[Quote Despite enjoying strong international support during his two-month expulsion, Zelaya has been unsuccessful at returning to power. Unquote
Very much unlike Chavez after April 2002 coup and kidnap, Zelaya has failed to make a comeback on his own steam. Street Street protests are of course on. But has not produced any tangible results as yet. Quite impressive support from the international community, including the US President, has also failed to produce the desired results. as yet. So, in stark contrast with the harsh notes emanating from the radical fringe of his supporters, Zelaya is compelled to publicly pin his hopes more and more on an activist US role in his favour and against the coup leaders. But that's happening only at a snail's pace. Never mind that there is a sea change in the expectations from and the demands made on the US administration as compared to Chile in 1973 or even Venezuela in 2002. But that's just not enough. At least as yet.] I/II. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-08/29/content_11963345.htm Zelaya rejects crisis plan of Honduras' interim government TEGUCIGALPA, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya said Friday in Nicaragua's capital Managua he would reject any crisis plan offered by the Honduran interim government that demands that he give up his presidential claim. The Honduran negotiation delegation presented Honduras' Interim president Roberto Micheletti's proposal to the Washington-based Organization of American States (OAS) on Wednesday. The proposal states that both Micheletti and Zelaya resign to enable a third person to serve out the remainder of Zelaya's constitutional term, which ends January. Zelaya insisted he would reject any crisis plan that trampled on people's rights. He added that only the people had the right to choose the president who would serve them. He reiterated his position in the San Jose Agreement, emphasizing that the election organized by the interim government was illegal and would never get international support. Zelaya's ambassador to the OAS, Carlos Sosa, said they did not accept the crisis plan because it was an effort to stall for time and make it appear as if they were talking, according to the Washington Post. OAS Secretary-General Jose Miguel Insulza believed there would be no agreement to end the Honduran crisis unless Zelaya returns to the presidency. The San Jose agreement, proposed by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, demands that Zelaya be allowed to return to power. The proposal, recognized by the OAS and the United States as the best solution to the Honduran crisis, also includes a reconciliatory government, a general election and political amnesty. Zelaya, who was removed from the Honduran presidency by a political-military coup on June 28, was replaced by Micheletti. Despite enjoying strong international support during his two-month expulsion, Zelaya has been unsuccessful at returning to power. II. http://www.globalvisas.com/news/us_likely_to_impose_further_visa_restrictions_on_honduras1540.html US likely to impose further visa restrictions on Honduras August 28 2009 by Mark Johnstone Barack Obama’s administration has said it will take further action against the de facto leadership in Honduras, after the elected President Manuel Zelaya was expelled from the country in June. US visa services have already been temporarily suspended in Honduras for non-emergency cases, but now a full review of America’s visa policies in Honduras is underway. State Department spokesman, Ian Kelly, confirmed in a statement that the American Government was suspending the visa services to support the current Organization of American States (OAS) mission in Honduras, which is seeking support for the accord. "We firmly believe a negotiated solution is the appropriate way forward and the San Jose Accord is the best solution," he said. Recent reports suggest that Hillary Clinton, America’s Secretary of State, is expected to make a formal determination today or early next week that the deportation of Mr. Zelaya was an extra-legal coup. Such a determination would be likely to set in motion substantial cuts in US aid, and further restrictions on visas for citizens of Honduras who want to live and work in the US. III. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jAkMGKIUDg_ngUiZboxQbYj5_DPwD9ACASQ00 OAS: Any Honduran deal must restore ousted leader By JUAN CARLOS LLORCA (AP) – 10 hours ago TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — The head of the Organization of American States closed the door Friday on a compromise offered by Honduras' interim leader because it would not restore the president ousted in a coup. OAS Secretary-General Jose Miguel Insulza warned there will be no agreement to end Honduras' crisis unless Manuel Zelaya returns to the presidency. The interim government "has not ceded on one of the principal points, which is the return of President Zelaya. And we are also not going to cede on that issue," Insulza said in an interview with Chile's La Tercera newspaper. "Therefore, until there is a consensus on that, there will be no agreement. Zelaya must return as president of Honduras." Interim President Roberto Micheletti offered this week to resign if Zelaya gives up his claim to the presidency. Under the plan, a third party would be appointed to serve out the remainder of Zelaya's constitutional term, which ends in January. Arturo Corrales, a negotiator for the interim government, said Micheletti presented the plan to a delegation of foreign ministers from the OAS in Tegucigalpa on Tuesday. Corrales said Micheletti was also prepared to back a limited amnesty for Zelaya, who was charged with abuse of power and other counts and forced into exile in a June 28 military coup. However, Micheletti appeared to withdraw his support for the amnesty Friday, insisting that Zelaya must be tried if he returns to Honduras. "If need be, I will resign, as long as Zelaya does not return to the country. And if he comes ... let him come and face justice," Micheletti told Channel 10 television. And late Friday, the interim government issued a statement saying it had sent Costa Rican President Oscar Arias — who has served as a mediator in talks on the dispute — yet another set of proposals. The Foreign Ministry said the message included three proposed alternatives to Zelaya's return, but did not specify what they were. At a news conference in Managua, Nicaragua, Zelaya also rejected any deal that doesn't include his reinstatement and said the scheduled election to replace him would not be legitimate otherwise. Zelaya said his return as president is a "condition sine qua non for a transparent and democratic electoral process." He said the interim government was seeking to use the Nov. 29 presidential election to "legitimize the coup." About 1,000 Zelaya supporters, meanwhile, marched in a poor neighborhood of the Honduran capital, Tegucigalpa, to demand his return to power and mark two months since the coup. Despite worldwide condemnation of the coup, Micheletti insists Zelaya was legally removed from office by the Honduran Congress for defying a Supreme Court order to drop efforts to change the constitution. U.S. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said Friday that Washington continues to support a compromise proposed by Arias that would restore Zelaya with limited powers and require him to abandon ambitions to change the constitution. Critics of Zelaya say he was planning to extend his time in office by removing a ban on presidential re-election. Zelaya denies he was seeking to extend his term. He says he supports the Arias plan, but Micheletti has rejected it. Kelly said a senior State Department official met Friday with representatives of the Micheletti administration, a day after the U.S. government said it would soon announce new action to press for Zelaya's reinstatement. The United States — Honduras' No. 1 trade partner and source of foreign aid — has already suspended millions of dollars in development and military funds. Washington also said it will stop issuing most visas at its embassy in Honduras. Kelly said it was not clear when Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton might sign a determination that Zelaya's ouster meets the legal definition of a coup d'etat. That would trigger suspension of $215 million more in U.S. aid under an anti-poverty program run by the Millennium Challenge Corp. Micheletti has said he does not fear sanctions, and officials in his government have expressed hope that international pressure will soften after the Nov. 29 presidential election, which was scheduled before the coup. Insulza warned that would not likely happen. He said at least 22 OAS member countries would have to vote to lift Honduras' suspension from the bloc before recognizing the outcome of the election. "At this moment, I don't think quorum exists for that," he said. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. 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