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Breakthrough in Honduras Deadlock
TEGUCIGALPA - Honduran de facto leaders and deposed President Manuel Zelaya have agreed to restart talks, in a breakthrough in a crisis that has gripped the nation, a top envoy said.
Supporters of ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya protest near the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa. Honduras' de facto regime and Zelaya have agreed to reopen talks, raising hopes for a breakthrough in a crisis that has gripped the country for over three months, a top diplomat said. (AFP/Yuri Cortez) John Biehl, an envoy of the Organization of American States, said Friday Zelaya and de facto leader Robert Micheletti would not meet face-to-face for now.
But he told reporters that representatives of the two camps would begin meeting next week, possibly before the arrival Wednesday of a diplomatic mission of regional foreign ministers and OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza.
"There is going to be a call to dialogue," said Biehl, who is Insulza's representative. "The current government will make it, and the other party will accept. That has been agreed."
The announcement followed Zelaya's surprise return to the country on September 21 -- to the Brazilian embassy -- which triggered protests and a new curb on civil rights, but also boosted efforts to break the deadlock.
Micheletti confirmed that his camp had began dialogue "officially with Mister Zelaya's people," in comments to reporters late Friday.
The de facto leader also revealed that he had had a secret meeting with OAS chief Insulza on Tuesday at a US military base.
"Yes, he (Jose Miguel Insulza) came to Honduras. He was here the other day in Palmerola," Micheletti said, refering to the US base north of the capital Tegucigalpa.
"We spoke about everything a little," said the increasingly isolated leader.
The business community and even the army behind the coup have given indications of frustration over the current impasse as the economic and diplomatic costs of the crisis mount.
Many observers have cited a first, rejected, peace accord, known as the San Jose agreement -- as a likely basis for a new agreement.
That includes the reinstatement of Zelaya to the presidency and elections as a way to end the stalemate.
The interim regime, which wants to press charges of treason, corruption and abuse of authority against Zelaya, said the Arias plan could become an "acceptable agreement" with some changes.
Micheletti, who met with a group of sympathetic US lawmakers Friday, was expected Monday to lift a widely-criticized crackdown on civil liberties, following pressure even from the courts and congress that backed the coup.
Cracks appeared in the regime over the clampdown amid concern that it would derail the November 29 elections.
It raised a howl of protest from the international community.
The September 26 decree "damaged civil liberties like nothing else has in a long time here. That's why it must be reversed immediately," US ambassador to Honduras Hugo Llorens told journalists Friday.
Under the sweeping new powers, baton-wielding riot police and soldiers have evicted dozens of Zelaya supporters who had been camping out in the capital this week, and raided two main dissident media outlets.
Berta Oliva, head of a local rights watchdog, said Friday that at least 12 people had been killed and scores wounded in political violence since the coup.
Oliva cited "scores and scores of reports" of people wounded or beaten during the protests.
Regime officials only acknowledge one death -- an activist killed July 5 in clashes with authorities who blocked Zelaya's first attempt to return home at the capital's airport.
Zelaya was ousted by soldiers at gunpoint after he riled the country's political and business leaders by calling for a referendum to change the constitution -- seen as a bid to stay in office -- and boosted his ties with Venezuela's firebrand leftist President Hugo Chavez.
His surprise return to the country on September 21 set off protests and the clampdown, but also intensified efforts to resolve the three-month-old crisis.
18 Comments so far
Show AllWhat should be an interesting event that occurs alongside this situation will occur on Oct. 10. A World Cup 2010 Qualifying match versus the USA in Tegucigulpa is scheduled (and FIFA has decreed that the match go ahead as scheduled in Honduras). One wonders what will happen during the match in the stands.
What I would like explained is the crux of the constitutional referendum problem. They say Zelaya wanted to extend his presidentancy and he denies it. Que pasa?
There is part of the Hondurian Constitution that says that a President can not hold a referendum one year before an election. Zelaya had printed up a NON-biding referendum that ONLY asked if the voter wanted or favored changing the Constition as a whole document. I read the English translation of the referendum and there was no mention of his continued ability to stay in office or of even the office itself! There was no mention of anything in detail other than if a general change to the Contitution was desired! The issue of extending his Presidency was made up by opposition as was the charges that he broke any laws relating to the Constitution! That's why he was thrown out instead of arrested!!! The reality was even if the referendum was valid or counted....and that it passed as written by popular vote... and somehow made it to the Nov. ballot to be voting on in the next general election...Zelaya couldn't have run for office til AFTER it was passed by the people in that general election! Zelaya at best would have to wait a whole Presidential term to even think about running again no matter what! What created the fear for the multi national corporations and the big "14 families" (with whom Zelaya was once a part of!) was the possibility of change OR general revision of a Constitution written back in the 80's with the aid of the Reagan Administration that, of course, has favored select big business over that of labor, natural resources, and local economic control!
