La Gringa's Blogicito

Should Micheletti step aside during elections?

la.gringas.blog@gmail.com (La Gringa) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:28:00 +0000

Do you believe it is correct for Roberto Micheletti
to temporarily retire from the presidency of the Republic?
Yes: 15%
No: 85%

Should Micheletti step aside during elections?
A lot of people think not.

I've been watching a lot of interviews, including on CNN (Español) who did several man-on-the-street interviews, and a televised discussion last night with a couple of political analysts. One of the analysts confirmed that this proposal by Micheletti was a result of pressure by the US.

US Ambassador Hugo Llorens said on a radio interview that his government viewed it as a positive thing − no doubt they did, since it was their idea. The US has been so misguided in all of this.

But let's go back exactly two months. Do you remember that Hillary Clinton, along with Oscar Arias, also viewed Zelaya's surreptitious arrival in Tegucigalpa as a positive thing also and a first step to implementing the San José Accord? Well, we saw how that worked out, didn't we? Violent riots, homes and stores looted, vehicles vandalized and burned. Then remember how pleased Hillary was when the Accord was signed? We are no closer to implementing an Accord than we were on September 21 or October 30.

Let me tell you that I'm hearing a lot of resentment about this. One of the analysts from the show last night clarified that Micheletti said he would consult with sectors of society about the recess, and this analyst did not believe that Honduran society would agree with it.

Tonight Micheletti announced that the people he met with did support the decision − but what was the choice? Honduras desperately needs the US to recognize elections, so if the US says 'jump', what are they going to do? The OAS has already backed out of Insulza's promise − which was made to coerce Honduras into signing the agreement in the first place!

The other analyst said that the US does not need to worry about what to do with Micheletti, that what the US needs to worry about is what are they going to do about Zelaya sitting in the Brazilian Embassy. He said they also should be worried about what they are going to do about their US Ambassador who has done so much damage to Honduras.

The analyst asked, "What are benefits to Honduras of Micheletti leaving?" to which he answered, "none". He then asked, "What are the risks to Honduras of Micheletti leaving?" to which he answered, "many".

The host asked, "How is it possible that a small, poor country like Honduras could cause such a division in the US?" The analyst flatly stated, "Because the US State Department was misinformed".

"What would you ask the US?", the host asked. "I would ask them not to sacrifice Honduras because of differences between political parties in the US, and − to retire the US Ambassador from Honduras", was the answer.

The US is pleased about Roberto Micheletti's absence during the election period but the truth is that they seem to be the only ones. Zelaya went ballistic calling it a fraud, a fake, and every other insult he could think of. His followers are complaining worse than ever. To counteract any possible positive effect, several zelayista candidates resigned today. The protesters are continuing to protest. I doubt that his absence will do anything to reassure the countries who do not want to recognize elections or the OAS. His statement actually caused concern and even some fear among Honduran citizens. So what does this move really accomplish except to "please" the US? Nothing that I can see.

One thing that must be mentioned is that Roberto Micheletti has not ever, not once, since June 28 promoted a particular candidate or denigrated any candidate. His message has simply been that everyone should vote and should vote for the person who they think will be the best president.

On the other hand, Mel Zelaya has not only promoted the two pro-constitutional assembly candidates (one of whom has since retired from the race), but he has denigrated the other candidates, accusing them of being golpistas, criminals, etc. His followers have spread vicious lies about candidates and done everything they can to ruin their reputations. I have no doubt this was instigated by Zelaya. Everyone has heard or read about Zelaya's and his followers' constant calls for boycotting the election, calling elections a fraud and telling people that that they are fools if they vote.

So, you tell me, which president should retire during the election period?

Honduras elections: Security

la.gringas.blog@gmail.com (La Gringa) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:35:00 +0000

Soldiers in La Ceiba
Z-day, June 28, 2009

The military and police have been in strategy sessions in preparation for election security. Approximately 5,000 reservists have been called in to help as well. The reservists are primarily retired military and these old folks are showing great patriotism and enthusiasm for the task. "We won't have communism in this country!"

In an announcement last night, a military spokesman gave a long list of events that they are completely prepared for, up to and including extraterrestrial landings, he joked. Hahaha.

This is a case where readers from other countries need to adjust your thinking to understand the customs and the culture of Honduras. It is NORMAL to have soldiers assisting the election process and maintaining security at the polling places. Control of the military was passed to the independent Election Tribunal (TSE) on October 29 and will remain with the TSE until the election results are announced, expected to be November 30. This is NORMAL and required by the constitution.

Many voices, loudest of all Zelaya's, are trying to claim that the military presence will intimidate people. Not so, and nobody knows that better than Zelaya, who won the last presidential election while polls were guarded by the military. While it might give you pause in the US to have armed soldiers outside your polling place, this is not the US. This is Honduras, and the vast majority of the population will be reassured to see them. Those who hope to cause trouble, however, will be crying "Oppression!"

Another thing to keep in mind is that Hondurans are used to seeing armed guards everywhere. While it is often surprising to new visitors, it is common in Central America where crime is so high. The military are often used to provide security and to work on special anti-crime projects. Zelaya himself enlisted the military earlier this year in a crime task force. Former President Ricardo Maduro used the military to combat gangs. Right now in El Salvador, the Salvadoran military are being used in a project to support the police.

Honduras has a well respected military. Just the other day, I read that they are considered the best and most professional in Central America. Unlike the police, the military is also admired and well respected by the vast majority of the population. I remember reading a poll a year or so ago in which people were asked to rate various sectors of society as to their respectability and honor. Religious leaders were at the top of the list, followed closely by the military. Police, and politicians of course, were at the bottom.

Channel 10 had a poll which completed yesterday. It asked if viewers felt that the military would keep the elections secure. 94% voted yes.

Related articles:

Honduran elections: The candidates

Honduran elections: The TSE

Zelaya's response to Micheletti's announcement

la.gringas.blog@gmail.com (La Gringa) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:15:00 +0000

As soon as I heard Micheletti's speech, I switched the volume on Radio Globo knowing Mel Zelaya would be on to "program" his followers' reaction. Yup. Within about 15 minutes (he probably had to call Chávez first), there he was.

I took notes, but try as I might, turning the notes into coherent sentences was just impossible. I think the following will give you the flavor of Zelaya's rage.

Asked for his reaction to Micheletti offering to step aside temporarily:

It's a mockery of the entire Honduran pueblo, a slap in the face to the international community and all the Honduran people. It's a false retirement, a crude maneuver. He's trying to varnish this stain on democracy. He is trying to deceive everyone ... crude trick that offends Honduran democracy ... false maneuver to deceive fools ... stupid ... false ... failure ... false attitude ... hiding the truth ... regime of repression ... military dictatorship ... deceit ... largest crisis ever ... fake ... fraud! Correcto!

Asked for his reaction about the elections:

This is an illegal process, an electoral farce. These are false elections, fraudulent elections. It's grotesque. The elections will have to be repeated under a legitimate government. It's an electoral farce. The US ambiguous position is lamentable. I seriously question the government of President Obama.

Only the candidates who have resigned are the kind we want for the next 10 years. Correcto! This is an electoral farce. Fraud ... slap in the face for the Honduran people ... false ... stupidity ... illegal ... electoral farce ... etc. The OAS, the UN, everyone recognizes me as the legitimate president. They won't recognize the elections.

The crisis is not personal of Mel Zelaya. Electoral farce. If they can do this to me, the legitimate president imprisoned in the Embassy, imagine what they can do to you, to the poor people! No one has any rights. Dirty politics ... stain on democracy ... repression ... military oppression! We have no security. No one is going to vote. Oppression ... fraudulent elections. If there is a massacre, it will be their fault ... oppression ... dictatorship ... electoral farce!

We must maintain resistance against this persecution for your children. This is not democracy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, sorry. That's the best I could do. ;-D

I guarantee you that "electoral farce" and "stain on democracy" will be the phrases of the day tomorrow on Radio Globo and CholusatSur. All of the callers will parrot back those phrases as if they thought of them themselves. Actually, if I check now, callers are probably already saying, "I won't vote because this is an electoral farce and a stain on democracy."

Will they feel the same way on Sunday morning? If so, will they be missed, or are they the same people which resulted in 45% absenteeism in the last election?

Micheletti will temporarily step aside

la.gringas.blog@gmail.com (La Gringa) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:18:00 +0000

President Roberto Micheletti
Photo: El Tiempo, Honduras

In a national television and radio broadcast tonight, Honduran President Roberto Micheletti encouraged all Hondurans, without exception, to vote on November 29. He said that the elections signify "peace and our future." He again promised that citizens will be safe and secure.

In a surprise move, Micheletti offered to absent himself from power temporarily from Wednesday, November 25 until December 2 to guaranty tranquility for the elections and assure that the focus is on the elections instead of the political crisis. He promised that during his absence, the government will operate completely normally with his council of ministers (cabinet) in charge.

He asked that this not be falsely and intentionally misinterpreted by those who, with their erratic conduct and their intent to provoke discord, take this as a sign of weakness in Honduras. To the contrary, he affirmed that he had absolute faith in institutions of government and the military to provide election security.

"If, lamentably, a general disruption to the order and security should occur that affects the peace of the nation and the tranquility of the Honduran people , don't have any doubt that I will immediately re-assume my functions," Micheletti reassured.

Micheletti also called upon "citizen Zelaya" to put peace for the country above his personal desires.

Earlier today, Micheletti asked Zelaya to avoid the "spilling of a drop of blood" during the elections and reiterated his offer to resign immediately if Zelaya would renounce his attempt to return to power.

