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| Caribbean-Latin America | |
| Interim Honduran government caves to intl'l pressure | |
| 2009-10-30 | |
| The interim leader of Honduras says he is ready to sign a pact to end its crisis which could include the return of ousted President Manuel Zelaya. Roberto Micheletti said the agreement would create a power-sharing government and require both sides to recognise the result of November's presidential poll. Mr Zelaya said the deal, which requires the approval of the Supreme Court and Congress, would be signed on Friday. The president was forced out of the country on 28 June. His critics said he was seeking to amend the constitution to remove the current one-term limit on serving as president, and pave the way for his re-election. It is significant that both sides say that the Congress of Honduras has to approve this. That could mean a slight delay, but it might actually also have been the key to the solution. Neither side could agree and so ultimately, perhaps to save face, they had to leave it to others finally, and symbolically, to make an agreement. It appears the US government put the pressure on the Micheletti government to say leave this to the Honduran Congress. And although the Congress initially voted to remove President Zelaya from power, now it wants him back, as everyone understands that it is the only way out of this. Mr Zelaya returned covertly to Tegucigalpa on 21 September and has since been holed up in the Brazilian embassy. He says he has returned "for the restoration of democracy". His term of office is due to finish at the end of January.
Afterwards, Mr Micheletti announced that a power-sharing deal had been reached that included a "significant concession". "I have authorised my negotiating team to sign a deal that marks the beginning of the end of the country's political situation," the interim leader told a news conference. "With regard to the most contentious subject in the deal, the possible restitution of Zelaya to the presidency" would be included, he said. Mr Micheletti said the ousted president would only be able return to office after a vote in his favour in Congress that would first have to be authorised by the country's Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled that Mr Zelaya had violated the constitution in June, while Congress voted to remove him from office. Mr Micheletti - who as the speaker of Congress was constitutionally second-in-line to the presidency - was sworn in by Congress as interim leader following the | |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #9 These are not blunders. The administration is sending a message. |
| Posted by: Wheaper White3264 2009-10-30 14:55 |
| #8 Oops: I hit the submit button too early. Conclusion of #7: The Obama administration officially canceled the missile shield on the anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland. Obama will not attend the commemoration of the fall of the Berlin Wall. |
| Posted by: Wheaper White3264 2009-10-30 14:53 |
#7 La Gringa reports:Worst news of all: supposedly Thomas Shannon has been pressuring the congressmen to vote for the restoration of Zelay or else! The exact words were that "Shannon scared the living hell out of everyone here including Micheletti." Yeah, remember the press conference? "We're just here to help. We aren't going to intervene. We'll respect any decision that the Hondurans make." Yeah, right. Now they are even threatening elected Honduran officials that they won't recognize elections unless they vote yes. I'm sure there must be economic threats as well. The US role here seems to be similar to that of the USSR in the Polish crises of 1970 and 1980/81. An overwhelmingly powerful nominal ally made threats that preserved a communist dictatorship. A direct military intervention by that "ally" was thus unnecessary. Obama is not a naive and ignorant "Bambi", an empty suit narcissist. He's a politician pursuing his political objectives. |
| Posted by: Wheaper White3264 2009-10-30 14:48 |
| #6 And if so, are they in favor? Childish naivete is so endearing. |
| Posted by: Glavins Gonque7951 2009-10-30 13:34 |
| #5 Exactly my concern, Richard. Danny Ortega has effectively seized power in Nicaragua. Oogo may well have teams of power in Honduras. Now Mel comes back and has a couple months to 1) subvert the upcoming election and 2) seize power. I think that's where Mel, Danny and Oogo are headed. Question is, do Bambi and the Hildebeast see it coming? And if so, are they in favor? |
| Posted by: Steve White 2009-10-30 13:32 |
| #4 So Goal, set, and match to Obama. Proves the old adage "Repeat a lie long and loud enough, and it becomes TRUTH" The lie COUP is now admitted as FACT. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2009-10-30 13:15 |
| #3 I don't like it. It sets in motion a series of meaningless steps that theoretically keeps the constitution in tact and keeps the reins of power out of Zelaya's hands. That is, if there is no more monkey business. What are the odds of that happening? |
| Posted by: Richard of Oregon 2009-10-30 12:21 |
| #2 You just have to wonder if this little "agreement" has anything to do with a recent murder and a kidnapping of relatives of top government officials in Tegucigalpa. |
| Posted by: Abu Uluque 2009-10-30 10:56 |
| #1 maybe the only way out of the Afghanistan mess is to restore the one-eyed mullah to power |
| Posted by: lord garth 2009-10-30 10:40 |