Ah so ... Thank you, marci d, for that information.
peace, cm
this is correct.
regardless of Zelaya's ULTIMATE intent - whether to extend his presidency through referendum approval to FIRST change the constitution to ALLOW him to RUN -
the OTHER CRITICAL part you don't SEE in MSM USA is :
ZELAYA - had , at least as far as the record seems, a "change of heart" ...in that :
while BEING a very rich man - he began to REALIZE that these ARE his OWN people who have been suffering for so long under the rule of people LIKE himself : the business community and that it NEEDS TO STOP --
and SO - as president - he "became leftist" - AND PASSED LAWS that RAISED the MINIMUM WAGE ..which is of course CENTRAL to any Fascist, corporate, usa-inspired "business oriented" Capitalist ruling class.
Living wages...not just in the USA, but in south american, and across the globe.
what does THAT MEAN?
it merely means that the wealth produced by the MAJORITY of human beings, in whatever manner , IS the REAL source of "wealth" ...not this PAPER MONEY shenanigans of the banking, mnetary system industry and their "dividends" and Stocks and such make-believe "value added" nonsense RIDING on the backs of the majority of people on the planet , as DICTATED and DESIGNED by
what ELSE?
CAPITALISM - and its "SUCK UP THE WEALTH" system.
so -- why would these Oligarchs want Zelaya out? why would the USA support THOSE oligarchs?
because ZELAYA - at least, even as a rich man himself RECOGNIZES that PEOPLE, His OWN people - ARE ALSO HUMAN BEINGS...and slave wages, non-livable wages, theft of their resources by oligarchs at the behest of "BIG BOSS CAPITALISM" of the USA - such as OBAMA's Justice Secretary HOLDER's CHIQUITA BANANAS
are ANATHEMA to these CROOKS and THIEVES of human life and labor and ENSLAVERS and EXPLOITERS.
that's all there is to it.
the USA would have been HAPPY it did not have to be so Confrontational and Controversial and SO OPEN TO THE WORLD TO SEE --
EXACTLY where the USA's HAND is in WHOSE pocket!
do people , as in ECUADOR fights between INDIGENOUS "groups" AGAINST president CORRERA (also an indigenous himself) --
really think that the "ORGANIZERS" be they indigenous themselves with some SELFISH motives of THEIR own or NOT indigenous PRETENDING to be "democratic upholders" (as usual)
and perhaps evne pretending to uphold the "Rights of the Indigenous" --
that the USA - with its LONG history , especially IN south amnerica, of "FOMENTING INSURRECTIONS and CIVIL WARS to destabilize uncooperative governments" (JOHN PERKINS, Former CIA "Economic Hitman)
is NOT in some covert manner BEHIND such "quarrels" between INDIGENOUS groups and the Indigenous Correa?
and WHY?
because HE turned the country LEFT and AWAY from the USA Dictates.
PERIOD!
the USA can be counted on NEVER to SLEEP OR STOP trying to destabilize countries that DON'T BOW to US DICTATES.
of THAT one can be certain.
Don't compromise with the forces of regression and domination.
Zelaya must return to full power.
Those who perpetuated this crime against the open democracy of Honduras
must be barred from having any access to government for two years-in exchange for
them not being prosecuted.
The elections should be pushed back to allow Zelaya to have completed his term.
Hold the line.
Then let people power work to produce a new consitution.
Then say adios to the national security forces of the U.S. central control.
I am loudly complaining AGAIN YET AGAIN about CD reprinting these anti-Chavez msm pieces.
"Firebrabd leftist" is a complete lack of respect for one of te wisest, most compassionate and most SUCCESSFUL leaders on the planet.
Not one nickel will be donated to you guys until you wise up.
This is somewhat of a non-sequitur, but I read in a local paper today that the special fast-track immigration laws don't apply just to Cuban rightwingers and opportunists, they also apply to those from Honduras and Salvador too, to the tune of TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND new "refugees" per year from those nasty leftist governments! They automatically get green cards and possibly more - certainly more in the case of Cuban gusanos, but I don't know about the others. It's the same law, though.
The legitimate and democratic president and those in his government shouldn't be negotiating with these coup gangsters. These gangsters should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law as should any US big or not so big wigs in on this dirty corrupt coup deal and mess!