I hope that some day, Roberto Micheletti is known as the great leader he has been for Honduras. I'm not sure that anyone else could have been as brave, strong, and sure.

Coming up, Zelaya's reaction!

Craig Kelly speaks volumes to Honduras

la.gringas.blog@gmail.com (La Gringa) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:27:00 +0000

Craig Kelly, center, with Roberto Micheletti
and Hugo Llorens (everyone is smiling)
Photos: La Tribuna, Honduras

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Craig Kelly gave a brief press conference in Honduras yesterday. Between birds squawking outside my window, the roosters crowing, and dogs barking, I did not hear everything at the beginning, but what I heard sounded good.

He covered three main points for "both parties":

1. Each side must follow the Accord point by point.

2. Elections must be respected − no one can take away the Honduran people's right to vote and elect their own leaders.

3. Stop the calls for violence − to this he added "from everyone".

He made special mention that he had noted great enthusiasm among Hondurans for voting. (!) He also asked everyone to respect human rights and confirmed that the Accord does not provide for any deadline for the Congressional vote on Zelaya's restitution. I hope that the the only brief mention of human rights signifies that the US is aware that most of the reports are greatly exaggerated or even invented.

With this, Kelly said, "Thank you," and walked away, taking no questions from reporters.

Here is my take on the above points:

1. Though there has been lots of bad press saying the opposite, the Micheletti government has been following the Accord "letter by letter, point by point", albeit by Honduran-slow-as-molasses-time. You won't find any New York minutes in Honduras, but I don't think that is much different from most of Latin America. We expatriates have a joke that if you think that mañana means tomorrow, you haven't been here very long.

I take this message from Kelly as directed at Zelaya who has been trying to renege on the Accord since the day after he signed it. Micheletti provided nominations for the Unity Government, after consulting with others; Zelaya did not. Zelaya has not shown even the tiniest speck of desire to work toward unity and reconciliation. His focus has been purely his own self interest, a point which has not been lost on the "international community" (IC), many of whom have been breaking ranks with the previous IC party line. While the ALBA countries and Chávez's other lapdogs, like Argentinan President Cristina Kirchner, have been yap-yap-yapping away, many other countries are taking a much more pragmatic approach.

2. Pffft! Since his very first speech, President Roberto Micheletti has promised that the election process and schedule will be carried out as original planned (last year!). One of his first acts was to provide the Election Tribunal (TSE) with operating funds that Zelaya had illegally withheld. Micheletti has reassured the population a thousand times that elections will be held, will be safe, and that he will turn over the reins on January 27, 2010, as required by the constitution (or sooner if need be). Since the presidential candidates trust him, why shouldn't we?

On the other hand, Zelaya....need I say more? He has done everything humanly possible to prevent or to sabotage elections. He has also made it clear that his work is not done yet. Today he issued a statement saying he will officially impugnará the elections. [google translation] (impugnará = contest, challenge, refute, disprove)

3. This one is a no-brainer, too. The only ones calling for violence are Zelaya and his followers. Just Sunday night, I heard with my own ears Zelaya say that "We must carry on to the ultimate consequences". Though Zelaya slyly worded this so that he can say that this means something else, I believe that the message to his followers was clear. Kelly's message is clearly to the zelayistas regarding the "bombs", the murders, the damage to electrical towers, and the threats which have increased in the past couple of weeks.

Though Craig Kelly was a little more clear than some of the US statements in the past, I still think that it dilutes the power of the message to always be referring to "both parties". As long as the message is directed to both sides, Zelaya and his followers will use it for propaganda against the current government.

Zelaya has been doing a lot of complaining since. In his letter, he had asked for a response from President Obama. Not only did he not get a response from Obama, or Secretary of State Clinton, or even Thomas Shannon, but instead he got a visit from a lower level State Department official. In the world of diplomacy, that speaks volumes.

Apparently, based on what Zelaya has said in various interviews, Kelly's original goal was to get both Micheletti and Zelaya to step aside in favor of a third party. In one interview, if I understood it correctly, a proposal was made that Zelaya himself would be appointed to the unity government as the Minister of Government and would serve as President when Micheletti resigned. That sounds convoluted, and not at all something provided for in the constitution or the Tegucigalpa Accord. Maybe I misunderstood, but it doesn't matter anyway as Zelaya declared that to be another trick or trap or fraud that he wasn't falling for. It was said that both Zelaya and Micheletti rejected the idea.

But overall, whether Kelly's statement a) is a change of the US position, b) they have come out of the closet with the "master plan" that so many expected, or c) the US has finally realized that they aren't going to beat down Honduras and are trying to make the best of it, I'm feeling much better about the US today.

Deserting the sinking ship and other news

la.gringas.blog@gmail.com (La Gringa) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:18:00 +0000

The sinking ship

Zelayistas and journalists are deserting the sinking ship of the Brazilian Embassy. Yesterday, Salvadoran Padre Andrés Tamayo left. Deserters are escorted away by police and, I believe, are examined by doctors prior to release, which seems a wise move so that false accusations of ill effects from death rays, toxic gases, mind control radiation and whatever else they dream up cannot be claimed later. In one photo of a Zelaya follower telling a doctor about his symptoms, a Brazilian blogger notes with humor the skepticism in the face of a journalist (in the blue shirt) standing by watching.

The fact that Padre Tamayo himself asked to leave, supposedly for a family emergency involving his sister, did not stop Cholusat Sur TV from interrupting programming yesterday with an Ultima Hora! report saying that Tamayo had been arrested - Ullllllltima Hora! - and was in the custody of Immigration officials - Ulllllltima Hora! - and implying all sorts of probable abuse of the priest.

Padre Tamayo has been in Honduras for years organizing environmental protests, a worthy cause. The hypocrisy of his new found association with Zelaya, whose notorious logging family is credited with much of the massive destruction of the mountain forests in Olancho, is not lost on anyone with a brain. Unfortunately, Padre Tamayo began organizing disruptive political protests and calling for boycott of elections. Interfering with elections is prohibited in the constitution and political activism is specifically prohibited to foreigners.

Callers discussed this lamentable situation. One caller even cried. Minutes later, a conversation with a Zelaya follower in the Embassy proved that Tamayo left of his own free will. Host Esdras Amado López disappointedly made the correction, but then, using logic that only Channel 36 and its listeners understand, they continued to discuss Tamayo's departure as if it was forced against his will.

In a big blow to the Zelayistas, Radio Globo host Eduardo Maldonado jumped the Zelaya ship as well. He has been viciously condemning the coup d'etat, promoting boycott of elections, and making outrageous personal attacks up to and including Cardinal Rodriguez for the past 4 1/2 months.

All of a sudden, in a 180 degree turn, a new kinder, gentler Maldonado is a good Liberal again, will vote for Elvin Santos, and is encouraging everyone to vote as the "only way" to restore democracy. It is kind of fun to watch him trying to reprogram his listeners. Unfortunately (that they are so easily manipulated) or fortunately (that they are now on the side of free elections), reprogramming after 4 1/2 months isn't as hard as you might think. While some listeners express their anger or confusion ("but yesterday you were saying....."), it is absolutely amazing how many of the listeners jumped ship with him and are now saying they will vote.

Would you chew gum in a meeting with President Obama?

Craig Kelly from the US State Department arrived today again for the third time in a month, reportedly to get Zelaya to comply with the agreement. While discussing the current visit, the noon news showed video of his last meeting with President Micheletti and others. Though I'd seen this video several times, I happened to be watching on the big TV this time and realized that US Ambassador Hugo Llorens was chewing gum (or something)! Are you kidding me? How rude and disrespectful. I wish I could have made him take it out and wear it on his nose like one of my teachers used to do when someone was caught chewing gum in class.

By the way, the video (from the last visit) showed Micheletti and Kelly sitting side by side in arm chairs, leaning in toward each other chatting. Micheletti seemed very relaxed and was laughing. Sitting a little way off was Llorens, watching them and looking uncomfortable.

Micheletti mentioned that his meeting with Kelly was at 4 p.m. El Heraldo's minuto a minuto column reported that Kelly and Llorens headed to the Brazilian Embassy about 7:30 p.m. The 10 p.m. news showed a caravan of SUVs leaving the Brazilian Embassy. The reporter said they were headed back to another meeting with Micheletti.

Kelly's meeting with Zelaya wasn't very long as El Heraldo reported at 8:50 p.m. that Zelaya spoke to Radio Globo after the meeting. Zelaya insisted that the US clarify US position on his restitution and complained "They are talking about an agreement that we have already left for dead." Telesur has a little more. [google translation] It seems that Zelaya wants to send Patty Rodas to talk with Hillary Clinton. Oh, I would love to be a fly on the wall in that meeting!

There is much speculation that Kelly is here to force a third-party president despite the hypocritical diplospeak that the US will support a Honduran solution. The US has no right to select Honduras' president, even if it is only for 70 days.

Even the ancianos protest

While the Resistance (all 50 of them) continued their protest in front of the congress yesterday, some old men were also protesting with loud speakers (I didn't catch where, but I think it was in front of the Election Tribunal or possibly the congress). One old man talked directly to the news cameras, wagging his finger: "We are going to vote! We are going to vote! Listen to me. We are free! Forget the world! My whole family and I are going to vote! We are going to vote for democracy, for freedom, just like we have now. We are going to vote! Vaaaaamos a votar!"

That is an attitude that I hear from many Hondurans: "This is OUR country. We will select OUR president and we really don't give a flip what any other country thinks about it."

If Hondureña Maria is any example, the voter turnout should be good. She told me that she and her husband are flying in from Japan to vote. Now that is someone who believes in democracy! Oooooh! It gives me shivers. How about you?

