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Honduras coup update #5
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Honduras' interim president Roberto Micheletti has rebuffed international pressure to restore ousted president Manuel Zelaya to power. He said he is confident other countries will realize the danger Zelaya posed to the Honduran constitution and has ordered officials from the new government to reach out to international partners with details on the context behind the coup.
Contrasting their claims of legitimacy, the new government passed an emergency decree on Wednesday limiting public gatherings, continuing the nighttime curfew, and allowing for the detention of protestors for 24 hours.
In response to the escalating situation, Washington has suspended all military and civilian assistance to Honduras (excepting humanitarian aid). The U.S. gave more than $40 million to Honduras last fiscal year for a variety of programs.
Yet a peaceful resolution is not out of reach; diplomats from both sides are trying to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the crisis, but so far neither party has been willing to budge. Zelaya said he was going to return yesterday accompanied by the presidents of Argentina and Ecuador, as well as OAS and UN officials, but seems to have missed his goal. The Obama administration has been pressuring Zelaya to avoid returning early - fearing violence if he returns before a compromise is in place. Instead, OAS officials will travel to Honduras today to try and resolve the crisis. The OAS' 72 hour deadline to restore Zelaya to power expires on Saturday.
All signs point to the crisis extending into next week. International pressure will likely force a compromise to be reached, but given the bruised egos and feelings of legitimacy on both sides, reaching an agreement could take some time.
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