Honduras de facto government sets deadline over crisis

[struggle4progress]

Source: Reuters

Sun Sep 27, 2009 2:19am EDT

TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Brazil has ten days to decide on the status of ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya, who took refuge in the Brazilian embassy on Monday after sneaking back in the country, the de facto government said on Saturday.

Zelaya was overthrown and exiled by troops after a coup in June, but this week he returned home, sparking a tense face-off with the de facto government that has promised to arrest him in Central America's worst crisis in years.

"We urge the Brazilian government to define the status of Mr. Zelaya in a period of no more than ten days," the de facto administration said in a statement. "If not, we will be obliged to take additional measures."

The statement did not give details on those measures ...

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE58Q0A320090927

[struggle4progress]

1. Brazilian official leaves embassy in Tegucigalpa (Xinhua)

www.chinaview.cn 2009-09-27 12:25:28 Print


TEGUCIGALPA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The charge d'affaires of Brazilian Embassy in Tegucigalpa on Saturday left the building where ousted president Manuel Zelaya has been staying since Monday.

Francisco Catunda was replaced by Brazilian Counselor Secretary to the Organization of American States, Lineu Pupo.

After leaving the embassy, Catunda said, "What is happening in the capital of Honduras is absurd."

Catunda also said that the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa had been attacked with toxic gases, which had affected the health of the people inside" ...

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-09/27/content_12116730.htm

[struggle4progress]

2. Brazil Calls on Security Council to Ensure Security of Embassy in Honduras Saying Actions: UN

Submitted by Navneet Singh on September 26, 2009 - 22:17

Brazil’s Foreign Minister today called on the Security Council to ensure the security of his country’s embassy in Honduras, where deposed Honduran President Jose Manuel Zelaya has taken shelter since 21 September.

“It is imperative to ensure that the regime in Honduras fully respect and comply with the Vienna Convention regarding the Brazilian Embassy, in particular its inviolability and the security of its personnel and the people inside its premises,” Minister for External Relations Celso Amorim told the 15-member body in a briefing before it adjourned for consultations on the matter.

Mr. Amorim said he understood that by calling the meeting, the Council recognized that the situation constituted a threat to the region’s peace and security. “Any action against the Embassy of Brazil, its personnel, or against the people under its protection must therefore be considered a flagrant breach of security,” he added.

The Minister said he was gravely concerned that the same people who had perpetrated the coup d’état in Honduras might threaten the Embassy’s inviolability in order forcefully to arrest President Zelaya. Their actions and statements implied that the Embassy had ceased to enjoy diplomatic status. “Besides public statements to the same effect, the de facto Government sent a communication directly to the Ministry of External Relations, in which it refers to the Embassy as ‘one of the facilities that the Brazilian Government still maintains in Tegucigalpa’,” he added ...

http://www.webnewswire.com/node/464802

[struggle4progress]

3. EU countries send envoys back to Honduras

Saturday 26 September 2009

AFP - European Union countries have decided to send back their envoys to Honduras to help resolve the crisis following the ousting of the country's president, the Swedish EU presidency said Saturday.

But it added that the move in no way implied recognition of the country's de facto government.

The ambassadors of France, Germany, Italy and Spain were withdrawn in protest after President Manuel Zelaya was expelled from the country by soldiers three months ago ...

Sweden said the return of the ambassadors was an important step in helping to restore constitutional order and a diplomatic process in Honduras ...

http://www.france24.com/en/20090926-eu-countries-send-envoys-back-honduras-zelaya

[struggle4progress]

4. Micheletti: "Cristina disrespected us" (Momento 24)

Roberto Micheletti, de facto president of Honduras accused on Tuesday President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of being “rude” towards Honduras, and questioned the Argentine government because “there has disrespect” ...

“I think the Argentine people don’t like her, but I do respect her as the president of a country of very noble people,” said the de facto president of Honduras, who nonetheless branded Kirchner’s actions as “disrespectful towards a constitutional government.”

Micheletti assured that Crisitina, as well as Felipe Calderón and Lula were aware of the Zelaya’s actions: “Zelaya himself has said that Mexico, Argentina and Brazil knew exactly what he was doing. If Zelaya said this publicly, Cristina Kirchner has to be responsible for such claim or she has to deny it“ ...

http://momento24.com/en/2009/09/26/micheletti-cristina-disrespected-us/

[Downwinder]

9. Mama, make her quit saying that!

[struggle4progress]

5. Thousands protest to demand Zelaya's return (ABC | Australia)

Thousands of supporters of deposed Honduras president Manuel Zelaya have again protested in the capital Tegucigalpa to demand he be returned to power.

The demonstrators marched to the Brazilian embassy, where Mr Zelaya has been taking refuge since his surprise return to Honduras on Monday (local time).

A union leader and ally of Mr Zelaya, Rafael Alegria, says the protest will carry on peacefully until the deposed president is returned to power.

"There is an excitement in our people at the hope that soon we will be able to restore constitutional order in the country," he said ...

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/27/2697690.htm?section=justin

[Judi Lynn]

6. Thanks for these great links. Will finish reading them in the morning. This is so helpful. n/t

[EFerrari]

7. So now these people are threatening Lula?

They better hope they have ten days to pack.

[Xicano]

8. I think its a perfect opportunity for other Central & South American countries to give an ultimatum

to the Honduran coup government.

Since the U.S. acknowledged it was a coup it puts Venezuela and other Central & South American countries in a position to intervene against this Honduran coup on behalf of the Honduran people.

After our acknowledgement of it being a coup, what are we going to say against other people coming to the aid of democracy in Honduras? On one hand we can't really do anything if we wish to maintain any appearance of credibility. On the other hand if we threaten to intervene against countries coming to the aid of Honduras against this coup, then, it will only serve to expose us as being insincere and further damage our relations south of the border. If I were Hugo Chavez and other leaders south of the border I'd see this as an opportunity to set an example that acts against democracy will no longer be tolerated.

Anyway, that's my analysis of the situation.

[struggle4progress]

10. S America-Africa summit condemns coup in Honduras (Reuters)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=405&topic_id=22884&mesg_id=22884

[Xicano]

11. Thanks struggle4progress

Actually I was already aware of that. What I was getting at in the post above is for other Central/South American countries giving the Honduran coup leaders an ultimatum that they face military action against them unless the elected leader and Honduran democratic laws are allowed to continue.


Peace,
Xicano

[zeemike]

14. I agree that it is an opportunity.

It could lead to South American unity and be a positive thing for them in the long run.
At least that is my hope...they have been to long under the heal of military control.

[excess_3]

12. simple solution, 'reverse sewage flow', to the embassy .nt

[Selatius]

13. What are they going to do to Brazil? Storm and sack the embassy? That would be an act of war.

The dictatorship in Honduras is not in a position to be issuing ultimatums to countries such as Brazil.

[formercia]

15. The Brazilian Navy

Big trouble for the Golpistas:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ships_of_the_Brazilian_Navy

The Brazilian Navy ha5 5 amphibious landing ships


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_aircraft_carrier_S%C3%A3o_Paulo_(A12)

The Aircraft Carrier Sao Paulo completed a major overhaul in July and is expected to be in service by October.