Should Micheletti step aside during elections?

Do you believe it is correct for Roberto Micheletti
to temporarily retire from the presidency of the Republic?
Yes: 15%
No: 85%

Should Micheletti step aside during elections?
A lot of people think not.

I've been watching a lot of interviews, including on CNN (Español) who did several man-on-the-street interviews, and a televised discussion last night with a couple of political analysts. One of the analysts confirmed that this proposal by Micheletti was a result of pressure by the US.

US Ambassador Hugo Llorens said on a radio interview that his government viewed it as a positive thing − no doubt they did, since it was their idea. The US has been so misguided in all of this.

But let's go back exactly two months. Do you remember that Hillary Clinton, along with Oscar Arias, also viewed Zelaya's surreptitious arrival in Tegucigalpa as a positive thing also and a first step to implementing the San José Accord? Well, we saw how that worked out, didn't we? Violent riots, homes and stores looted, vehicles vandalized and burned. Then remember how pleased Hillary was when the Accord was signed? We are no closer to implementing an Accord than we were on September 21 or October 30.

Let me tell you that I'm hearing a lot of resentment about this. One of the analysts from the show last night clarified that Micheletti said he would consult with sectors of society about the recess, and this analyst did not believe that Honduran society would agree with it.

Tonight Micheletti announced that the people he met with did support the decision − but what was the choice? Honduras desperately needs the US to recognize elections, so if the US says 'jump', what are they going to do? The OAS has already backed out of Insulza's promise − which was made to coerce Honduras into signing the agreement in the first place!

The other analyst said that the US does not need to worry about what to do with Micheletti, that what the US needs to worry about is what are they going to do about Zelaya sitting in the Brazilian Embassy. He said they also should be worried about what they are going to do about their US Ambassador who has done so much damage to Honduras.

The analyst asked, "What are benefits to Honduras of Micheletti leaving?" to which he answered, "none". He then asked, "What are the risks to Honduras of Micheletti leaving?" to which he answered, "many".

The host asked, "How is it possible that a small, poor country like Honduras could cause such a division in the US?" The analyst flatly stated, "Because the US State Department was misinformed".

"What would you ask the US?", the host asked. "I would ask them not to sacrifice Honduras because of differences between political parties in the US, and − to retire the US Ambassador from Honduras", was the answer.

The US is pleased about Roberto Micheletti's absence during the election period but the truth is that they seem to be the only ones. Zelaya went ballistic calling it a fraud, a fake, and every other insult he could think of. His followers are complaining worse than ever. To counteract any possible positive effect, several zelayista candidates resigned today. The protesters are continuing to protest. I doubt that his absence will do anything to reassure the countries who do not want to recognize elections or the OAS. His statement actually caused concern and even some fear among Honduran citizens. So what does this move really accomplish except to "please" the US? Nothing that I can see.

One thing that must be mentioned is that Roberto Micheletti has not ever, not once, since June 28 promoted a particular candidate or denigrated any candidate. His message has simply been that everyone should vote and should vote for the person who they think will be the best president.

On the other hand, Mel Zelaya has not only promoted the two pro-constitutional assembly candidates (one of whom has since retired from the race), but he has denigrated the other candidates, accusing them of being golpistas, criminals, etc. His followers have spread vicious lies about candidates and done everything they can to ruin their reputations. I have no doubt this was instigated by Zelaya. Everyone has heard or read about Zelaya's and his followers' constant calls for boycotting the election, calling elections a fraud and telling people that that they are fools if they vote.

So, you tell me, which president should retire during the election period?

Honduras elections: Security

Soldiers in La Ceiba
Z-day, June 28, 2009

The military and police have been in strategy sessions in preparation for election security. Approximately 5,000 reservists have been called in to help as well. The reservists are primarily retired military and these old folks are showing great patriotism and enthusiasm for the task. "We won't have communism in this country!"

In an announcement last night, a military spokesman gave a long list of events that they are completely prepared for, up to and including extraterrestrial landings, he joked. Hahaha.

This is a case where readers from other countries need to adjust your thinking to understand the customs and the culture of Honduras. It is NORMAL to have soldiers assisting the election process and maintaining security at the polling places. Control of the military was passed to the independent Election Tribunal (TSE) on October 29 and will remain with the TSE until the election results are announced, expected to be November 30. This is NORMAL and required by the constitution.

Many voices, loudest of all Zelaya's, are trying to claim that the military presence will intimidate people. Not so, and nobody knows that better than Zelaya, who won the last presidential election while polls were guarded by the military. While it might give you pause in the US to have armed soldiers outside your polling place, this is not the US. This is Honduras, and the vast majority of the population will be reassured to see them. Those who hope to cause trouble, however, will be crying "Oppression!"