Zelaya's letter

la.gringas.blog@gmail.com (La Gringa) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:47:00 +0000

Zelaya logic

Mel Zelaya's letter to Barack Obama was widely misreported or misinterpreted by the media within and outside of Honduras as claiming that he had renounced any intention to return to the presidency, when, of course, that was not the case. He renounced the Accord, not his claim to the presidency. I can only assume that the local media are using the same Chávez-style media disinformation tactics that Zelaya uses. He, as well as opposition media, have been so incessantly busy denying the statement that they haven't had much time to wreak havoc in other areas.

At this point in time, 71 days before the scheduled end of his term, any decent, patriotic person who loved his country and his people, no matter how much 'in the right' he thought he was, would offer to resign and work toward "unity and reconciliation".... uh, like for example Micheletti has done. Not Zelaya. His ego won't let him, though I can't imagine how his ego has survived 57 days of being locked in a foil-lined cage wearing the same clothes day after day. He really believes that his position as president is more important than any hell that Honduras could go through.

AP reports: "Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya insisted late Saturday that he will not accept any deal to restore him to office if it means he must recognize elections later this month." Hasn't everyone from Honduras been saying that stopping elections and staying in power was and is Zelaya's ultimate goal? Aaron at Pensieve credits Zelaya for at least being more honest with this comment. See another Honduran's viewpoint at My Roatan.

Zelaya's letter (in English and Spanish) is posted on the fake Honduran Embassy website. You can find it right beneath the large graphic telling Hondurans not to vote - does that tell you anything about zelayistas attitude toward democracy? The actual Honduran Ambassador to the US was fired by Zelaya because he would not sign a loyalty agreement. I don't know who maintains this Zelaya propaganda site.

Most of the letter has not been quoted in the press. I suppose that even AP and Reuters have enough sense to know that much of what he claims is false. "I achieved the best economic indicators and the greatest reduction of poverty in the 28 years of democratic life...." Does anyone actually believe that? Even the UN has publicly disputed his manufactured statistics in the past.

Zelaya wrote that 3,500 people have been "detained". He and the human rights folks love that word 'detained' because it implies so much more than it is. If a police officer stops your car and checks your drivers license, you've been detained. If you are involved in a violent riot, are taken to the police station and then released, you've been detained. If you violated a curfew and had to spend the rest of the night sitting on a bleacher, you've been detained. But the word 'detained' sort of implies that you have been and still are illegally locked away somewhere devoid of all human rights, doesn't it? Even considering all of the above, the number is ridiculous, as are his completely unsupported numbers for injuries and murders.

Just like in the cartoon above, he takes his own unconstitutional failure to submit a 2009 budget and turns it into a strike against the "golpistas", saying that they are illegally spending funds because the (austere) budget passed by congress in July was not approved by himself.

Zelaya bides his time by plotting revenge against the coup plotters, who he has defined as virtually everyone within and outside of government. He frequently revels about the long prison terms they will serve. Interestingly, maybe because the congressional vote has not occurred yet, he has decided to remove the congressmen from his long list. He said that they were tricked into voting for his ouster by the "fake" resignation. Depending upon the outcome of the vote, I'm sure that list will be expanded by 100 or so names later.

In part of his rant on CholusatSur TV the other day, he ominously declared to his followers that "We must carry on to the ultimate consequences". He spent 15 or more minutes condemning the anti-democratic, fraudulent elections, which could not possibly be held with the people under military oppression. "It is a burla (mockery)! A bofetada (slap in the face) to the international community!" He spits out those words contemptuously. Corrrrrrecto!

He also said that he will not talk with any golpistas, ever. Another interesting thing is that when asked more than once about his visits from US State Department representatives, he always answered by reiterating Clinton's and Obama's previously stated position that he was the legally elected president and should be restored to office. He avoided referring to any discussions with others from the State Department, even when asked directly. To those of us who have known this man before June 28, that says a lot. If there was any scrap of support for denying elections, or indication of pressure against the golpistas, he would have been working that to the nth degree. Corrrrrrecto!

How anyone can still take this guy seriously is beyond me.

No agreement on the agreement

la.gringas.blog@gmail.com (La Gringa) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:30:00 +0000

Mel Zelaya
Photo: AP

Everyone knows that Mel refused to provide his nominations for the Unity and Reconciliation Government, being insulted that the "golpista" Minister of the Presidency dared to request the names, a perfectly reasonable response according to OAS's Jose Insulza. Has anyone pointed out that if the OAS 'for show' members, President Lagos and US Labor Secretary Hilda Solís had only stuck around longer than 24 hours, we might not have had this mess? It made no sense to me that they left the day before the first deadline.

President Roberto Micheletti did his best to comply by consulting with the various political parties and civic groups as required by the Accord and came up with a list of nominations agreed upon by all by the November 5 deadline. He did not announce the names, indicating that the cabinet must be approved by the Verification Commission. (prior article: Honduras Accord did not fail)

As a result, pro-Zelaya Channel 36 began saying that golpistas violated the Accord by not installing the unity government by the deadline, therefore the Accord is null and void. (Sorry, I'm only reporting the zelayista thinking.) Of course, they do not mention that Mel Zelaya began renouncing the Accord within 24 hours of its signing. Zelaya has since thrown around terms like fraud, cheat, trap, slap in the face, manipulation, blah, blah, blah, as well as issuing more ultimatums, including one to Barack Obama telling him that he expected a quick response to his letter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In order to comply with Item 5 of the Accord (the executive power) a committee of the National Congress asked for a consultation with the Supreme Court, the Attorney General, the Public Prosecutor, and the Commissioner of Human Rights regarding the restitution of Mel - completely in accordance with item 5 of the Accord which states in part: "in consultation with relevant bodies that they consider pertinent, such as the supreme court of justice."

This is widely reported outside of Honduras as 'dithering' but had the congress met immediately and made a quick decision not to reinstate Zelaya, no doubt there would be outraged reports that the congress did not comply with the Accord by considering the opinions of others. If you can't win (in the media or with the "international community") no matter what you do, you might as well do it your own way.

The Honduran Supreme Court is expected to pronounce tomorrow regarding the restitution of Mel Zelaya. The Attorney General will submit his report next week. He said that their report will be based on the law. The other requested reports have been received by the congress but have not been made public. Today's La Prensa wrote that Congress will convene a session the day after all of the reports are received, however, on the noon news, it was reported that Congress will convene on Wednesday, December 2, three days after the elections. Heheheh.

Another OAS Emergency Session on Honduras

la.gringas.blog@gmail.com (La Gringa) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:20:00 +0000

OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza

I frequently torture myself by watching the hours-long videos of the Organization of American States (OAS) meetings about Honduras. While much of it is a bunch of diplospeak with threats and condemnations from a bunch of arrogant Chávez puppets, every now and then, there is something that makes it worthwhile.

One example is the Venezuelan Ambassador Roy Chadderton who reminds me of Darth Vadar and who can be quite humorous. Apparently I am one of the few who can bear to watch more than Insulza's sniff-sniff-sniffing rants as the occasional gems are rarely reported.

To summarize yesterday's OAS emergency session on Honduras (November 10), Secretary General José Insulza informed everyone that the dialogue was going nowhere, that it was all Micheletti's fault, that Zelaya must be restored to office, and that the media was misreporting. (I assume that he was referring to the reports that Zelaya refused to provide nominations for the unity cabinet − one of the few things that the media has gotten right.)

He misreported that Micheletti has unilaterally installed a Unity Government. Not true. Micheletti did not even release the names as he said they must approved by the Verification Commission. Additionally, Micheletti did not 'unilaterally' do anything. He, unlike Zelaya, consulted the political parties, presidential candidates, and civic groups.

For a 'unity government', more than the personal interests of two people need to be considered, a concept which neither Zelaya nor Insulza grasp. If Zelaya's appointment to the Verification Commission is any example, there would neither be unity nor reconciliation in any cabinet which includes his appointees.

Insulza very plainly stated that conditions in Honduras were not right for elections and that the OAS could not even consider sending election observers to bless the elections. (It has been frequently pointed out in the news that the OAS was going to send election observers for the illegal cuarta urna vote on June 28.)

Insulza was followed by excruciating hours of each country lamenting the extended Honduran crisis, pretensions of speaking for the poor oppressed people of Honduras, congratulating Insulza for his incredible work, and reporting falsehoods about the conditions and the election process in Honduras.

Ambassadors from many countries parroted that the "restoration of José Manuel Zelaya Rosales to the presidency was indispensable to the recognition of elections" − proving my point that a "Honduran solution to the Honduran problem" would only be accepted by the 'international community' as long as the solution was the restoration of Zelaya. Some went so far as to say that Honduras would never be recognized, seeming to be perfectly content to punish the candidates as well as the people of Honduras.

God help us all if these parrots are in charge of the world.

However, making my time worthwhile, in the last two minutes of the session, US Ambassador to the OAS, Lewis Amselem, spoke for the second time. Here is a transcript of what he said:

Mr. Chairman, I'm just a simple middle class boy, born to immigrant parents in New York City. I went to public schools. I shop at Costco and Walmart. I watch TV. I fly coach class on American Airlines and I drive an old, very simple Chevy truck. Umm, I'm just not very sophisticated so I want clarification from my betters here.

Uh, we repeatedly heard in this room that some here will not recognize the elections in Honduras. Uh, uh, uh, I'm not trying to be a smart guy or a wise guy or anything else. I just want to know, what does that mean in the real world? Not in the world of words and magical realism, but in the real world? What does that really mean?

Are embassies going to be closed? No trade? No travel? No investment with, to, or from Honduras? And if so, for how long?

