Update 10: Honduras Share This /

The high-level mission of the Organization of American States (OAS) arrived in Honduras today to begin a dialogue, dubbed the "Guaymuras Talks," between ousted President Manuel Zelaya and the de facto government led by Roberto Micheletti. OAS representatives remain relatively positive that the new round of talks will successfully bring an end to the country's current political crisis, yet neither party has backed down on the main roadblock: whether Zelaya should return to the presidency or not. So far, Zelaya's representatives have insisted that he be restored to power unconditionally by October 15th, while Micheletti's representatives are backing a plan to hold elections before allowing Zelaya's reinstatement. Here is today's update on the situation in Honduras. Thanks to CIP Intern Hannah Brodlie, who contributed to today's compilation.

• The OAS high-level delegation, led by Secretary General José Miguel Insulza, arrived in Honduras this morning, "with the purpose of promoting dialogue and the restoration of democracy in this country." In order to carry out the intended purpose, a "Dialogue Table" was installed among representatives of ousted President Manuel Zelaya and the de facto government in the Clarion Hotel in Tegucigalpa at 10:30 am this morning. The OAS has dubbed this round of talks as the "Guaymuras Talks." The international delegation is composed of representatives from Guatemala, El Salvador, the United States, Mexico, Ecuador, Canada, Jamaica, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Argentina, and Spain. Among the members of the OAS mission is U.S. assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs Thomas Shannon. A Senate vote on Assistant Secretary Shannon's appointment to be the U.S. ambassador to Brazil is currently being blocked, along with Arturo Valenzuela's nomination to take Shannon's place at the State Department. U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina), disagrees with the stance the Obama Administration has taken on the current political crisis in Honduras.
• During his opening remarks at the "Guaymuras Talks" today, OAS Secretary General Insulza explained that the restitution of Zelaya is still a main point in the negotiations, leading to a round of "boos" that did not cease until he finished his statement, according to La Prensa.
• Army troops and police special operations officers have been heavily deployed throughout Tegucigalpa "in a bristling show of force as the talks began" in the Clarion Hotel, according to the Agence France-Presse.
• OAS representatives have expressed strong hopes that their mission will successfully find a solution to the political crisis in Honduras, yet so far, neither party has publicly expressed a willingness to negotiate on one critical point: whether or not Zelaya should return to the Presidency. A Reuters article published today outlines the various outcomes that could result from the talks initiated today by the OAS. These outcomes include: 1) A limited deal is reached, and talks drag on: The San José Accord "could be modified, but without movement on the key issue of Zelaya's return the result may be a limited agreement to keep talking and concessions such as easing the security cordon around the Brazilian embassy." 2) Zelaya returns to the presidency with restrictions: "That would mean accepting the basic format of the San José accord. But the details of how to form a unity government and amnesty that would make his return possible would take longer." 3) A third party replaces both Micheletti and Zelaya: "Micheletti has already said he is willing to step aside if it helps resolve the crisis. But Zelaya seems less willing to accept that option given the international calls for his legitimate return. Another hurdle would be finding someone or a provisional coalition acceptable to all parties." 4) The talks fail, Honduras is further isolated and street protests grow: "Honduras, Zelaya and Micheletti would risk international condemnation and isolation if talks fail or drag on for weeks and protests or repression of them could spin out of control."
• On Monday, Micheletti repealed the state of siege, which suspended important civil liberties. However, Zelaya dismissed the withdrawal of the emergency decree as a meaningless gesture, implemented only after arresting dozens of protestors and closing down two pro-Zelaya media outlets. "Roberto Micheletti continues to mock the people, declaring that he is completely revoking the decree after achieving the most possible harm," Zelaya said. The two media organizations shut down as a result of the decree say that they still cannot broadcast normally, since seized equipment has not been returned. The owner of one of the shuttered media outlets called the lifting of the decree "a lie aimed at deceiving the international community."
• Twelve indigenous people of the Lenca population sought political asylum in the Guatemalan Embassy. The three women, four men and five children said that they had been persecuted by the Honduran police. The group currently remains inside the Guatemalan Embassy awaiting a decision. According to a representative of an indigenous rights organization, if the asylum request is denied, the group may remain inside the Embassy and wage a hunger strike.
• Anti-Semitic remarks by Radio Globo host and staunch Zelaya supporter, David Romero, caused international furor since they were published by the Anti-Defamation League over the weekend. On September 25, Romero said, "There are times when I ask myself if Hitler was or was not correct in finishing with that race with the famous Holocaust. If there is a people that do damage in this country, they are Jewish, they are Israelis." Romero has since apologized for his comments, noting that his own grandfather was a Jewish immigrant from Czechoslovakia. Additionally, the Anti-Defamation League noted that there are only approximately 100 Jewish families in Honduras.
• Guatemalan indigenous leader and 1992 Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchú commented on the Honduran political crisis, saying that it "is ideological, political, institutional and economic, but it is also Central American." Menchú asked the United States to do more to pressure the coup government to restore Zelaya to the presidency, since the crisis affects all of Central America. "The fingerprints of past dictatorships are not dead in Latin America. The offshoots of the dictatorships have more political and economic force."