Why the crisis in Honduras is so important for Bolivia

Sorry to go on about Honduras when this is a blog about Bolivia. I can't help to think, however, that what happens in Honduras is of enormous importance to Latin America generally, the standing of the US in the region, and to Bolivia in particular.

Let's start with the latest on the crisis. The negotiation table that Washington set up between the 'two contending parties', as Hillary Clinton referred to the coup instigators and the democratically elected president of the country, has failed. It has failed because the de facto president Micheletti has refused to attend the last two negotiation meetings chaired by Oscar Arias in Costa Rica. This has prompted Manuel Zelaya to declare his intentions to return to his country where he risks being detained and imprisoned. Or worse where his presence might lead to a civil insurrection with the possibility of violence and, dare I say it, civil war.

Meanwhile, a troubling 'legitimation' of the coup took place when a delegation of the golpistas visited Manuel Uribe in Colombia who showed signs of 'understanding' for the coup. This, by the way, a Colombian president who is seeking to change the constitution in order to get a third term. Wasn't Zelaya's attempt to hold a non-binding referendum on the possibility of having a second term the explanation given for the coup? Some people just have no sense of irony.

So why is this coup and its possible success a problem for Latin America and the US? Firstly, because it is happening with the tacit support of the US. Obama has called it illegal but Clinton seems to legitimise the coup when she refers to it as an internal political dispute. Sorry Hillary but it isn't. This is a very dangerous precedent in a region with long and bloody wars fuelled by US involvement.

The US is playing very dangerously with the great hopes of a new beginning in US-Latin American relations Obama created a few months ago in Trinidad and Tobago. All Latin American countries know that this coup would be over if the US withheld support for the military in Honduras. Not acting decisively on it is tantamount to supporting it. Except that Washington acted decisively to remove Miguel Insulza, head of the Organisation of American States, from the scene, installing instead Oscar Arias, a much safer pair of hands for those who want the coup to succeed.

Secondly, because progressive Latin American governments confronting extremist right oppositions like the Bolivian one, know that a coup victory in Honduras would set a very dangerous precedent in the region. Opposition leaders in Bolivia like the prefect of Santa Cruz have already declared themselves in support of the coup. This is interesting given that his usual accusation to this government is that there is no democracy in Bolivia. What is worrying is that a victory for the military and the coup in Honduras could make more, no less, possible, the replication of other similar attempts in Bolivia. We know that entrepreneurs and landowners from Santa Cruz recruited and paid the foreign mercenaries arrested in Santa Cruz arrested last March. Could Micheletti's victory in Honduras lead to more such attempts over here? The next few months leading to the presidential elections of December could be last opportunity for those who desperately want to reverse the process of change in Bolivia.

Obama pide regreso a Honduras de Zelaya. Contradicciones entre golpistas ante probable "amnistía" de la Corte

Kaos en la red:
http://www.kaosenlared.net/noticia/obama-pide-regreso-honduras-zelaya-contradicciones-entre-golpistas-ant

Hillary Clinton informó que Óscar Arias mediará en las negociaciones entre el gobierno constitucional y el golpista. Contradicciones entre Congreso y Corte Suprema de facto ante una "amnistía".


La esperada repuesta de los EEUU a los hechos acontecidos el pasado domingo, cuando el Ejército hondureño asesinó a al menos dos personas e impidió el retorno de Zelaya al país centroamericano, se ha mantenido en la misma línea que en los días pasados.

Desde Rusia, el presidente estadounidense, Barack Obama, declaró que “Estados Unidos apoya el retorno del democráticamente elegido presidente de Honduras, aunque se él se ha opuesto con fuerza a políticas estadounidenses”.

Sin embargo, tal y como señalaba TeleSUR, Obama se ha limitado a reconocer a la administración de Micheletti como un gobierno de facto, evitando en todo momento el referirse a lo sucedido como un golpe de estado. Asimismo, además de no haber retirado a su embajador en Honduras –como sí han hecho la mayoría de países americanos y de la Unión Europea- tampoco ha anulado la ayuda que envía a Honduras, la cual, sin embargo, sí ha sido momentáneamente congelada.