Are we going to apply that same standard to each and every country in this room that has experienced a disruption of its constitutional order [pointing his finger at the person next to him who was out of view] and saved itself through elections? [shrug]

If we do, this room is going to be pretty empty!

My faith was somewhat restored in the United States of America. Unfortunately, José Insulza has already left the room, and of course, no answers to his questions were received.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

President Micheletti has been called a dictator even though Honduras' institutional democracy is working better than it ever did under Emperor Zelaya who attempted to subvert it many times. A quick look at "successful coup d'etats" in Wikipedia tells me that the "international community" must act immediately to suspend recognition of the following governments:

Afghanistan
Algeria
Argentina*
Azerbaijan
Bangladesh
Bolivia* (listed 14 times!)
Brazil*
Burkina Faso
Burma
Burundi
Cambodia
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile*
Republic of the Congo
Cuba*
Cyprus
Dominican Republic*
Ecuador*
El Salvador*
Equatorial Guinea
Ethiopia
Fiji
Gambia
Georgia
Ghana
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala*
Guine
Haiti
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
South Korea
Laos
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Madagascar
Mali
Mauritania
Niger
Nigeria
Panama
Pakistan
Paraguay*
Peru
Portugal
Romania
Rwanda
Sierra Leone
Solomon Islnds
Somalia
Sudan
Suriname
Syria
Thailand
Togo
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Upper Volta
Uruguay*
South Vietnam
Yemen

Long list, huh? I only included the last 50 years and omitted some countries that you've probably never heard of. Depending upon how far back you want to go − since according to some OAS ambassadors legitimate elections can never be held unless a coup d'etat is reversed − we may also need to add the following countries to the list of unrecognized countries: Spain*, Czechoslovakia, Costa Rica*, Venezuela*, Colombia, Nicaragua*, Mexico*, Italy, and others. That is, unless we are going to say that there are "good coups" and "bad coups".

The countries marked with an * are strongly against the Honduran government and press relentlessly for the restoration of Zelaya as the only solution to the problem.

Vilma Morales: A deal is a deal

la.gringas.blog@gmail.com (La Gringa) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:38:00 +0000

Vilma Morales, former President of Honduran Supreme Court
Photo: La Tribuna, Honduras

Yesterday, in a terrific noon press conference held by Honduras' own little ball of fire, Vilma Morales, former president of the Supreme Court and Guaymuras negotiator for the Micheletti government, stated in no uncertain terms that the Tegucigalpa-San José Accord is not open for negotiation or renegotiation, as many, including US Ambassador Hugo Llorens have called for. [google translation]

She said that all Hondurans are familiar with the expression "Un trato es un trato" and even translated it to English for the gringos: "A deal is a deal." "The deal does not break because one side [Zelaya] refuses to comply."

Morales said the agreement was signed in good faith and that both parties must comply with the spirit and the meaning of the Accord, point by point, letter by letter. She specifically asked the US and OAS (Organization of American States) to respect and comply with the Accord, which was signed in free will by Zelaya's own negotiators. She even respectfully asked Secretary-General Insulza to re-read the agreement and reminded him of the several occasions in which he "encouraged the signing of the agreement, stating that the OAS would respect any agreement reached between the parties".

Vilma Morales stressed that Verification Commission's duty was to ensure strict compliance with all of the points of the agreement, not to reopen the negotiations.

Furthermore, she stated that the condition of member of the Verification Commission is personal, and that members cannot be substituted or delegated − likely referring to the substitution of the for-show-only OAS members after the absence of Ricardo Lagos and Hilda Solis − since their one day visit ended last Wednesday and wasn't even long enough for either to learn the correct pronunciation of the names of the parties involved (Lagos mispronounced 'Mickeletti' and Solís mispronounced 'Ze-lay-ah' instead of 'Ze-lie-ah'). Morales also may have been referring to the intromission of US Ambassador Hugo Llorens, as well as other members of the US government arriving today.

Reportedly, these OAS members are strongly pushing for the restoration of Zelaya − which is not the role of the Verification Commission. Remember when I said this commission would be 3-1 against Micheletti's sole representative, Arturo Corrales? (photo: El Heraldo) In fact, it appears to be even worse than that with several others meddling in the process as well.

Thankfully, Arturo Corrales is a "gallo" according to Ardegas at Nacer en Honduras and has been holding his own so far. Note that both Morales and Corrales have represented the Micheletti government since the beginning in Costa Rica while Zelaya has changed representatives numerous times.

Morales respectfully urged the National Congress to make their decision as soon as possible. She also urged Verification Commission representative Jorge Arturo Reina, withdrawn by Zelaya, to comply with the agreement and return to the work table.

And finally, Morales concluded that it would be astonishing for an organization who purportedly looks after the principles of democracy [the OAS] to not recognize an electoral process organized, directed, and supervised by an autonomous and independent board (the TSE). Today in an emergency OAS session, José Insulza proposed just that: "There are no conditions for sending an electoral commission to Honduras".

During the media question session, when asked about former President Ricardo Lagos' several statements to the media that the main purpose of the Accord was to restore Zelaya, Vilma Morales asked all of the OAS representatives to maintain neutrality and to respect their role on the Verification Commission as defined in the Accord. See this CNN (Español) video with the extremely biased comments by "impartial" Lagos.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Has anyone pointed out that the Unity and Reconciliation Government will serve for only slightly more than two months, until January 27, 2010, when, according to the constitution, the newly elected president will appoint his own cabinet? What difference does it make who is on this cabinet? They will barely have time to find the bathrooms, look at some reports, and meet the people who work for them....unless, that is, the OAS has other plans for Honduras − like forcing the appointment of a third party president from that cabinet (in violation of Honduras' constitution) and delaying elections until, say, next year, and, oh, possibly combining that with a requirement for a constitutional assembly.

What do you think?

Zelaya in June 25 video

la.gringas.blog@gmail.com (La Gringa) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:20:00 +0000

Mel Zelaya whips the crowd into a frenzy (video)

On June 25, Mel Zelaya declared that the court has committed a coup d'etat against him by ordering the restitution of General Romeo Vásquez Velasquez. The court said that the general could not be fired for refusing to follow an illegal order. The court also ordered the illegal election materials to be confiscated.

In the above video, Zelaya says the court is only for the powerful, the rich, and the bankers. He declares the court to be illogical, illegal, and illegitimate and says that the court is an embarrassment for Honduras. He accuses the court of interfering in other powers of state

Zelaya accuses the court of associating with the other barbarians in the congress "who don't represent anyone". He says that the court has decided that the military can govern themselves and that they don't defend the President anymore. He says that they are violating the rule of law.

He tells the crowd that "right now we are going to board the buses to go on a mission to guarantee the law." "No one is going to stop the poll on Sunday!"

"In every country the president is the head of the armed forces. When the military rebels, we are returning to the darkest moments in the history of Honduras (of military rule). I'm making a call to the joint chiefs of the armed forces: don't play this game of the media and economic oligarchy of Honduras."

From the Presidential Palace, the crowd boarded buses, trucks, and cars and went to the military base, broke open the gates and stole the ballots.

President Zelay leads a mob (video)

In this video, you can see the mob led by Zelaya to steal the confiscated election materials. He describes it as the public exercising their constitutional rights. Against the court order, General Prince turned over the election materials to the mob to avoid violence.

Mel Zelaya did propose reelection

la.gringas.blog@gmail.com (La Gringa) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:14:00 +0000

Article 239 of the Honduran constitution states that the President can only serve one term and that anyone who proposes to reform this disposition, directly or indirectly, immediately ceases in his position and is ineligible for any public function for 10 years.

A favorite defense of pro-Zelaya forces is to say that Zelaya never proposed reelection. Well, yes, he did.

In this video, which I believe was from sometime the week before June 28, you will hear Mel Zelaya complains that congressmen, judges, and others can be reelected and the only one who can't be reelected is the president but "reelection will be the theme of the next constitutional assembly".

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Update: Reader Allen provided a complete translation of the video:

[Zelaya speaking] "Here, judges are re-elected, fiscal officers are re-elected, mayors are re-elected, congressmen are re-elected, the − the commissioners on human rights are re-elected. The only one who is not re-elected in Honduras − the only one who is not re-elected in Honduras − is the President [points with both hands to himself in the video].

"But re-election is [a/the] topic of the next National Constitutional Assembly." [Cheers from the crowd.]

"There will be an opportunity − [turning to the person next to him, apparently someone related to a previous president] − leader, there will be an opportunity for your ex-father-in-law to return.

[Everyone laughs − someone in the crowd shouts "That guy won't return" and others in the crowd boo "Nooo."].

"Because we will open the opportunity for him in the next National Constitutional Assembly.

"Callejas − will come back, correct. [More boos of "no, no"] And I already told him that if − no, I already told him, 'Look, Rafael Leonardo, if we make it to the World Cup, I'll think about my vote, but you have to take our Honduran team to the World Cup.' But if he doesn't take us to the World Cup, then he can't complain to me. You understand?" [Callejas is a former president, currently president of the National Autonomous of Soccer of Honduras.]

-----------------

[Allen continues...] So, he talks about re-election of the President, and specifically mentions at least one former president coming back, just to make it sound fair, to make it sound like he's being altruistic by proposing such a thing, to make it sound like he's not in it for himself. Of course he plays to the crowd by bringing up presidents he knows they hate, so they all know he's really talking about opening up the possibility for himself.

In the face of this, anyone want to dare say Zelaya never proposed, discussed, incited or intended to change the Constitutional rules about presidential re-election?

Thank you for providing the translation, Allen.