AD
One of the best journalists reporting on Honduras, Arturo Cano of the leftist Mexican daily La Jornada, reports that Zelaya has offered through an intermediary to forgo any plans to call a constituent assembly in exchange for the de facto government's ending the current state of siege. Pro-coup papers in Honduras say the same thing. The constituent assembly is the most important demand of the resistance after Zelaya's reinstatement. To some degree, Zelaya is important mostly as a symbol but the new constitution is real substance. Once Zelaya is no longer an important figure on the scene, which isn't so far in the future, there's going to be a bitter struggle over the constitution between the resistance, who are intent on having it, and the business and military, who are deadset against it.
"Thirty-eight farmers imprisoned by the coup government in Honduras begin a hunger strike, demanding the reinstatement of ousted president Manuel Zelaya.
The protest comes as representatives of Zelaya and the interim government, led by Roberto Micheletti, agreed to resume talks next week."
All this while a gang of our GOP lawbreakers fly to Honduras to congradulate the coup makers on their overthrow of another democracy.
Headline: "Breakthrough in Honduras Deadlock"
Another meeting of representatives is a breakthrough? It sounds like another stall technique.
I agree with most of you that this is not "progress in a deadlock." Check this video out from the Real News on the real purposes of the coup d'etat in Hondorus--a laboratory to test out how future military coups can be framed as legal and done sucessfully in the future:
http://therealnews.com/t/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=4296
I know Honduran people on both sides of this and some who can't in good conscience choose a side at all.
The de facto government was able to get a lot of support among Hondurans for what they've done because, although Zelaya may have good intentions for his people, he mismanaged things badly enough that many Hondurans were glad to see him go. Raising the minimum wage will make a leader wildly popular among the poor, but where does the money come from, is there a fiscally-viable plan for implementing the increase? No. Raising the minimum wage closed the doors of scores of small Honduran-owned businesses, while giant multinationals were able to absorb the increase. Zelaya never passed a budget. He spent money to promote the referendum while state funds sat frozen. To toss him out at gunpoint is just incomprehensible and clearly should never have been done. Although they were able to quickly pass a budget, the de facto government has proven itself brutal and incapable of leading a democracy. A huge amount of people are out on the streets protesting against both sides, but not a majority of Hondurans. A majority of Hondurans are waiting in the duck-and-cover position for the void to be filled; they have no government at all.
Your argument falls exactly in line with the US foreign policy regarding Honduras. That is: suggest that Zelaya's policies led to and were to blame for an illegal coup that removed him from power at gunpoint, and then put the illegal coup government on equal footing with Zelaya and that status quo (coup government in place) is the remedy.
When mentioning that a majority of Hondurans are not protesting, you fail to mention the coup government has attempted to put the country under marshal law, imposed curfews, killed, injured, and arrested protestors, and closed down opposition media.
Your argument and the US government's both are content with status quo in letting the illegal coup stay in power.
You are not listening, and you are putting words in my mouth so as to justify not listening. How does my saying that his removal should never have happened and the de facto gov has proven itself brutal and incapable translate into saying the status quo is the remedy? It doesn't. Think before you attack.
I have not said anything to support the coup government. I am not in agreement with the US government. The US government has not said a word to condemn the violence and the US is the only nation with an active ambassador still in Teguz. I wrote to my State Department and my Senators and to the White House to demand that the ambassador be withdrawn and that a statement be made condemning the coup. I wrote to the OAS demanding that the Human Rights Commission take emergency action against the coup government. Have you?
while it is true that raising the minimum wage is something the small businesses could not absorb - and closed them down
how is THAT worse than the continuation of "big business" systems that EVENTUALLY close off ALL smaller businesses anyway and render THEIR owners and families servants , serfs, low-paid workers FOR big businesses?
one has to look at the LONG term view in changing an economy...such as through "raising the minimum wage".
there ARE going to be sacrifices...
isn't THAT what Capitalism and "big business" dogma always proncounces which is supposedly GOOD for "everyone??"
but look at what IT produces --
SMALL BUSINESSES are UNABLE to compete WITH big business mantras who eat up all the others....
and the END is - once again - poorly paid people - with NO capacity to open or MAINTAIN EVEN a small business, EVEN at slave labor wages
because an economy's vitality based on the FOUNDATIONS of the society - the PEOPLE in their majority -
has been rendered impotent by the "ownership" of the economy by big business.
RESULT?
POOR PEOPLE in a POOR country.
what is the BASIS of THIS?
