Honduran Leaders in Mediation over Crisis

Ousted President Insists on Returning; Interim leader Says Reinstatement not Negotiable

(AP)  Talks to resolve the leadership crisis in Honduras finally got on track Thursday, with both sides showing up at the home of Costa Rican President Oscar Arias for closed-door meetings.

Ousted Honduran president Manuel Zelaya appeared first, and left shortly before the arrival of the man who replaced him after a military coup, his former friend and political ally Roberto Micheletti.

If Zelaya offered any concessions, he wasn't talking about them. As he headed back to his hotel, Zelaya called for "the reestablishment of the state of law, democracy and the return of the president elected by the Honduran people."

Micheletti, for his part, insists that Zelaya must relinquish any claim to the presidency.

Each side was naming four representatives to keep meeting, and if that effort produces results, a face-to-face encounter was possible.

"Positions begin to soften" once two sides start talking, Arias said hopefully before the mediation sessions began.

Even getting both sides to appear in the same city was an achievement — something that hasn't happened since the leftist Zelaya surrendered under gunfire and was flown out of his country by masked soldiers on June 28.

This coup crisis has become one of the biggest tests so far for the Obama administration in Latin America.

Arias — who won his Nobel for helping Central Americans resolve their civil wars — was invited to mediate by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. That move effectively sidelined Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who had lent Zelaya a Venezuelan plane and other support, and cast the crisis as an epic battle between the poor and the region's "oligarchies."

President Barack Obama has framed the issue in non-ideological terms, encouraging leaders from the left and right to come together to support the institutions of democracy.

Obama has insisted that Zelaya be restored to power, but "not because we agree with him," he told an audience in Russia. "We do so because we respect the universal principle that people should choose their own leaders, whether they are leaders we agree with or not."

U.S. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said no U.S. representatives were participating in the mediation sessions. "We are keenly interested in these talks. We want to see a good outcome that restores the democratic order in Honduras. But I just want to emphasize, this is President Arias', these are his talks."

In Honduras on Thursday, thousands of Zelaya's supporters and detractors continued marching in the streets. Pro-Zelaya forces cut off several highways, including a key southern truck route to Nicaragua and El Salvador. Backers of the Micheletti government demonstrated in the northern industrial city of San Pedro Sula and other places.

In contrast, very few people — almost all journalists — showed up at the metal security gates placed in front of Arias' home, a one-story house in a residential neighborhood of San Jose. The only guards were about two dozen unarmed tourism police wearing polo shirts.

Both Zelaya and Micheletti have said there is nothing to negotiate — that the other man can't possibly be president of Honduras. Oscar Arias also sought to dampen expectations, saying before the talks that "in two days there could be a solution or it could be that in two months there is no solution."

And Micheletti did express some optimism after his plane touched down. "We will work ceaselessly to find a successful solution to the present situation," Micheletti said, committing to "trying to solve my country's internal differences in a peaceful way."

Micheletti, a congressional leader who was named president by legislators following the coup, has already replaced his foreign minister, who caused a flap by repeatedly referring to Obama as "a little black man" and a "little black field hand."

Enrique Ortez, now replaced by Honduras' former ambassador in Washington, Roberto Flores, has been a prominent spokesman for Micheletti, arguing that the coup was legal because congress and the Supreme Court had ruled Zelaya was illegally pursuing a referendum to change the constitution.

The world has rallied behind Zelaya. The United Nations and the Organization of American States also have demanded he be returned to power, imposing or threatening sanctions and aid cuts. Venezuela said it is canceling shipments of subsidized oil, and the U.S. suspended more than $18 million in military assistance and development aid programs. No other country has recognized the interim administration.

But support for Zelaya is much less certain inside the impoverished country.

Some Zelaya supporters claim Honduras' wealthy class backed the military action because Zelaya raised the minimum wage and pushed other policies that favor the poor. Micheletti counters that Zelaya and Chavez stoked class divisions.

Before the talks began, Zelaya offered to drop his aspirations for a constitutional change that might allow him to run for another term.

[GringaNorth]

I'm a Canadian who has lived in Honduras for the past six years and want to state that I fully SUPPORT President Micheletti, the democratic government of Honduras and the people of Honduras. This is a small country that has stood strong in the face of international (misinformed!) opinion and threats of sanctions, and I regard her as the little mouse who roared, so roar on, little mouse, roar on!

[abbe91]

"Obama has insisted that Zelaya be restored to power, but "not because we agree with him," he told an audience in Russia. "We do so because we respect the universal principle that people should choose their own leaders, whether they are leaders we agree with or not."

That's a change and I hope a change we can believe in ...

[noloyalisti]

I just came back from the socialist country of Italy. And I own a condo in the real country of Canada, another socialist. communist, terrorist dictatorship. You want to be proud of a military dictatorship. I guess you like to be told what to do, where to go and what to think, like those in the military, religious nuts and the other right wing wackos.

[1notrub11]

If you truly had any idea what you are talking about you might be dangerous.
Troll somewhere else.

[noloyalisti]

What is not true? That the US does not have a long, sad, criminal history of overthrowing other governments? That is true.

Or that the CIA did not do this coup? Who you gonna believe? A criminal, terrorist, torturing government like the one here? Are you crazy?

[HonduranOne]

I gather you are saying the US is "A criminal, terrorist, torturing government like the one here? "

Considering that all the US news sources have been only reporting propaganda and not the truth....but the CIA was not involved - only the Honduran Constitution supported by the Honduran Supreme Court and Congress.

[noloyalisti]

This is yet another American CIA overthrow of a democratically elected government. Another chapter in our long, corrupt and illegal history of instituting ignorant, corporation-loving right wing military regimes for the financial benefit of the United States. At the expense of the workers, environment and quality of life.

[HonduranOne]

Come on down and see for yourself that what you say is not true. Ever been out of your country?

[HonduranOne]

Zelaya shows up full of bluster and demands based on US aligning with Chavez, Ortega, & Castro support. Micheletti comes with dignity and hope in saying "we will find the solution in the framework of our constitution". No Honduras does not have oil or lots of dollars but they have pride in Freedom and Democracy here.

Businesses in the capital (Tegus) are being threatened by Mel supporters, graffiti sprayed over buildings, broken windows. Government workers are told they must wear Red in support of Mel or they will be fired. Does that sound like Freedom to anyone?

On the positive side I have not heard the night time drug planes flying since Mel was ousted. Murders that normally ran 12 a day are down to around 2. No Kidnappings are taking place. Money was allocated and given to buy medicine for H1N1 the first day after. Congress is reviewing how to get out of ALBA and disassociate with DAWN- Chavez's group.

Peach Marchs with 10's of thousands of people have been held in support of Micheletti with no violence. Mel's paid demonstrators have damaged, destroyed, threatened, killed and stabbed people in their rally's.

Living here and choosing Micheletti's over Mel is a no-brainer!

[1notrub11]

Agreed, and I wish you all the best.
Selected groups that are used to getting their way and don't in a freedom environment usually resort to throwing tantrums. Unfortunately, those tantrums can many times be destructive rather than constructive.
The points made by HonduranOne say it all.

[rtrav85]

Let's hope that liberty prevails here. We don't need any more Chavez-puppets in Latin America. Enough with democracy "Iranian style" or "Venezuelan style." Here's an article with information about Honduras that we haven't seen: https://www.mindreign.com/en/mindshare/World-Politics-and-Current-Events/Democracy-2c-not-Ch-c3-a1vez-2c-in-Honduras/sl34045952bp297cpp5pn1.html