Honduras Accord did not fail

la.gringas.blog@gmail.com (La Gringa) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:13:00 +0000

Midnight announcement by Roberto Micheletti
Photo: El Heraldo, Honduras

Just barely meeting the November 5 deadline, Honduran President Roberto Micheletti reported to the country in a national broadcast by television and radio that the cabinet of unity and reconciliation had been formed, despite the fact that Manuel Zelaya refused to provide any nominations for the new cabinet. Surrounded by dozens of smiling members of political parties and civic groups, Micheletti appeared pleased and concluded his speech with 'Viva Honduras!' three minutes before midnight.

During his speech, Micheletti explained that at the beginning of the week, nominations were requested from the principal political parties, the presidential candidates, sectors of the civil society, and Manuel Zelaya. He said that all nominations were carefully considered and that the final list represents the broad range of ideological and political interests, strictly in compliance with the Tegucigalpa-San José Accord.

Micheletti did not announce the individual names as they must be approved by the Verification Commission, although the proposed cabinet already "enjoys the most ample participation and approval of the different sectors of society and political parties". Additionally, he left it open as to whether the 'zelayistas' could send their nominations after the deadline.

Earlier in the day, Micheletti's ministers all offered their resignations to make way for the newly selected cabinet, though it is expected that some individuals may continue. Micheletti's existing cabinet includes members of both major parties as well as several cabinet members who had been named by and served under Zelaya previously. The two largest political parties expressed their confidence in Micheletti by suggesting that he was at liberty to name the persons that he considered suitable to continue with his responsibilities.

Rafael Pineda Ponce, Minister of the Presidency, personally delivered a letter to Zelaya earlier this week respectfully asking for his nominations for the Unity Government. Zelaya proclaimed that action to be "an aggression, an offense" and refused to reply with any nominations, insisting that he must be restored to office before the unity government could be formed.

Yesterday, an OAS representative stated that "there is no climate for ultimatums". Previously, former Chilean President Ricardo Lagos (official OAS representative to the commission) confirmed that the formation of the unity government was the first step to reconciliation and separate from the question of the restoration of Zelaya. Lagos also suggested that this is the time to put aside differences and look to the future of Honduras for Hondurans.

The commission continued to wait for Zelaya's nominations throughout the deadline day well into the night. During the 9 p.m. channel 5 news, it was announced that US Ambassador Llorens and OAS representatives left the meetings to go the Brazilian Embassy in an attempt to obtain nominations from Zelaya. They were not successful.

Today, international headlines everywhere read that the pact "failed", "fell apart", or "collapsed". I don't agree with that conclusion at all. The media seems to be relying almost exclusively upon statements of Zelaya and his followers.

Not even the terribly biased and ineffective OAS can allow Zelaya to single-handedly sabotage the Accord while everyone else is making heroic efforts to comply with it. Zelaya could have participated and worked toward reconciliation of Honduras. Instead he and his followers chose to issue demands and deadlines not provided for in the agreement using offensive and divisive language.

