More delays in Honduras
The Honduran Congress decided to postpone voting on Mel Zelaya's reinstatement. Instead, congressional leaders are reportedly asking the opinions of a variety of other state institutions.
In addition, motions intended to set time limits were defeated. Congressional leaders also refuse to say when a special session will be called.
The agreement did not anticipate what happens if Congress decides not to act until after the presidential election. I think it is fair to say that would be a violation of the spirit, if not the letter, of the agreement. As a result, all bets would be off about the domestic and international responses.
Days since the coup: 129
Days until the scheduled presidential election: 25
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AP: Ousted President Manuel Zelaya is asking the Obama Administration to explain why, after pressing for his reinstatement, U.S. officials say they will recognize upcoming Honduran elections even if he isn't returned to power first.
In a letter sent to the U.S. State Department on Wednesday, Zelaya asked Secretary of State Hillary Clinton "to clarify to the Honduran people if the position condemning the coup d'etat has been changed or modified."
His request came after Washington's top envoy to Latin America, Thomas Shannon, told CNN en Espanol that the U.S. will recognize the Nov. 29 elections even if the Honduran Congress decides against returning Zelaya to power.
"Both leaders took a risk and put their trust in Congress but at the end of the day the accord requires that both leaders accept its decision," Shannon said.
...
"I think it was sort of assumed that there was a deal with Congress to reinstate him," said Dana Frank, a historian at the University of California, Santa Cruz. "But the U.S. negotiators may have underestimated the sheer nutso chaos of Honduran politics."
Ian Kelley has now stated that We believe that [President Zelaya] must be reinstated in power.
Whether there was a deal with the Honduran Congress to reinstate Zelaya or not, what does seem clear is that the international community expected Congress to consider this question before the government of "unity and reconciliation" was formed. Instead, Roberto Micheletti is taking it on himself to form that government unilaterally (see post).
One clarification--Kelly said "should be," not "must be."
There's more than that. According to some press reports tha US is saying this is something the Hondurans need to resolve on their own, and the US will be OK with whatever they decide.
http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2009/noviembre/04/mundo2148605.html
Zelaya and his supporters appear to only now be awakening to the fact they agreed to have Congress decide if he was to be reinstated or not.
For precision of language on the part of U.S. officials, I would suggest using English rather than Spanish language sources. As I understand it, the U.S. position right now is Zelaya "should be" reinstated and there is a wait and see attitude if that does not happen.
What a farce. The golpistas must be laughing at the gullibility of Zelaya and his supporters in trusting that the US position finally had some spine. At this rate, they will maybe allow Zelaya to be President for a week. Just long enough to ensure the elections get certified. Meanwhile, very few conditions for a free and fair election are in place right now. But everyone seems to want to wipe that under the rug.
After the accord was announced Shannon left it very clear that it was now up to Congress to decide if Zelaya would return and that both sides would be lobbying for the votes. There was nothing in the accord to suggest this was a done deal.
Zelaya says there was an implicit agreement. It sure was reported as there had been a behind the scenes deal. None of us know what Zelaya was told and by whom, but the US (Shannon) giving Congress space to d*ck around some more is inexcusable.
Zelaya has to call for A boycott of this election farce; as under this repression, and the fundamentally undemocratic nature of the coup government, no election result will be considered legitimate.
End of story.
By the way, Obama and his cronies are totally in agreement with the ongoing repression-- or they would have denounced it. Their silence signals complicity.
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