Another thing to keep in mind is that Hondurans are used to seeing armed guards everywhere. While it is often surprising to new visitors, it is common in Central America where crime is so high. The military are often used to provide security and to work on special anti-crime projects. Zelaya himself enlisted the military earlier this year in a crime task force. Former President Ricardo Maduro used the military to combat gangs. Right now in El Salvador, the Salvadoran military are being used in a project to support the police.

Honduras has a well respected military. Just the other day, I read that they are considered the best and most professional in Central America. Unlike the police, the military is also admired and well respected by the vast majority of the population. I remember reading a poll a year or so ago in which people were asked to rate various sectors of society as to their respectability and honor. Religious leaders were at the top of the list, followed closely by the military. Police, and politicians of course, were at the bottom.

Channel 10 had a poll which completed yesterday. It asked if viewers felt that the military would keep the elections secure. 94% voted yes.


Related articles:

Honduran elections: The candidates

Honduran elections: The TSE

Zelaya's response to Micheletti's announcement

As soon as I heard Micheletti's speech, I switched the volume on Radio Globo knowing Mel Zelaya would be on to "program" his followers' reaction. Yup. Within about 15 minutes (he probably had to call Chávez first), there he was.

I took notes, but try as I might, turning the notes into coherent sentences was just impossible. I think the following will give you the flavor of Zelaya's rage.

Asked for his reaction to Micheletti offering to step aside temporarily:

It's a mockery of the entire Honduran pueblo, a slap in the face to the international community and all the Honduran people. It's a false retirement, a crude maneuver. He's trying to varnish this stain on democracy. He is trying to deceive everyone ... crude trick that offends Honduran democracy ... false maneuver to deceive fools ... stupid ... false ... failure ... false attitude ... hiding the truth ... regime of repression ... military dictatorship ... deceit ... largest crisis ever ... fake ... fraud! Correcto!

Asked for his reaction about the elections:

This is an illegal process, an electoral farce. These are false elections, fraudulent elections. It's grotesque. The elections will have to be repeated under a legitimate government. It's an electoral farce. The US ambiguous position is lamentable. I seriously question the government of President Obama.

Only the candidates who have resigned are the kind we want for the next 10 years. Correcto! This is an electoral farce. Fraud ... slap in the face for the Honduran people ... false ... stupidity ... illegal ... electoral farce ... etc. The OAS, the UN, everyone recognizes me as the legitimate president. They won't recognize the elections.

The crisis is not personal of Mel Zelaya. Electoral farce. If they can do this to me, the legitimate president imprisoned in the Embassy, imagine what they can do to you, to the poor people! No one has any rights. Dirty politics ... stain on democracy ... repression ... military oppression! We have no security. No one is going to vote. Oppression ... fraudulent elections. If there is a massacre, it will be their fault ... oppression ... dictatorship ... electoral farce!

We must maintain resistance against this persecution for your children. This is not democracy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, sorry. That's the best I could do. ;-D

I guarantee you that "electoral farce" and "stain on democracy" will be the phrases of the day tomorrow on Radio Globo and CholusatSur. All of the callers will parrot back those phrases as if they thought of them themselves. Actually, if I check now, callers are probably already saying, "I won't vote because this is an electoral farce and a stain on democracy."

Will they feel the same way on Sunday morning? If so, will they be missed, or are they the same people which resulted in 45% absenteeism in the last election?

Micheletti will temporarily step aside

President Roberto Micheletti
Photo: El Tiempo, Honduras

In a national television and radio broadcast tonight, Honduran President Roberto Micheletti encouraged all Hondurans, without exception, to vote on November 29. He said that the elections signify "peace and our future." He again promised that citizens will be safe and secure.

In a surprise move, Micheletti offered to absent himself from power temporarily from Wednesday, November 25 until December 2 to guaranty tranquility for the elections and assure that the focus is on the elections instead of the political crisis. He promised that during his absence, the government will operate completely normally with his council of ministers (cabinet) in charge.

He asked that this not be falsely and intentionally misinterpreted by those who, with their erratic conduct and their intent to provoke discord, take this as a sign of weakness in Honduras. To the contrary, he affirmed that he had absolute faith in institutions of government and the military to provide election security.

"If, lamentably, a general disruption to the order and security should occur that affects the peace of the nation and the tranquility of the Honduran people , don't have any doubt that I will immediately re-assume my functions," Micheletti reassured.

Micheletti also called upon "citizen Zelaya" to put peace for the country above his personal desires.