Can the future of a country be held hostage by one man who obviously only has his own personal interests in mind? I don't think so.

~~~~~~~~~~~

However − though I am loathe to quote these unreliable sources − Zelayista-funded CholusatSur TV and Radio Globo report that today US Ambassador Hugo Llorens has said that the parties must return to the dialogue table regarding the restoration of Zelaya. CholusatSur TV and Radio Globo have been issuing false information for four months, and particularly since the Accord was signed, including even blatantly mistranslating a US State Department press briefing for their audience.

If true, this is a very, very strange and contradictory comment coming from a high level official of the US government which has already stated its support for the signed Accord. Since it has already been agreed − at Mel Zelaya's request! − that the Congress is responsible for that decision, to imply that renegotiation is needed indicates that the US does not respect the Honduran solution after all.

If the OAS and US do continue to support the celebrated Accord for which which they issued lavish congratulations to each other, it is time for them to issue clear and concise statements to the zelayista media and to make a call for a stop to the disinformation campaign.

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, issued a statement today indicating that he "deplored the disruption to the process of implementation of the Agreement reached in Tegucigalpa on October 30. “The measures approved in the Agreement are clear and were signed by the parties of their own free will. I hope they will be met without further subterfuges to reestablish democracy, institutional legitimacy and peace among Hondurans,” Insulza stated."

That is NOT a clear statement and has already been used by these unethical media sources as official OAS condemnation of Micheletti. Insulza has never hesitated to direct his condemnations to the "de facto government". It is now time to make it clear that Zelaya is the person who is disrupting the process of reconciliation. To do otherwise is irresponsible and the OAS should be held responsible for any further destabilization of the country.

Failure of the OAS and US to issue clear statements is causing severe discord and discontent in Honduras. Previously Ambassador Llorens found it completely acceptable to publicly chastise Radio Globo for antisemitic comments. Surely the current situation and potential for violence merits the same attention.

More on the Zelayista position later...

AP idiot experts

la.gringas.blog@gmail.com (La Gringa) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:14:00 +0000

I ran across this in an AP article:

"I think it was sort of assumed that there was a deal with Congress to reinstate him," said Dana Frank, a historian at the University of California, Santa Cruz. "But the U.S. negotiators may have underestimated the sheer nutso chaos of Honduran politics."

No....the only chaos is in the international media who continually publish speculation and biased or flatly untrue reports and among "diplomats" and other "experts" who do not know what they are talking about. And it should be eminently clear to all by now that the only 'nutso' in Honduras is Zelaya, who puts his own selfish interests above all other interests of his country.

President Roberto Micheletti, the vast majority of the National Congress, the Supreme Court, the churches, the civic groups, the business community, the presidential candidates, former presidents, and the majority of the people of Honduras have been absolutely 100% consistent from June 28. Zelaya was removed constitutionally, he is a criminal, a corrupto, and a traitor, and they don't want him back in office under any circumstances.

"Institutional democracy" does not need to be restored in Honduras. Institutional democracy was threatened by Manuel Zelaya several times over the past years and that was corrected on June 28. Honduran democracy has since been threatened by many outside forces, especially those charged with protecting it, such as the OAS and UN, but Honduras remains strong and united.

To all: If what has been happening in Honduras doesn't make sense to you, it is because you do not understand that people are strong and determined when they know they are right! Honduras is united standing up for truth, democracy, and their sovereignty − maybe an unusual concept, but maybe everyone should try it.

OAS's Insulza: persona non grata, says Honduran civic group

la.gringas.blog@gmail.com (La Gringa) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:43:00 +0000

Armida López, President of Alianza de Honduras
Photo: La Tribuna, Honduras

In a noon press conference, it was announced that a large Honduran civic group has just declared OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza persona non grata in Honduras!

Alianza por Honduras en Paz y Democracia (Alliance for Honduras in Peace and Democracy) President Armida López read the press release to the media. Lopéz referred to Insulza's interventionism in Honduras, his abusive comments in violation of the Accord, and Chavez's influence over Insulza.

Please read the rest of my article at Pajamas Media.

Shannon clarifies the Accord; Zelaya disputes it

la.gringas.blog@gmail.com (La Gringa) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:16:00 +0000

Update: The CNN video did not work so I replaced it with the same video on YouTube.

In this CNN (Español) video from yesterday, November 3, you will hear US Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Shannon clarify that the restoration of Zelaya to the presidency is not guaranteed by the Guaymuras-Tegucigalpa-San José Accord and that it is a decision to be made by the Honduran National Congress. He states that installation of the National Unity Government is a separate matter from the restitution. He also states that the US and the OAS will accompany Honduras to their elections.

Shannon denies both media reports about deals with Zelaya and presidential candidate Pepe Lobo. He qualifies them as "lies".

Shannon confirms that both leaders took a risk in signing the Accord but they must accept the results of the Congressional vote. "At the end of day, the solution .... must be resolved by Hondurans." The interviewer asks, "So, for the US, to terminate the crisis .... the theme is: what happens, happens?" "Yes, exactly," responded Shannon.

The interviewer asks about Zelaya's interpretation of the Accord (that it requires his restoration by November 5). Shannon replies that he understands and respects Zelaya's opinion, but .... it is a decision of the Congress.

Zelaya's reaction

This interview upset Zelaya tremendously and he sent a letter to Hillary Clinton asking for a clarification of the US position. The letter accuses Washington of not respecting the Accord. [google translation]

Zelaya and his supporters have been spreading the disinformation that the Accord requires the restoration of Zelaya to the presidency by November 5.

The Zelayistas have been lied to beginning with Zelaya himself and his close supporters and extending to Zelaya controlled media (Radio Globo, Channel 36, El Tiempo). They have explained the lack of action by saying that the golpistas were doing dirty tricks and violating the Accord.

Most shameful of all, even the Verification Commission press conference was used to spread propaganda by Jorge Arturo Reina who gave a completely inappropriate and divisive speech, to the shock of many. US Secretary of Labor Hilda Solís was sitting next to him and a couple of times appeared very uncomfortable with his vitriolic rhetoric.

Reina told the audience that the agreement was to reverse the coup and that the Accord ordered the National Congress to reinstate Zelaya. His language was harsh and insulting. This was completely inappropriate since the Verification Commission's task is precisely to decide any issues of disagreement of interpretation of the Accord, and after all, the main purpose of the Accord is to promote peace and unity in Honduras.

I think that it is telling that Zelaya chose a representative to the Verification Commission who was not on his original negotiation team, unlike Micheletti. I have not heard any statements by Zelaya's three Guaymuras negotiators disputing the interpretation of Micheletti's negotiators that the National Congress is free to decide the issue.

Recall that while Micheletti insisted that restoration of Zelaya was a legal matter which should be decided by the court, Zelaya claimed that the issue was political and demanded that it be decided by the Congress. Ultimately Micheletti made a concession and agreed to Zelaya's demand. Now Zelaya is trying to renege.

Note: The embedded video doesn't seem to be working for me. If you don't see it, please click the link in the first sentence to view the video at CNN.com.

Morales tells Insulza to shut up, in a nice way

la.gringas.blog@gmail.com (La Gringa) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:45:00 +0000

Vilma Morales, former President of Honduran Supreme Court
Photo: La Tribuna, Honduras

Vilma Morales is tiny, but she's tough.

The following is my translation of a press release from the Casa Presidencial regarding Guaymuras spokesperson Vilma Morales' letter regarding OAS Secretary General José Insulza's interference in the implementation of the Accord:

Negotiating Commission of President Micheletti makes the second call to Sr. Insulza to maintain adequate distance from the Guaymuras Dialogue

For the second time in two weeks, the Negotiating Commission of President Roberto Micheletti before the Guaymuras Dialogue makes an energetic call to Secretary General of the OAS, José Miguel Insulza, to guard the appropriate distance from the details put in force of the accord derived from the dialogue.

A letter signed by the spokesperson of said commission, the attorney Vilma Morales, protested to Sr. Insulza that his declarations "could be used to plant doubt in our country." The letter continues, saying: "We write to you today to manifest our profound concern about your repeated public declarations with respect to the Tegucigalpa-San José Accord, which negatively impact the renewed spirit of cooperation and confidence created in our country."

In the missive, the attorney Morales criticizes the comments emited by Sr. Insulza during an interview with a radio station in Chile, which was reported by various news media. During the interview, Insulza said that "the only peaceful exit (in Honduras) is to restore President Zelaya for the short time that is left in his presidency."

Morales indicated that "We worry that these declarations could be considered an interference in a yet fragile process of resolution of crisis that is developing in our country. We consider furthermore that your comments are contrary to the letter and the spirit of the Accord Tegucigalpa-San José, which indicates textually that the National Congress has the last word to make a decision about the possible restitution of Sr. Zelaya to the presidency."

Before this situation, the negotiators of President Micheletti desire to clarify to the Secretary that "your declarations could be used to plant doubt in our country over the Accord and the ability of the OAS to be an impartial third party in this process, as is required by the signature of the involved parties."

In conclusion, the attorney Morales emphasizes that "our commission has acted with prudence and caution since the signing of the Accord, exactly to not hinder the process and the confidence created since the date of the signing. For this reason, we beg you (Insulza) and the functionaries of the your organization to do the same."

###

If you use this translation, please credit me and link back to this article.

You go, girl! We are behind you.

Background on Insulza's comments: See The Guaymuras Dialogues were a fraud

Honduras dialogues were a fraud

la.gringas.blog@gmail.com (La Gringa) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:12:00 +0000

OAS Secretary General and Emperor of Honduras, José Insulza
Photo: La Tercera, Chile

I'll preface this article by saying, "if this La Tercera article is true..."

Let's just admit that the Guaymuras-Tegucigalpa-San José dialogues were a fraud. There is no "Honduran solution" to the Honduran problem. A Honduran solution will not be allowed and there is soon to be no Honduran sovereignty.

As I predicted, the development of a Honduran solution was only going to be allowed if the Honduran solution was the solution that the "international community" demanded.

Secretary General José Insulza in this interview arrogantly called upon − not Zelaya who has been issuing vitriolic rhetoric against "the dictator" and the "the golpistas" every day − but the Honduras Congress to "cease the rhetoric" and "install the national unity government and restore the deposed President Manuel Zelaya".

"The only peaceful solution is to restore President Zelaya for the short time left in office," Insulza said. [google translation]

Insulza the enforcer announced that he will be traveling to Honduras this week to ensure that (his interpretation of) the agreement will be implemented.

There. Is that crystal clear enough for you, congressmen? Your decision has been made.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

This information has already been reported and repeated several times on Channel 36 and probably Radio Globo, whose listeners have been told that Micheletti agreed to restore Zelaya and that Micheletti is the one who now trying to back out of the agreement by using dirty tricks. Since their audience is told that they are tonto (stupid) and ignorant if they listen to any other (golpista) media, that is probably the only information that they have received.

These statements by Insulza completely violate what OAS representative Victor Rico said this weekend about the fact that no one, especially anyone from outside Honduras, should be putting pressure on the National Congress.

It also violates what US Assistant Secretary of State Tom Shannon said in his press conference.

In other words, this wasn’t about the OAS or the international community trying to impose a solution. We’ve seen that fail elsewhere. We know that solutions to be enduring and peaceful have to be rooted in, in this instance, in Honduran soil. And so in that regard, our purpose has always been to respect our principles, but to do so in a context in which Hondurans themselves were going to fashion their solutions.

The Resistance has been protesting outside the Congress for the past few days. Apparently now it is getting violent − no doubt a show for the Verification Commission and OAS representatives. If I were in charge of the Congress, I would declare that discussion of the issue is impossible with this pressure.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Incidentally, I was watching Channel 36 yesterday online. El Jefe was listening and pointed out that the man whipping the crowd into a frenzy about a constituyente (constitutional assembly) was a GRINGO! He could tell by the accent. So that is what we are dealing with here: outside forces trying to destabilize the country.

I just wish that the ethical media, if there is any, would report the lies and manipulations of the poor by these two media sources. Their lies have been enormous, including false reports of invasions, murders, kidnappings, concentration camps, forced disappearances, even genocide, as well as issuing calls for violence and insurrection even encouraging the assassination of Roberto Micheletti (which I heard with my own ears).

These highly paid media sources have been preaching that the elections will be a fraud, even though they know very well that the president has nothing to do with elections. Just the other day, they started a rumor that Roberto Micheletti was in Miami asking for asylum! They have done everything possible to destabilize the country, yet these are the two media outlets that the US was so worried about losing.

The only reprimand issued by the US (from US Ambassador Hugo Llorens) has been for the antisemitic comments of David Romero who said it was too bad that Hilter didn't finish his plans with the Jews − That is the kind of hate that emanates from these media outlets. Yet all of the other lies and calls for hate and violence go without comment by Hugo Llorens.

Where is your statement about elections, Llorens? Where is your encouragement to Hondurans to exercise their suffrage? Where is your call to stop the hate and unite for the sake of the future of Honduras? These kinds of statements from the US would carry weight with the Honduran people. Why are they not being made?

Update: Vilma Morales tells Insulza to shut up, in a nice way

Good faith...or not?

la.gringas.blog@gmail.com (La Gringa) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:47:00 +0000

Mel Zelaya: Fooled ya again!
Photo: La Prensa, Honduras

Article 10, the Final Declaration, of the Guaymuras-Tegucigalpa-San José Accord states:

"In the name of reconciliation and patriotic spirit that has brought us to the dialogue table, we promise to comply with the present Accord in good faith and to that which derives from it.

"The world is witness to this demonstration of unity and peace, to which we promise our civic conscience and patriotic devotion. Together, we will know how to demonstrate our valor and decision to strengthn the rule of law and construct a tolerant, pluralistic, and democratic society."

The Accord may be confusing or ambiguous to readers, but a few things are certain: Zelaya's three negotiators knew exactly what each clause meant and could have demanded written clarification before signing if they believed something important was not included or was not clear. The other thing certain is that Zelaya's negotiators were not authorized to agree to anything without Zelaya's approval. His own negotiators made that clear. We also know that Zelaya rejected ten prior proposals from the Micheletti team.

Zelaya agreed to the Accord apparently during a time he believed that he had enough votes in Congress to approve his restoration to office. Now it seems that he may be worried about the votes.

