Update 7: The situation in Honduras
Fundamental human rights remain suspended in Honduras, despite de facto President Roberto Micheletti's announcement on Monday that he would consider revoking the decree that suspends such rights. It appears that the controversial decree has led to several cracks in support for the de facto government and some key coup supporters have suggested that negotiations could allow ousted President Manuel Zelaya to return to the presidency with strictly limited powers. Here is today's update on the situation in Honduras. Past updates can be read here.
- Acting under the de facto government's controversial decree restricting free speech and the right to freely assemble, Honduran police have begun removing and arresting Zelaya supporters from buildings where they were holed up for three months to protest the coup. Over 55 Zelaya supporters were removed and arrested from the National Agrarian Institute building in Tegucigalpa this morning. The anti-coup website, VosElSoberano.com, cited a complaint that Honduran police were seen removing documents from the National Agrarian Institute building after the eviction. According to a spokesman for the Honduran police, the evictions are "part of the decree, clear out government buildings. We are looking at other institutions that were taken over."
- Supporters of the de facto regime are starting to push for a negotiated solution to the current political crisis, a sign that their support for the de facto government may be waning. Adolfo Facusse, president of the National Industrial Association, proposed that Zelaya be both reinstated with limited powers and required to face prosecution on charges levied against him since he was deposed. The proposed agreement also includes sending foreign troops to Honduras to ensure that if Zelaya is reinstated, he would respect the limitations of his powers. The Los Angeles Times reports that a "secret session" was held at the residence of U.S. Ambassador to Honduras Hugo Llorens with Honduran business leaders and senior politicians. The article suggests the general tone of the secret meeting indicated a shift in the tone of the de facto government supporters. "If the accord in fact limits any abuse of power, or political persecution, upon Mr. Zelaya's reinstatement, [then] along those lines we can reach agreement," a former Honduran president said Tuesday.
- Even though Micheletti said on Monday that he would reconsider the move to impose a decree which suspends important constitutional rights, it remains in place today and will likely remain in place throughout the week. On Tuesday, however, Congressman Rigoberto Chang, of the conservative National Party, "made clear Congress will revoke an emergency security crackdown if the interim government does not." Porfirio Lobo, the leading presidential candidate in Honduras, said the decree suspending constitutional rights could undermine the election results if not lifted. The National Party candidate said, "We're totally against the decree that restricts individual guarantees and freedom of expression."
- Radio Globo immediately began to broadcast via the Internet after its headquarters was shuttered by the de facto government.
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U.S. State Department Assistant Secretary Philip Crowley backed up U.S. Ambassador to the OAS Lewis Amselem's comment on Zelaya's actions being "irresponsible and foolish" yesterday at the daily press briefing:
We have said throughout this process that all sides need to act constructively, avoid the kind of provocative statements or actions that would precipitate violence and inhibit the resolution of this situation. And I think our acting representative simply said with regard to statements that President Zelaya and his supporters have made that they need to act in a more constructive and positive manner. So I think what he said yesterday is fully consistent with our concern that both sides need to take constructive action, affirmative action. Both sides ultimately need to sign on to the San Jose process and begin a transition to a new government that the people of Honduras can support.
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U.S. Ambassador to Honduras Hugo Llorens made a statement to the press yesterday, for the first time since the June 28th coup d'etat. Here are some excerpts from that statement, released by the Honduran newspaper, El Heraldo:
The United States' policy has been very clear and is not very complicated, it is rather simple: support for democracy in Honduras and in any other country in the region is the pillar; it has always been our foreign policy and in this sense our policy has been very clear in condemning what happened on June 28. ... As President Obama has said, one cannot just push a button and resolve everything; it is important that we think and that the solution for Honduras is not decided by a North American solution imposed by the United States or a South American solution. I think it should be a Central American solution and therefore we support President Arias and hope it is a solution that Hondurans themselves can negotiate. ... What worries us in Washington is democracy and human rights. Look, the decree that was emitted a few days ago that basically suspends fundamental and constitutional rights in Honduras is something that really concerns us. ... One thing is fundamental: the rights of the people are inalienable and must not be limited or restricted in any way. The Honduran people have a great democratic vocation. ... Just as those who violate human rights are doing great damage to the people, so are those who instigate violence.