Earlier today, Micheletti asked Zelaya to avoid the "spilling of a drop of blood" during the elections and reiterated his offer to resign immediately if Zelaya would renounce his attempt to return to power.

I hope that some day, Roberto Micheletti is known as the great leader he has been for Honduras. I'm not sure that anyone else could have been as brave, strong, and sure.


Coming up, Zelaya's reaction!

Craig Kelly speaks volumes to Honduras

Craig Kelly, center, with Roberto Micheletti
and Hugo Llorens (everyone is smiling)
Photos: La Tribuna, Honduras

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Craig Kelly gave a brief press conference in Honduras yesterday. Between birds squawking outside my window, the roosters crowing, and dogs barking, I did not hear everything at the beginning, but what I heard sounded good.

He covered three main points for "both parties":

1. Each side must follow the Accord point by point.

2. Elections must be respected − no one can take away the Honduran people's right to vote and elect their own leaders.

3. Stop the calls for violence − to this he added "from everyone".


He made special mention that he had noted great enthusiasm among Hondurans for voting. (!) He also asked everyone to respect human rights and confirmed that the Accord does not provide for any deadline for the Congressional vote on Zelaya's restitution. I hope that the the only brief mention of human rights signifies that the US is aware that most of the reports are greatly exaggerated or even invented.

With this, Kelly said, "Thank you," and walked away, taking no questions from reporters.

Here is my take on the above points:

1. Though there has been lots of bad press saying the opposite, the Micheletti government has been following the Accord "letter by letter, point by point", albeit by Honduran-slow-as-molasses-time. You won't find any New York minutes in Honduras, but I don't think that is much different from most of Latin America. We expatriates have a joke that if you think that mañana means tomorrow, you haven't been here very long.

I take this message from Kelly as directed at Zelaya who has been trying to renege on the Accord since the day after he signed it. Micheletti provided nominations for the Unity Government, after consulting with others; Zelaya did not. Zelaya has not shown even the tiniest speck of desire to work toward unity and reconciliation. His focus has been purely his own self interest, a point which has not been lost on the "international community" (IC), many of whom have been breaking ranks with the previous IC party line. While the ALBA countries and Chávez's other lapdogs, like Argentinan President Cristina Kirchner, have been yap-yap-yapping away, many other countries are taking a much more pragmatic approach.

2. Pffft! Since his very first speech, President Roberto Micheletti has promised that the election process and schedule will be carried out as original planned (last year!). One of his first acts was to provide the Election Tribunal (TSE) with operating funds that Zelaya had illegally withheld. Micheletti has reassured the population a thousand times that elections will be held, will be safe, and that he will turn over the reins on January 27, 2010, as required by the constitution (or sooner if need be). Since the presidential candidates trust him, why shouldn't we?

On the other hand, Zelaya....need I say more? He has done everything humanly possible to prevent or to sabotage elections. He has also made it clear that his work is not done yet. Today he issued a statement saying he will officially impugnará the elections. [google translation] (impugnará = contest, challenge, refute, disprove)

3. This one is a no-brainer, too. The only ones calling for violence are Zelaya and his followers. Just Sunday night, I heard with my own ears Zelaya say that "We must carry on to the ultimate consequences". Though Zelaya slyly worded this so that he can say that this means something else, I believe that the message to his followers was clear. Kelly's message is clearly to the zelayistas regarding the "bombs", the murders, the damage to electrical towers, and the threats which have increased in the past couple of weeks.

Though Craig Kelly was a little more clear than some of the US statements in the past, I still think that it dilutes the power of the message to always be referring to "both parties". As long as the message is directed to both sides, Zelaya and his followers will use it for propaganda against the current government.

Zelaya has been doing a lot of complaining since. In his letter, he had asked for a response from President Obama. Not only did he not get a response from Obama, or Secretary of State Clinton, or even Thomas Shannon, but instead he got a visit from a lower level State Department official. In the world of diplomacy, that speaks volumes.

Apparently, based on what Zelaya has said in various interviews, Kelly's original goal was to get both Micheletti and Zelaya to step aside in favor of a third party. In one interview, if I understood it correctly, a proposal was made that Zelaya himself would be appointed to the unity government as the Minister of Government and would serve as President when Micheletti resigned. That sounds convoluted, and not at all something provided for in the constitution or the Tegucigalpa Accord. Maybe I misunderstood, but it doesn't matter anyway as Zelaya declared that to be another trick or trap or fraud that he wasn't falling for. It was said that both Zelaya and Micheletti rejected the idea.