I have been writing for months that Zelaya can not be trusted to abide by any agreement (here, here, here, here). As someone who has been fascinated by Zelaya for years, I've watched him take one stand one day, and a different one the next with no shame. I watched one failed shoot-from-the-hip project after another. I heard him exclaim that no one could stop him (referring to the supreme court) and I believe him. 'No one' includes the US and OAS. I think he is about to 'burn' them. What a shame, after everyone has already issued their flowery congratulations to each other.

Within 24 hours of signing the Accord, Zelaya was threatening and claiming the Accord was failed. Some of his widely reported statements are as follows:

"The Government of Reconciliation and Unity can only be formed if we are agreed, if we don't agree, there is no Government of Reconciliation and Unity."

"I am one of the parts of the accord. The accord has two parts...if one of the parts feels that there has been a trap, the accord is broken."

"This accord only has one proposition: revert the coup d'etat placing the destituted president [back] in the corresponding position."

Zelaya held that the interpretation (that the agreement does not require restitution) would be "a double game, a dirty game and absurd and unintelligent" and "put them (the Micheletti authorities) in a very bad position before the international community."

Moreover, he warned: "Without restitution, there is no recognition from us for the elections, or from the OAS (Organization of American States), or from United Nations, the restitution is what returns the peace."

In contrast, President Roberto Micheletti called upon Congress that "the decision should be legal and congress should not permit influences of any type, from anyone."

José Saavedra, President of the National Congress, has said that the Congress must consult the Supreme Court and other organizations and "no one, absolutely no one, can impose deadlines or terms" on the Congress.

Victor Rico of the OAS, who was involved with the last rounds of negotiation, flatly told reporters that there is no time limit as to the restoration of Zelaya. He said that congress is sovereign and not the OAS or anyone else can impose a time limit. He did, however, include the "opinions of the international community" among the factors that the congress should consider.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Members of the Verification Commission have been named and will meet tomorrow in Tegucigalpa. Ricardo Lagos (former Chilean President and Socialist Party member) and Hilda Solís (current US Secretary of Labor), named by the OAS. They will be accompanied by Victor Rico, OAS representative who was involved in the last rounds of Guaymuras negotiations, as well as others from the OAS.

Zelaya's representative is Jorge Arturo Reina, Zelaya's Ambassador to the UN. Micheletti's representative is Arturo Corrales Alvarez, who was also a part of the Guaymuras negotiating team.

Thomas Shannon, the US State Department 'cleaner'

la.gringas.blog@gmail.com (La Gringa) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:50:00 +0000

Zelaya and Thomas Shannon
Photos: La Prensa, Honduras

How did Thomas Shannon, US Assistant Secretary of State, works such wonders in two days after four months of standoff? We'll probably never know completely, but some of the tactics are coming out. I don't think he'll be getting the Nobel.

My source in Tegucigalpa reported that Shannon "scared the living hell" out of everyone. We are talking about people who have stood up to the OAS, the UN, the US, Hugo Chávez, and virtually every country in the world for four months, but in one day, Thomas Shannon scared the hell out of everyone. My source also reported that that Shannon was pressuring Congressmen.

The Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia reports that Thomas Shannon threatened to prosecute Zelaya's son Hector, who now lives in the US, with drug trafficking if Zelaya did not sign the Accord. [google translation]

Thus Zelaya authorized signing of the Accord, but it is just another example of how the US really does not know Zelaya. He began recanting a day later. The US should have known better, since back in August, within hours of telling Hillary Clinton that he agreed to the old San José Accord, he was in an interview with CNN saying he would continue with the constitutional assembly.

Zelaya has already made it crystal clear that he has no intention of abiding by the Guaymuras Accord unless it results in his restitution to office. As a result, despite the agreement, nothing has really changed. In or out of office, Zelaya will continue to try to destabilize the country with the help of his followers. Jose Cardenas writing for Foreign Policy agrees. Martha Alvarado, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, believes as many do that Zelaya is trying to destabilize the elections. [google translation]

Even Jorge Arturo Reina, Zelaya's Ambassador to the UN, has announced that the agreement is broken if Zelaya is not returned to office. Reina has been named as Zelaya's representative to the Verification Commission. Jorge Reina's US visa was suspended several years ago because "he was implicated in alleged terrorist activities".

Speaking of drugs, have those US Congressmen ever gotten an answer from President Obama about whether or not the US has any intelligence about Mel Zelaya's narcotrafficking connections?

So the US is protecting a known drug trafficker in order to force a country to reinstall a corrupt president who possibly also has drug ties in order to....save face? cover their error? Nice.

In a special report from Tegucigalpa, El País reported that Thomas Shannon struck a deal with Pepe Lobo, the Nacionalista presidential candidate.

El País reports that Shannon told Lobo that he needed a guarantee that the restitution would take place, so he needed for Lobo's congressmen to vote 'yes'. Lobo reportedly agreed but asked that whatever happened with the vote, the US in particular and the international community in general would validate the elections − to which Shannon agreed. [google translation, but note that it isn't a great translation]

The Wall Street Journal reports that Shannon denies that this occurred. Of course he denies it. I did not get a good feeling from Shannon's press conference in which he danced around the issue of Zelaya's restitution and never really gave a concrete answer. Pepe Lobo also denies that the private meeting occurred. Lobo has not taken a position on whether or not Zelaya should be restored.

The US believes that Pepe Lobo is going to win the election and are putting all their eggs in one basket. Personally, I do not think that the US has a good grasp of ANYTHING about Honduras. The US treatment of Honduras and Hondurans has been demeaning and it won't be forgotten soon. Neither will congressmen who vote for the restoration of Zelaya be forgotten on election day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mary Anatasia O'Grady wrote in the WSJ: "Clearly no one in Washington expected it to be so hard to break the will of Hondurans." Why was their will so strong? Everyone here in Honduras knows that we don't have a dictator, even the people who call Micheletti that, so that wasn't the reason. The reason is that for once the government, the businessmen, the churches, and yes, the majority of the people, were fed up with corruption and were proud that they had done something about it. They were united in a cause as never before.

I have a better idea: How about if all the drug traffickers and corruptos are arrested, no deals are made with anyone, and the US quit digging themselves deeper in this hole to cover their butts for a bad decision. Let it really be a Honduran decision. Making amends is going to take a lot more than a beer for the harm that has been done to Honduras.

Hondurans finally feel empowered to stand up against corruption, something the previous US Ambassador Charles Ford always said was needed. Why does the US now want to crush that?

Update: Everyone and his dog has denied everything. Of course they have.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am reminded again of US President Barack Obama's pledge to Latin America:

"While the United States has done much to promote peace and prosperity in the hemisphere, we have at times been disengaged, and at times we sought to dictate our terms. But I pledge to you that we seek an equal partnership. (Applause.) There is no senior partner and junior partner in our relations; there is simply engagement based on mutual respect and common interests and shared values."

Nice words.

The incredible Zelaya wastes no time

la.gringas.blog@gmail.com (La Gringa) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:13:00 +0000

Already! Even before the formal Accord signing ceremony, Mel Zelaya, from his tin foil lined room, is once again giving ultimatums. And once again showing that he has no intentions of abiding by the Accord and certainly not with the spirit of unity and reconciliation.

Proceso Digital reports that in a radio broadcast one day after the negotiators signed the agreement in front of international witnesses, Zelaya said that if Congress does not reinstate him to office next week, the San José/Tegucigalpa deal "is a failure," while reminding the congressmen, judges, prosecutors, and military do not forget that they have pending trials in the International Criminal Court. [google translation]

Does that sound like a threat to those who are voting on whether or not to restore him? I have said that Zelaya will not respect any agreement. He cannot be trusted and that is exactly why Hondurans do not want him back.

The comments and reminders were issued from the Brazilian Embassy in a round table discussion with his advisors and was broadcast by a local radio station and for Aljazeera. (Note that the Aljazeera article omits several of the juicier tidbits.)

More from the Proceso Digital article:

Zelaya noted that the timetable for implementation of the agreements provides that a government of national unity and reconciliation should be installed by November 5th.

In his view, Congress should have resolved his reinstatement in office by that date, because according to him, "this agreement, this dialogue, the resolutions of the OAS and United Nations have only one purpose: to reverse the coup by placing the president who was in office illegally dismissed rightful."

"If the National Congress in the session you have, is going to reaffirm that what they did was appropriate, then, gentlemen, we have done absolutely nothing but deceived the international community and the Honduran people with this agreement," he said.

"I remind members of the Supreme Court that they themselves are accused before the International Criminal Court and have a pending indictment and it is an accusation which will run its course. The same is being processed for the state attorney general, the heads of the Armed Forces, Mr. Micheletti, with all ministers and their own national congressional directive," he recalled.

Additionally, his latest right-hand man Rasel Tomé, who has an arrest warrant waiting for him when he leaves the embassy, has urged Zelaya's followers to pressure congressmen by calling and posting themselves at the congressmen's homes.

So, is it obvious that Zelaya is not looking forward to a "government of unity and reconciliation", but rather is still plotting revenge against those he considers the perpetrators? It seems very clear to me that he will protest the Accord unless the congress rules in his favor.

Highlights of the Honduras Accord

la.gringas.blog@gmail.com (La Gringa) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:45:00 +0000

The following are my notes from the Guaymuras Accord, now being called the Tegucigalpa/San José Accord. I've simplified and just included the main requirements, rather than trying to translate it word for word. Just imagine a lot of "to achieve reconciliation" and "to strengthen democracy" and that sort of statement throughout. My personal comments are in brackets [ ].

A copy of the signed Guaymuras Accord in Spanish is here. Each section includes any applicable articles of the constitution, so if you are interested in that, just refer to the original document for the references.

1. Government of Unity and National Reconciliation

This refers to the Secretaries, Sub-secretaries, and heads of other state departments [such as Hondutel and La ENEE]. [This would be similar to the president's cabinet in the US.] It specifically states that these people should be from diverse parties and should be known for their honesty and capabilities. It also requires this new government to respect the 2009 budget approved by congress in July 2009, since Mel Zelaya had never submitted a 2009 budget.

[I hope that they consider leaving some of the same people in key positions (some of whom were appointed by Zelaya) because what a mess the government will be with new people stepping in for only three months − especially if the new appointees decide to find jobs for all their relatives and friends, as has been the custom. What also is not clear to me is exactly who will be doing the appointing.]

2. Renunciation of Constitutional Assembly

This requires abstention from convoking, directly or indirectly, a constitutional assembly, as well as prohibition of promoting or supporting any public poll with the object of reforming the articles of the constitution "set in stone". This includes making public declarations or exercising any type of influence inconsistent with the spirit of articles 5, 239, 373, and 374, and the special law that regulates Referendum and Plebiscite. [Certain Resistance members have already said that they are not giving up on the Constitutional Assembly.]

3. Elections and Transfer of Government

Makes a call to the Honduran public to participate pacifically in the elections and avoid every type of manifestation that opposes elections or promotes insurrection or illegal acts. Also discusses the TSE authority and the transfer of power on January 27, 2009. [Some Resistance members are continuing to say that they will boycott elections.]

4. Armed Forces and National Police

As already required by the constitution, control of the Armed Forces was transferred to the Election Tribunal (TSE) until election results are announced [expected to be November 30]. The military are responsible for the custody, transportation, and vigilance of election materials, as well as election security. The National Police are also reminded to strictly follow the special legislation [I assume this means laws related to elections].

5. Executive Power

Both sides have decided that the National Congress, as an expression of popular sovereignty, in consultation with the Supreme Court and in conformation with the law, resolve the issue of the return of the Executive Power to his status previous to June 28, until January 27, 2010. [Note that there is no timetable or deadline for this action. The congress is in recess right now, but could call a special session next week.]

The decision adopted by the Congress should be based on reaching social peace, political tranquility, and democratic government that the society demands and the country needs. [This could be the catch in which the international community could refuse to accept the Congress' decision or refuse to recognize elections − ALBA members and other countries have already said as much in the October 30 OAS meeting. That would, of course, highlight their hypocrisy.]

6. Verification and Truth Commissions

Verification Commission will monitor the strict compliance with the Accord. The commission will be coordinated by OAS, and consists of two members of the international community and two Honduran members (one selected by each side). [It has been announced that the two international members will be Colin Powell (former US Secretary of State) and Ricardo Lagos (former president and member of the Socialist Party of Chile). How can the OAS be so obvious that they appoint a socialist to this commission?! This could result in a 3 to 1 bias against the true Honduran majority.]

It is recommended that the next government establish the Truth Commission in the first 6 months of 2010. [Why the delay?!]

7. Normalization of Relations

By promising to comply faithfully with this Accord, it is respectfully asked that the immediate revocation of measures and sanctions that affect Honduras and its participation in the international community.

We call on the international community to reactivate cooperative projects as soon as possible and to continue with negotiations of future projects.

8. Final Dispositions

Any difference in interpretation or application of the Accord will be submitted to the Verification Commission to be determined in accordance with the Constitution and laws of Honduras.

Taking into account that this Accord is the product of Hondurans, we vehemently ask that the international community respect the sovereignty of Honduras and observe the UN Charter principal of no intervention in internal matters of other states.

9. Compliance calendar

The Accord goes into effect immediately on the date of signing.

Oct. 30, 2009:
1. Signing of Accord
2. Submission of the Accord to Congress regarding point 5.

Nov. 2, 2009: Formation of the Verification Commission

No later than Nov. 5, 2009: Formation and installation of the Unity and Reconciliation Government.

Jan. 27, 2010: Celebration of the transfer of government.

First 6 months of 2010: Formation of the Truth Commission

10. Final Declaration

A promise in good faith to comply with the terms of the Accord.

11. Appreciation

[Not worth summarizing. The people being thanked have already congratulated themselves and each other ad nauseam.]

12. Effective date

The agreement is effective the date signed. The formal signing ceremony will be on Monday, November 2 [in which I assume that Roberto Micheletti and Manuel Zelaya will sign the agreement].

