Honduras ousted president Manuel Zelaya’s erratic behavior continues to block a negotiated solution to his country’s constitutional crisis. Two days after he signed on to an agreement which left the matter of his reinstatement in the hands of the Honduran National Congress, he insisted that the agreement required his .jpg)
immediate reinstatement, even before the Congress had an opportunity to convene.
Mr. Zelaya argued that, since the agreement required the various sectors of Honduran society to submit names of individuals to institute a unity government by last Thursday, he must be returned to the presidency by then. His side refused to submit any names for consideration and simply declared the agreement broken. His most recent pronouncements are to the effect that it is too late for the presidential elections that will be held in less than three weeks to be valid, even if he is reinstated. The pro-Zelaya organization “Resistance Front against the Coup d’état” has stated that its members will boycott the elections and take actions to try to impede them. One independent left-wing candidate, Carlos H. Reyes, said that he will withdraw from the running. However, another left-wing candidate, Carlos Ham, from the Democratic Unification Party has not decided whether to withdraw. Neither major party candidate – Elvin Santos of Zelaya’s own Liberal Party and Porfirio Lobo from the opposition Nationalist Party – intends to withdraw from the race.
The National Congress was waiting for the Supreme Court to provide its opinion on the reinstatement issue. Tonight, there are reports that the Court will not weigh in on the matter because there is a pending petition for a writ of amparo (a process akin to habeas corpus) on Zelaya’s behalf in connection with the Court’s earlier arrest warrants against the ex-president. That should clear the way for the Congress to debate and vote on Zelaya’s reinstatement.
Of course, his current posture indicates that, at this late date, his priority is to disrupt the electoral process at all costs. It appears that he is putting his gigantic ego before the interests of his country. Undermining the electoral process could only lead to chaos and constitute a setback for Honduras’ democracy.
For the Obama Administration, its initial support for Zelaya has been a costly mistake. Now that the United States has finally distanced itself from the ousted president and committed to support the elections, Zelaya’s schizophrenic behavior has become an embarrassment for the Administration. As the Organization of American States meets in Washington tomorrow to discuss the situation in Honduras once again, it is time for our State Department to take a definitive position of support for the November 29 elections, with or without Zelaya, and ask the other OAS members to do the same. Already, Obama’s Latin American policies have resulted in Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez taking a bellicose attitude towards its neighboring nation of Colombia and the U.S. The Venezuelan dictator declared that he is readying his country for war. Recently, he sent thousands of troops to the Colombian border. Severing ties with Chavez’s ally Zelaya will send a clear message that the United States will not be intimidated by Chavez’s threats.
(Above right: at left Manuel Zelaya, at right Roberto Micheletti. Photo courtesy of La Prensa).
Honduras former president's bizarre behavior an embarrassment to Obama administration
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Many thanks for your insightful words, Mr. Padrino.
The Arcadia Foundation seconds the belief that Mr. Zelaya's actions, firstly in breaching the constitution with which he vowed to dutifully follow, and then in the theatrics of his return have done nothing but hinder the economy and the citizenry of Honduras. He riles up his former citizenry daily, playing the 'victim' card in an era where social discourse is a cornerstone of economic growth. His selfish behavior will be recognized in history, even if today it is met by some pools of support.
We congratulate the citizens of Honduras for supporting democracy through this tumultuous summer, and will be preparing a retrospective on Honduras entitled "Democracy Challenged" at www.arcadiafoundation.org, should the elections indeed come to pass.
Who are you trying to fool? yourself? ...this sounds like propaganda...
Seriously?
Oye Blasito, ¿ya es hora de guerra civil para los catratchos no?
Tanto esperar cuando sus vecinos ya pasó este epoca hace 20 años.
A saber porque los gringos no golpearon a Bushito cuando cambio la constitution with the Patriot Act.
Hey Blaz, it's about time for a Honduran Civil war dont't ya think?So much waiting, when it's neighbors aready past this era 20 years ago. Who knows why the gringos didn't do the same to lil bush when he stomped on the constitution with the patriot act.
Do you also write for other comedians or only for yourself?
Oye Jorgito,
thank you for confirming the fact that Mr. Zelaya isn't really interested in being president of Honduras for the next couple of months, but what he wants now is a civil war in Honduras with the hope of writing a new constitution that will allow him to become president for life. That's what he wanted in the first place, isn't it?
I'm an American bilingual teacher in Honduras. I agree with most of what you said, except I would word this phrase like this: "Obama’s Latin American policies have resulted in Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez taking a swift kick in the juevos from the smallest kid in the neighborhood. Thereby stopping the advancement of his socialist agenda. The leftist blogs and reporters are already complaining of more Coups to follow this one, if it is indeed successful."
Score Honduras 1 Chavez -1 Can't wait for the second half.
Megan Mills
I don't quite see how this is an embarrassment for the U.S. The U.S. should be embarrased for denouncing the coup before whom?.. Embarrased before every other country in the planet that also denounced it? I just dont see the embarrassment.. they denounced the coup and called for Zelaya's reinstatment (along with the rest of the world) and then basically got both sides to sign an agreement to have Congress decide Zelaya's fate. Things didn't go Zelaya's way, they distance themselves from him for not honoring the agreement and support the elections. That is how this will go down in the record books... it looks like you're looking for the embarrassment, but this will not be remembered as an embarrassment by anyone except people who hate Obama... which is not really mainstream.
It is an embarassment for the US because they did not completely investigate what happened before making a judgement call on something so serious.
I live in Honduras and I was mortified by their rash judgement call...everyone else is ALBA on this corner and they have ZERO credibility when it comes to the Honduras issue.
Lagringaspas: For you to say that everyone who sided with Zelaya is ALBA just shows how pathetically ignorant you are, bc that would mean that every country.. in the world.. is ALBA.. you're just too stupid really. It is not a political embarrassment when everyone else did exactly what you did... that is why this will not go down as an embarassment.. I mean just go look up the definition of embarassment and then talk.
Hey la gringa you've hit the nail right on the head! The forces of radical and corrupt socialism have tried hard to grab Honduras but have failed! Long live democracy and freedom! Long live Presidente Mitchelleti!
"The Latins" you have no idea what you are talking about. Only Hondurans and people who are actually informed can understand why this was an embarrassment to the Obama administration. Seems like you've been getting too much of your info from morally vain liberal bloggers who believe themselves ethically superior from everyone else. You have no idea what is at stake for our country so unless you do your research, stay out of the discussion.
Thanks Blas Padrino for telling it like it is.
Yes, I had to go read a vain liberal blogger to find out every country took the same position as the U.S. But yes I guess I'm misinformed for suggesting that every European country is not ALBA. And there is not evidence to suggest that most Hondurans agreed with the coup. Zelaya's favourability ratings were less than 50%, but that doesn't mean that the majority of the country wanted to raid his house and fly him to Costa Rica. If YOU do your research you would find that the country is split when it comes to the coup.
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