But overall, whether Kelly's statement a) is a change of the US position, b) they have come out of the closet with the "master plan" that so many expected, or c) the US has finally realized that they aren't going to beat down Honduras and are trying to make the best of it, I'm feeling much better about the US today.

Deserting the sinking ship and other news

The sinking ship

Zelayistas and journalists are deserting the sinking ship of the Brazilian Embassy. Yesterday, Salvadoran Padre Andrés Tamayo left. Deserters are escorted away by police and, I believe, are examined by doctors prior to release, which seems a wise move so that false accusations of ill effects from death rays, toxic gases, mind control radiation and whatever else they dream up cannot be claimed later. In one photo of a Zelaya follower telling a doctor about his symptoms, a Brazilian blogger notes with humor the skepticism in the face of a journalist (in the blue shirt) standing by watching.

The fact that Padre Tamayo himself asked to leave, supposedly for a family emergency involving his sister, did not stop Cholusat Sur TV from interrupting programming yesterday with an Ultima Hora! report saying that Tamayo had been arrested - Ullllllltima Hora! - and was in the custody of Immigration officials - Ulllllltima Hora! - and implying all sorts of probable abuse of the priest.

Padre Tamayo has been in Honduras for years organizing environmental protests, a worthy cause. The hypocrisy of his new found association with Zelaya, whose notorious logging family is credited with much of the massive destruction of the mountain forests in Olancho, is not lost on anyone with a brain. Unfortunately, Padre Tamayo began organizing disruptive political protests and calling for boycott of elections. Interfering with elections is prohibited in the constitution and political activism is specifically prohibited to foreigners.

Callers discussed this lamentable situation. One caller even cried. Minutes later, a conversation with a Zelaya follower in the Embassy proved that Tamayo left of his own free will. Host Esdras Amado López disappointedly made the correction, but then, using logic that only Channel 36 and its listeners understand, they continued to discuss Tamayo's departure as if it was forced against his will.

In a big blow to the Zelayistas, Radio Globo host Eduardo Maldonado jumped the Zelaya ship as well. He has been viciously condemning the coup d'etat, promoting boycott of elections, and making outrageous personal attacks up to and including Cardinal Rodriguez for the past 4 1/2 months.

All of a sudden, in a 180 degree turn, a new kinder, gentler Maldonado is a good Liberal again, will vote for Elvin Santos, and is encouraging everyone to vote as the "only way" to restore democracy. It is kind of fun to watch him trying to reprogram his listeners. Unfortunately (that they are so easily manipulated) or fortunately (that they are now on the side of free elections), reprogramming after 4 1/2 months isn't as hard as you might think. While some listeners express their anger or confusion ("but yesterday you were saying....."), it is absolutely amazing how many of the listeners jumped ship with him and are now saying they will vote.


Would you chew gum in a meeting with President Obama?

Craig Kelly from the US State Department arrived today again for the third time in a month, reportedly to get Zelaya to comply with the agreement. While discussing the current visit, the noon news showed video of his last meeting with President Micheletti and others. Though I'd seen this video several times, I happened to be watching on the big TV this time and realized that US Ambassador Hugo Llorens was chewing gum (or something)! Are you kidding me? How rude and disrespectful. I wish I could have made him take it out and wear it on his nose like one of my teachers used to do when someone was caught chewing gum in class.

By the way, the video (from the last visit) showed Micheletti and Kelly sitting side by side in arm chairs, leaning in toward each other chatting. Micheletti seemed very relaxed and was laughing. Sitting a little way off was Llorens, watching them and looking uncomfortable.

Micheletti mentioned that his meeting with Kelly was at 4 p.m. El Heraldo's minuto a minuto column reported that Kelly and Llorens headed to the Brazilian Embassy about 7:30 p.m. The 10 p.m. news showed a caravan of SUVs leaving the Brazilian Embassy. The reporter said they were headed back to another meeting with Micheletti.

Kelly's meeting with Zelaya wasn't very long as El Heraldo reported at 8:50 p.m. that Zelaya spoke to Radio Globo after the meeting. Zelaya insisted that the US clarify US position on his restitution and complained "They are talking about an agreement that we have already left for dead." Telesur has a little more. [google translation] It seems that Zelaya wants to send Patty Rodas to talk with Hillary Clinton. Oh, I would love to be a fly on the wall in that meeting!

There is much speculation that Kelly is here to force a third-party president despite the hypocritical diplospeak that the US will support a Honduran solution. The US has no right to select Honduras' president, even if it is only for 70 days.


