The second stage of the San Jose "mediation" talks to find a solution to the Honduran coup crisis has collapsed. President Zelaya has just finished a press conference at the Honduran embassy in Managua, Nicaragua. He announced that he would leave this afternoon for Honduras, with an overnight stop in Esteli, Nicaragua. He invited the national and international press to accompany his caravan. Reporters from a number of news agencies and Nicaraguan media have decided to go with the President's caravan. Honduran foreign minister Patricia Rodas is with Zelaya on the caravan. Eden Pastora, the legendary Sandinista Comandante Zero, sat at his side. Pastora said that he would join the caravan in the name of revolutionary democrats from all of Central America in support of the Honduran people's resistance to the coup. Also present were numerous Honduras from various departments of their country who had come to participate in the caravan. [Pastora defected to the Contras in the mid 80 and jointed the southern front of the US-sponsored war in partnership with indigenous Miskito leader Brooklyn Rivera Bryan. Both leaders are now prominent participants the current Sandinista administration of President Daniel Ortega Saavedra. TeleSur carried the press conference in full, and continues to present live coverage of preparations for the caravan's departure. Hondurans en route from the capital to the southern border are protesting to TV and radio reporters that they are being blocked by police and army barricades on the highways and roads. This repression may limit the size of welcoming crowds along the border. Hondurans within the country are mobilizing welcome brigades who are attempting to reach the southern border. There are three border crossing points north of Esteli. It is not known which crossing Zelaya's party will choose. He does not rule out a maritime route, but more likely will choose a land access in order to meet the welcoming crowds.
Zelaya acknowledged reporters questions about the serious possibility of his assassination either en route or once he enters his country. Zelaya stated that he is prepared to pay whatever price necessary in the fight for democracy. Leaving the Honduran people and his family alone to face ongoing repression and bloodshed is not an option, he explained. Zelaya and Pastora reiterated that the caravan and re-entry would be peaceful. It is unarmed. "Only the army has arms, only they have bombs and machine guns. The grassroots resistance is peaceful," Zelaya stressed. He stated that if he is assassinated the author of his death shall be the head of the Honduran High Command. En route in Nicaragua the caravan will benefit from heavy police protection, and also the accompaniment of a great many Nicaraguan and international supporters. The U.S. State Department and even OAS General Secretary Jose Miguel Insulsa are attempting to persuade the Honduran government-in-exile from attempting to enter their country. But Zelaya countered this, explaining how many times they have postponed their return in order to allow the Arias mediation dialog to prove itself. But it has failed, not once, but twice because the military junta -- costumed as a legitimate government -- has consistently refused to bow to popular and international demands for the restitution of the Zelaya presidency. Sent via my BlackBerry Device from Vodacom - let your email find you! --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] . -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
