the interim government. I assume the meeting was at the Brazilian Embassy, since he was not arrested. Zelaya said that no progress was made.
“People in Honduras resumed normal activity Thursday after the interim government lifted a nationwide curfew imposed to clamp down on possible violence after Mr. Zelaya’s return.”
Here is a link to la Gringa’s blogicito which embeds the video of some remarks by Newt Gingrich on the situation in Honduras.
Sep 25, 2009 - 6:25 am 75. Dan Miller:Dave, re comment # 71:
Article 239 of the Honduran Constitution relates to presidential terms of office and states that it can not be changed. It is one of three provisions which can not be changed:
“Title VII, with two chapters, outlines the process of amending the constitution and sets forth the principle of constitutional inviolability. The constitution may be amended by the National Congress after a two-thirds vote of all its members in two consecutive regular annual sessions. However, several constitutional provisions may not be amended. These consist of the amendment process itself, as well as provisions covering the form of government, national territory, and several articles covering the presidency, including term of office and prohibition from reelection.”
Sep 25, 2009 - 6:31 am 76. Dan Miller:The Israeli mind-altering radiation and gases, referenced in an earlier comment, seem to have got to former President Zelaya.
He today “asked his supporters to keep protesting for his return to office, despite the start of tentative talks with the de facto regime.
“We urge the resistance to maintain the battle until together, people and president, we achieve the constitutional reforms and the fall of the usurpers,” Zelaya said in a statement.”(emphasis added)
As far as I know, that is the first recent pronouncement that his “constitutional reforms” must go forward.
Sep 25, 2009 - 1:58 pm 77. Dan Miller:President Obama and his administration have backed a crazy horse in Honduras.
This comes as no surprise. As anticipated, it is “A foreign policy gone mad, in which good is bad and friend is foe.”
Sep 25, 2009 - 4:33 pm 78. LwC:Bloomberg’s reporting on Friday 9/25
Sept. 25 (Bloomberg) — Honduras’s ousted President Manuel Zelaya said he will recognize elections in November, meeting a condition set by the acting government to reopen talks on ending the country’s political crisis.
Sep 25, 2009 - 7:27 pm 79. Dan Miller:The situation in Honduras remains fluid. Despite the report in Bloomberg, last updated yesterday as of 9:09 PM EDT, cited in Comment #78, it now appears that although various representatives of the Honduran Government and presidential candidates have met with Mr. Zelaya, his demand for reinstatement as president and the government’s refusal may be irreconcilable.
“‘There is a man who was with him yesterday or last night, and he talked for a long time with him (Zelaya) and his friends, and the results are nil,’ Mr Micheletti said. “He (Zelaya) says ‘restoration or death’.”
“Asked under what circumstances Mr Zelaya could leave the Brazilian Embassy where he took refuge after sneaking back into the country early this week, Mr Micheletti replied ‘either through political asylum or by obeying the courts.’
“Mr Micheletti insisted that if Mr Zelaya stays in the country, he must turn himself over to face charges of treason and abuse of authority for repeatedly ignoring court orders to drop plans for a referendum on rewriting the constitution – the issue that sparked the coup.”
“Mr. Zelaya said he has no intention of leaving Honduras – or abandoning the office to which he was elected.”
In another report, it was stated:
“In an interview with Cuban state television, Zelaya said Thursday that the meeting took place the night before and that the proposal offered by ‘interim’ leader Roberto Micheletti was for both men to renounce their claims to the presidency and for a third person to take the reins of power ahead of elections later this year.
“‘The idea is for him to step down but for us to choose another president; in other words, it’s another coup … because they already did one and they think it’s easy to do another. But that’s unacceptable to us and the international community, because they’re mocking the sovereign (power), which is the people who choose the president,’ Zelaya said.”
As to the contention of the United States Government, Venezuela, the UN, the OAS et al and Mr. Zelaya that his removal from office was a “coup,” I again refer to the Report of the Congressional Research Service, linked in Comment #65.
Sep 26, 2009 - 5:57 am 80. Dan Miller:Representatives of the International Red Cross visited the Brazilian Embassy, where former President Zelaya has obtained sanctuary.
“The Red Cross says it found no urgent humanitarian needs inside the embassy.
However, a spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross, Marcal Izard, would not confirm or deny Mr Zelaya’s allegations – including his accusation of a toxic gas attack on Friday.”
Mr. Zelaya’s complaint seems itself to be a bit of a “gas.”
Meanwhile, thousands of Hondurans marched, peacefully, opposing international intervention and supporting the November 29 elections.
Sep 26, 2009 - 4:22 pm 81. Dan Miller:Former President Zelaya has called “on his followers to march on the capital Tegucigalpa on Monday, in what he called a ‘decisive offensive’ against the country’s de-facto government.”
Honduras has given Brazil ten days in which to decide what to do with Zelaya.
According to the Honduran Government,
“Since the clandestine arrival to Honduras by ex-president Zelaya, the Brazil embassy has been used to instigate violence and insurrection against the Honduran people and the constitutional government,” the secretary of foreign affairs for Honduras’ de facto government said in a statement late Saturday night.”
“The statement said Honduras would be forced to take measures against Brazil if Brazil did not define its position on Zelaya. It did not specify what those measures would be.”
“No country is able to tolerate that a foreign embassy is used as a command base to generate violence and break tranquility like Mr. Zelaya has been doing in our country since his arrival,” the statement said.”
Sep 27, 2009 - 7:31 am 82. Dan Miller:Today in the news, was this:
“Today local radio America has spread a version that states that the US embassy in Tegucigalpa would host the paralell [sic] govt. of Manuel Zelaya. The version says that the ambassador Hugo Llorenz has ready 6 limousines ready to transport the members of Zelaya’s cabinet to the embassy. Some of his top officials are wanted by honduran justice.”
Oh well. Same day, different stuff. For whom are they working?
Sep 27, 2009 - 4:03 pm 83. Dan Miller:The parallel government noted in Comment #82 seems to have happened.
“It was just announced on the news that US Ambassador Hugo Llorens is assisting ex-president Mel Zelaya to set up a parallel government led by Zelaya within Honduras. They showed Llorens big toothy grinning face over and over again.
“Have the United States of America led by President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lost their minds?”
The answer to the rhetorical question in the second paragraph of the quote seems obvious.
Sep 28, 2009 - 4:11 am 84. Dan Miller:President Arias, of Costa Rica, the principal negotiator in the “Honduran Crisis,” let the cat out of the bag today.
The problem is with the Honduran Constitution:
Even if, as President Arias says, the Constitution of Honduras is “the worst in the world,” (I disagree; there are others, far worse) why is he complaining about it being followed? Isn’t that what countries are expected to do? Isn’t that an internal affair? Why should President Arias, and his colleagues Presidents Obama and Chavez, demand that the Honduran Constitution be violated since they evidently don’t agree with it?
Sep 29, 2009 - 3:45 pm