~~~~~~~~~~

Note that there are no amnesty provisions, as were in the original San José Accord. Amnesty for political crimes was removed at the request of Mel Zelaya. Additionally, Vilma Morales explained in a press conference that there can be no amnesty for corruption cases based on Honduras signing an Inter-American Anti-Corruption agreement about four years ago.

We hear a lot about the "Resistance", but what we hear nothing about in the international media is the other "Resistance" − The civil society groups and average citizens who don't burn tires, who don't paint graffiti, and who don't want Mel Zelaya back to further divide and promote hate. These people also want change in their government, but what they want is that their constitution is upheld and their laws are enforced. They want corruptos punished under the law. This group makes up about 80% of the population and it is so unfair that the remaining 15-20% who make all 'noise' are the only ones listened to by the international community and the international media.

The Guaymuras Accord

la.gringas.blog@gmail.com (La Gringa) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:53:00 +0000

Here is a copy of the signed Guaymuras Accord (in Spanish).

I'm listening to another press conference. If I heard correctly (pounding headache, fever, and earaches), the Honduran congress is in recess until after the November 29 elections.

Update 7:33 p.m.: Now I'm listening to Radio Globo and a congressman is saying they will try to call a session on Monday.

Here is how you can help Honduras

la.gringas.blog@gmail.com (La Gringa) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:45:00 +0000

Okay, folks, all of you who want to help Honduras. Here is your chance:

Become an election observer!

The Tribunal Supremo Electoral (TSE) wants you!

This is something that ALL expatriates in Honduras can easily do in your area. Do you love Honduras? Do you want democratic elections in Honduras to prevail? Do you believe that the Honduran people have a right to elect their president regardless of what the international community believes? You can help with this historic event.

But let's not stop there. Do you have a club, a church group, a work group, a Rotary or Lion's club, or blogging group that might be interested in a trip to Honduras? No group is too big or too small. TSE would love to have your help and support to show the world that Honduras' elections are free, fair, and democratic.

We believe that if elections are shown to be free and fair that the international community will have to relent. You can play a historic part in saving Honduras' democracy. Imagine telling your children or grandchildren about the time that the whole world was against this little country and you helped to prove them wrong! Imagine what a blogging experience this would be! Honduras is a little country that has stood up to the world without blinking, standing firm for what they believe is right. I'm getting emotional here, but sorry, that is how I feel.

Elections are right around the corner − Sunday, November 29. The TSE has accredited various civic groups, such as the Alliance for Peace and Democracy (APD) who contacted me, to provide invitations and training to potential observers. You will need to be here in Honduras from Thursday, November 26 through Monday, November 30. Arriving Friday, November 27, might work if you could arrive early in the day.

International requirements for election observers

You will be instructed in what you can and can not do − mostly common sense things. For example, you will be allowed to talk to or ask questions of anyone, go in and out of the polling place, but obviously will not be allowed to promote a candidate or party. The training sessions will probably be held mostly in the larger cities where the observers will arrive, Tegucigalpa, San Pedro, and La Ceiba.

The TSE may suggest certain polling places to try to cover the largest number of locations, but to maintain your independence, you will be allowed to visit any polling place that you select. Obviously, if all of the observers wanted to be stationed at the beach on Roatán, that wouldn't help too much, so the TSE may ask if you are willing to cover some of the smaller towns. Observers will probably be in pairs and will be moved during the day to observe different polling places.

How to apply

In this GoogleDocs folder, (click the link) you will find:

1) An information letter from APD
2) Clearance Form for International Observers
3) Regulations for International Observers (English)
4) Regulations for International Observers (Spanish)

Read the information letter. Read the regulations. Download the Clearance Form. Using your word processing program, fill in the information on the form and save it on your computer. Send an email to AlianzaPazHonduras@gmail.com with your name and email address, any questions you might have, and attach the Clearance Form to your email. If you will be part of group, the group can send all of the Clearance Forms in one email, but be sure to include the email addresses for all.

Once your application is approved, APD will confirm your invitation and forward your information to the TSE. And then finally, you will received a formal invitation to be an election observer from the TSE (TSE website). Print the invitation and bring it with you.

If you are coming with a group, please include complete information about your group and its leader and the number of people who will be coming, even if you haven't confirmed the names. It's very important logistically that the TSE know the number of people.

Logistics

The TSE has a very small budget for election observers, since they have lost election support from the UN. Depending on the total number of volunteers, it is possible that you may be reimbursed for food and lodging during your time here, but I would ask you not to count on that.

Alliance volunteers will pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel. They have made arrangements with several hotels for special very low rates for election observers. Some volunteers are even offering guest rooms in their homes. In at least some locations, there will be small dinner parties for the observers. They will, of course, transport you to the training session and throughout election day, as well as provide transportation back to the airport. They want you to be comfortable and feel at home.

TSE is logically trying to reserve as much as possible of the budget to attract former heads of state, politicians, church or business leaders, and other influential people whose presence and subsequent reports will be more meaningful to the international community.

What we may lack in influence, I hope we can make up for in numbers. But if you feel that you fall into that 'influential' group who may be able to publicize your experience, be sure to tell the Alianza group in your email and they will see what they can do for you.

Now, this is especially for you Honduran residents and citizens: the APD is also asking for volunteers to be with the observers during their free time to show them around, go out to dinner with them, etc., so they aren't just stuck in a hotel room for days. This is a great opportunity to show off Honduras and possibly some of those same people may want to come back again to vacation some time.

I realize this is extremely short notice for an international trip, but if you can manage it, we'll be very grateful. If you live in Honduras − no excuses!

Guaymuras Accord tonight?

la.gringas.blog@gmail.com (La Gringa) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:50:00 +0000

Honduran President Roberto Micheletti

President Roberto Micheletti made an announcement at 10 pm. He has agreed to Zelaya's demand that the National Congress decide the issue of Zelaya's restitution, but that that decision must be reviewed by the Supreme Court. He has authorized his team to sign the Guaymuras Accord tonight if Zelaya agrees to it.

He indicated that the ball is in Zelaya's court, "No more rhetoric! No more political games! No more excuses!"

We are supposed to hear more soon.

Update 11:16: They both signed the accord. Victor Rico made the announcement and is thanking Thomas Shannon.

Thomas Shannon is congratulating the negotiators and everyone else, including José Insulza and Oscar Arias. Phht. Word is that he made serious threats against Honduras to force the agreement.

Update 11:30: Vilma Morales spoke for the Micheletti team, nothing new there.
I've been waiting for a press conference from the other side, nothing yet.

Update 11:52: From my inside source, 47 congressmen will vote no (40 Liberal, 1 UD, 2 PINU, and 4 DC) 26 congressmen will vote yes (22 Liberals and 4 UD), and presidential candidate Pepe Lobo is asking the Nacionalistas to abstain.

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.

Update 1:30 a.m.: See the comment on this article from Lce_hn. He or she saw the Zelaya press conference and wrote that, incredibly, Victor Meza said that there are still four points to be agreed upon. This Reuters Latin America report says that Zelaya will sign the agreement on Friday. (I'm not including a google translation as it is a bad translation.) Finally, I found a Proceso Digital report of Victor Meza's press conference. [google translation]

Hillary has already announced her joy at the agreement so I hope that Zelaya sticks to his word that he will sign the agreement and will respect the decision of the congress.