[News] Honduran rivals agree on deal

[Anti-Imperialist News]

Two Articles Follow

Zelaya Terms Restitution Accord a Victory

http://www.prensa-latina.cu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=133294&Itemid=1viernes, 
30 de octubre de 2009

30 de octubre de 2009, 10:06Tegucigalpa, Oct 30 (Prensa Latina)

Honduran President Manuel Zelaya termed Friday the agreement reached 
with the de facto government, for the Congress to decide his 
restitution in power, as a victory to democracy.

"The simple fact that they are recognizing the need to reverse the 
State powers to the situation on June 28, 2009, means a victory to 
democracy, and the return of peace to the country," Zelaya told Radio 
Globo station.

Zelaya stated that there are still procedures to follow before his 
restitution, and called the de facto government to comply with the 
terms of the agreement.

Zelaya was kidnapped from his residence by hooded soldiers on June 
28, and forcibly taken to Costa Rica.

After two unsuccessful attempts to return to Honduras, the statesman 
finally managed to enter the country by surprise on September 21, and 
is currently staying at the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa.

According to a report by the Committee of Families of Detained and 
Missing People in Honduras, the putschists' regime has committed over 
4,000 violations of human rights, including more than 20 
assassinations and hundreds of wounded and detained people.

The constitutional president expressed his best wishes for democracy 
not to be interrupted again by means of coups.

iom/iff/car
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http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2009/10/2009103044151732923.html

Friday, October 30, 2009
15:51 Mecca time, 12:51 GMT

Honduran rivals agree on deal

Roberto Micheletti, Honduras's de facto leader, has agreed a deal 
that could see Manuel Zelaya, the country's ousted president, 
returned to power if supported by congress and the supreme court.

The two sides have been at odds for four months over whether Zelaya 
should be reinstated before presidential elections due to be held next year.

"I am pleased to announce ... my negotiating team signed an agreement 
that marks the beginning of the end of the country's political 
situation," Micheletti said in a statement on Thursday.

"With regard to the most contentious subject in the deal, the 
possible restitution of Zelaya to the presidency" would be included.

For his part, Zelaya told Radio Globo: "Tomorrow [Friday] will be the 
day that the plan will be signed to restore democracy to the country."

Micheletti said the agreement would create a power-sharing government and
bind both sides to recognise the November 29 presidential elections.

Congress to decide

Antonio Rivera, a Honduran senator, told Al Jazeera the deal does not 
necessarily mean Zelaya will be reinstated as president.

"One-hundred and twenty-eight congressmen from five political parties 
are going to make the decision," Rivera said.

"Before that, congress is going to ask the opinion of the supreme 
court, the general attorney and the elections tribunal.

"Micheletti and Zelaya will have to accept the decision."

Zelaya, who was forced from power in June, and Micheletti held talks 
separately on Thursday with Tom Shannon, the US assistant secretary 
of state, and Dan Restrepo, Washington's special assistant for 
Western Hemisphere affairs.

Monica Villamizar, Al Jazeera's correspondent, said the international 
community, especially the US, is really stepping up pressure to put 
an end to the crisis and move forward.

"It is no longer about the dispute between two men - Micheletti and Zelaya.

"But about the Honduran people and what is going to happen to the 
second poorest country in the Americas, which has been greatly 
affected by all the months of political instability and turmoil," she said.

Sticking point

Zelaya remains holed up at the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa after 
re-entering the country in late September, two months after he was 
forced from the presidential palace and into exile.

As the US representatives met the Honduran rivals, a rally by 
hundreds of pro-Zelaya protesters in Tegucigalpa was broken up by 
police who fired tear gas.

Barack Obama, the US president, faced criticism from human-rights 
groups who said Washington should do more to pressure Micheletti.

At one point in the crisis, Micheletti ordered restrictions on civil 
liberties to be imposed, during which time media stations supportive 
of Zelaya were taken off-air.

The resumption in negotiations on Thursday came a day after 
Honduras's military-backed government, which is not recognised 
internationally, lodged legal proceedings against Brazil at the 
International Court of Justice in The Hague.

The interim government accused Brazil of interfering in Honduras's 
internal affairs by sheltering Zelaya at its embassy, claims 
dismissed by the Brazilian government.

"The de facto Honduran government has no legitimacy to lodge a law 
suit in the International Court of Justice," a spokesman for Brazil's 
foreign ministry said.

Zelaya was forced from power on June 28, the same day that he planned 
to hold a non-binding referendum on the constitution that had been 
declared illegal by the Honduran congress and supreme court.

Opponents of Zelaya say that the public vote was aimed at winning 
support for an extension to presidential term limits, claims that he 
has denied.
  Source: Al Jazeera and agencies





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