Even the ancianos protest

While the Resistance (all 50 of them) continued their protest in front of the congress yesterday, some old men were also protesting with loud speakers (I didn't catch where, but I think it was in front of the Election Tribunal or possibly the congress). One old man talked directly to the news cameras, wagging his finger: "We are going to vote! We are going to vote! Listen to me. We are free! Forget the world! My whole family and I are going to vote! We are going to vote for democracy, for freedom, just like we have now. We are going to vote! Vaaaaamos a votar!"

That is an attitude that I hear from many Hondurans: "This is OUR country. We will select OUR president and we really don't give a flip what any other country thinks about it."

If Hondureña Maria is any example, the voter turnout should be good. She told me that she and her husband are flying in from Japan to vote. Now that is someone who believes in democracy! Oooooh! It gives me shivers. How about you?

Zelaya's letter

Zelaya logic

Mel Zelaya's letter to Barack Obama was widely misreported or misinterpreted by the media within and outside of Honduras as claiming that he had renounced any intention to return to the presidency, when, of course, that was not the case. He renounced the Accord, not his claim to the presidency. I can only assume that the local media are using the same Chávez-style media disinformation tactics that Zelaya uses. He, as well as opposition media, have been so incessantly busy denying the statement that they haven't had much time to wreak havoc in other areas.

At this point in time, 71 days before the scheduled end of his term, any decent, patriotic person who loved his country and his people, no matter how much 'in the right' he thought he was, would offer to resign and work toward "unity and reconciliation".... uh, like for example Micheletti has done. Not Zelaya. His ego won't let him, though I can't imagine how his ego has survived 57 days of being locked in a foil-lined cage wearing the same clothes day after day. He really believes that his position as president is more important than any hell that Honduras could go through.

AP reports: "Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya insisted late Saturday that he will not accept any deal to restore him to office if it means he must recognize elections later this month." Hasn't everyone from Honduras been saying that stopping elections and staying in power was and is Zelaya's ultimate goal? Aaron at Pensieve credits Zelaya for at least being more honest with this comment. See another Honduran's viewpoint at My Roatan.

Zelaya's letter (in English and Spanish) is posted on the fake Honduran Embassy website. You can find it right beneath the large graphic telling Hondurans not to vote - does that tell you anything about zelayistas attitude toward democracy? The actual Honduran Ambassador to the US was fired by Zelaya because he would not sign a loyalty agreement. I don't know who maintains this Zelaya propaganda site.

Most of the letter has not been quoted in the press. I suppose that even AP and Reuters have enough sense to know that much of what he claims is false. "I achieved the best economic indicators and the greatest reduction of poverty in the 28 years of democratic life...." Does anyone actually believe that? Even the UN has publicly disputed his manufactured statistics in the past.

Zelaya wrote that 3,500 people have been "detained". He and the human rights folks love that word 'detained' because it implies so much more than it is. If a police officer stops your car and checks your drivers license, you've been detained. If you are involved in a violent riot, are taken to the police station and then released, you've been detained. If you violated a curfew and had to spend the rest of the night sitting on a bleacher, you've been detained. But the word 'detained' sort of implies that you have been and still are illegally locked away somewhere devoid of all human rights, doesn't it? Even considering all of the above, the number is ridiculous, as are his completely unsupported numbers for injuries and murders.

Just like in the cartoon above, he takes his own unconstitutional failure to submit a 2009 budget and turns it into a strike against the "golpistas", saying that they are illegally spending funds because the (austere) budget passed by congress in July was not approved by himself.

Zelaya bides his time by plotting revenge against the coup plotters, who he has defined as virtually everyone within and outside of government. He frequently revels about the long prison terms they will serve. Interestingly, maybe because the congressional vote has not occurred yet, he has decided to remove the congressmen from his long list. He said that they were tricked into voting for his ouster by the "fake" resignation. Depending upon the outcome of the vote, I'm sure that list will be expanded by 100 or so names later.

In part of his rant on CholusatSur TV the other day, he ominously declared to his followers that "We must carry on to the ultimate consequences". He spent 15 or more minutes condemning the anti-democratic, fraudulent elections, which could not possibly be held with the people under military oppression. "It is a burla (mockery)! A bofetada (slap in the face) to the international community!" He spits out those words contemptuously. Corrrrrrecto!

He also said that he will not talk with any golpistas, ever. Another interesting thing is that when asked more than once about his visits from US State Department representatives, he always answered by reiterating Clinton's and Obama's previously stated position that he was the legally elected president and should be restored to office. He avoided referring to any discussions with others from the State Department, even when asked directly. To those of us who have known this man before June 28, that says a lot. If there was any scrap of support for denying elections, or indication of pressure against the golpistas, he would have been working that to the nth degree. Corrrrrrecto!

How anyone can still take this guy seriously is beyond me.