LOW WAGES.
a low wage country - anywhere - can not SUSTAIN "consumption"
for "business" products - big or small -
based on LOWER than Living wages. it can not SAVE or set aside "disposable income"
to SPEND in items ...or products. be they at the corner groceria - a small business ...or products of a big company.
even if the products of a big company which can "absorb" business expense by pricing products LOW - it is ALSO at the price of having those products at LOW WAGES...
which , once again - goes BACK to the LOW WAGES of people
who are the ULTIMATE CONSUMERS of products.
TAXES:
where to get the finances, you said?
TAXES
people who are mandated to have higher wages - are able to sustain their lives, have more disposable income, AND save for taxes
which goes BACK to supporting "small businesses" -
in terms of a population that CAN afford to BUY , in terms of citizens able to ADD REVENUE to the government through their taxes
which IN TURN can SUPPORT small businesses with tax breaks.
why is that so difficult to do?
it IS done
SWEDEN is comprised of 90 percent PRIVATE businesses, most of them SMALL businesses.
they are mandated to pay HIGH wages...TAXED citizens.
it all goes BACK into the economy with citizens able to SPEND what they CAN afford - any product really - because they HAVE high wage levels.
and what is produced?
a society where they have eliminated poverty.
the questions:
"where will the financing come from?"
is really a red herring that is typical of the American style Low Wage regime.
the answer is :
HIGH WAGES, RISING WAGES. the REST will take care of itself.
businesses WILL be opened AND maintained BECAUSE of high wages , rather than INSPITE of them.
and the over-all result?
a society with WELL-earning people who CAN support THEIR consumption of the products THEIR businesses produce because those businesses will be Sustained BY the highwage earning population that has the money to SPEND.
it's simple mathematics and reason.
it's capitalism that is IDIOTIC and MISLEADING with its reasoning that to "sustain or maintain businesses" or more specifically "small businesses" is to keep wages LOW.
where are "small businesses" going to GET THEIR CUSTOMERS if the customers DON"T HAVE MONEY because they don't earn ENOUGH?
that's a very simple question capitalists NEVER answer correctly.
instead -- they start pointing at "socialist evils".
that's because they KNOW it's a question they DARE NOT ANSWER!
here is a question that concerns the rise of CHINA as the world's main PRODUCER nation:
"WHY IS CHINA'S PRODUCER NATION STATUS - ITS RISE SO SWIFT AND SO SPECTACULAR? - " -it's because of the low wages, right?
THE COROLLARY:
"WHY HAS CHINA'S DOMESTIC ECONOMY CONTINUED TO LAG BEHIND AS A CONSUMER ECONOMY OF ITS OWN PRODUCTS?"
the answer is the same: LOW WAGES.
"why is china embarking on a HUGE national program of RAISING the WAGES?"
ANSWER;
in order to balance the economy - from that of over-saving because LOW wage workers can not afford to buy their own products and for future security BECAUSE OF LOW WAGES...and in order to ENHANCE DOMESTIC ECONOMIC movement...by enabling citizens to earn MORE in order to hAVE MORE MONEY , in order to SPEND MORE for THEIR own domestically produced products.
CHina sees RAISING the wages as the ONLY real way it can turn itself from a "cheap factory" to that of a TRULY powerful economy whose people enjoy a standard of living SUPPORTED by HIGH WAGES!
just watch - because - the way i see it, if china continues that movement TOWARDS increasingly higher wages - that develops its internal economy which is FAR from near its true potential - the rise of china in the last decade PALES in comparison with what they can achieve....
based on HIGH WAGES< FULL EMPLOYMENT principles that ONLY the state - NOT private enterprise or "private business" dictated principles can achieve.
that's what you call a NATION.
why should it be any different in honduras?
the REAL CROOK and OBSTACLE in this IS capitalism . it is the one that has to be removed in order for HIGHWAGE FULL EMPLOYMENT ECONOMIES
EVERYWHERE can be achieved....QUITE EASILY actually , and quite SPEEDILY.
it is a matter of national thinking.
additionally -- if nations actually have the courage to simply mandate HIGH wages -
people WOULD STILL BE WORKING and SPENDING. things will still move NO MATTER HOW BUSINESSES THREATEN to go "elsewhere"
ELSEWHERE to WHERE?
if nations mandated HIGH WAGES -- where are the capitalist , lowlives and bottom feeders and low wage promoters going to RUN?
they're going to shout :"innovation will be stifled?" it's NONSENSE.
innovation will still be there, discoveries will be there REGARDLESS of , or even BECAUSE of HIGH WAGES everywhere!
people will be "competing FOR" high wages
rather THAN "for the LOWEST wages" as Capitalism ACTUALLY DICTATES behind its dogmatic pronouncements about "revenue and costs".