Zelaya se reunió con Clintón

A las 5:30 de la mañana hora local llegó a Washington el presidente constitucional de Honduras, Manuel Zelaya, proveniente de Managua, invitado por la secretaria de Estado de EE.UU., Hillary Clinton, para realizar un encuentro bilateral.

Tras el encuentro, Clinton anunció que tanto Zelaya como Micheletti, con quien se comunicó telefónicamente, aceptaron la propuesta estadounidense de elegir al presidente de Costa Rica, Óscar Arias, para mediar en las negociaciones que se realizarán entre el gobierno constitucional y el golpista. “Esperamos que mediante este mecanismo de diálogo supervisado por el presidente Árias (...) pueda haber una resolución pacifica del orden constitucional de Honduras”, agregó la representante estadounidense.

Al preguntársele a Clinton si ese regreso al orden constitucional de Honduras, implica el retorno del presidente Zelaya dijo: “Ahora que tenemos un proceso de mediación que podría comenzar pronto, no quiero prejuzgar lo que las partes van a acordar”.

Paralelamente, una delegación del gobierno de facto conformada por diputados y empresarios que apoyan el golpe, también presente en Washington, no será recibida ni por la OEA ni por el gobierno estadounidense.

La intención era la de asesinar a Zelaya

Según declaraciones hechas por Manuel Zelaya ayer lunes, el propio general Romeo Vásquez, implicado en el golpe, le confesó que lo planeado para el anterior domingo 28 de junio, cuando Zelaya fue sacado por la fuerza de su casa y conducido hasta Costa Rica, era asesinarle. Algo que no sucedió ya que el Vázquez decidió en el último momento cambiar los planes. Zelaya señaló que la responsable de ordenar su muerte fue una “élite muy voraz, con mucho control en el Congreso Nacional”, la misma que “maneja política y económica el país y se opone a cualquier cambio que afecte sus intereses”.

Asimismo, hoy martes se supo que la Policía Internacional (Interpol) rechazó la solicitud de detención cursada por el gobierno de Micheletti, argumentando que "los delitos de 'abuso de autoridad, usurpación de funciones, ofensas contra el Gobierno y traición' que se imputan al presidente Zelaya son de carácter político y no presentan ningún elemento de derecho común", lo cual atenta contra el artículo 3 de la organización, según el cual queda “rigurosamente prohibida a la organización toda actividad o intervención en cuestiones o asuntos de carácter político, militar, religioso o racial”. (Con informaciones de TeleSUR)

Justicia de facto hondureña dice tener una opción para regreso de Zelaya
TeleSUR. El presidente de la Corte Suprema hondureña, anunció este martes, a pocos minutos de iniciarse la reunión del presidente Manuel Zelaya, derrocado por fuerzas militares, con la Secretaria de Estado Hillary Clinton, que si el Congreso le concede una amnistía puede volver al país.

"Una posibilidad (de salir de la crisis) podría ser una amnistía política tanto para don José Manuel Zelaya Rosales como para otros actores involucrados", declaró el presidente de la Corte Suprema de Honduras, Jorge Alberto Rivera, al matutino salvadoreño El Diario de Hoy.

"A través de esa amnistía, nuestras resoluciones dejarían de aplicarse en lo que corresponde a lo político, porque en lo que corresponde a delitos de índole general o comunes cometidos por algún funcionario, no entran en una amnistía política", explicó.

La fiscalía hondureña acusó de manera ilegal al presidente hondureño, Manuel Zelaya, de 18 delitos, entre ellos, el de traición a la patria, luego de que este fuese secuestrado y obligado a abandonar el país por fuerzas militares golpistas el 28 de junio.

El presidente de la Corte Suprema, Rivera, indicó que las autoridades de facto de Honduras le encomendaron la tarea de negociar una salida a la crisis porque la Corte Suprema "es el único órgano del Estado que está reconocido por la Organización de Estados Americanos OEA", que suspendió a Honduras tras el derrocamiento de Zelaya.

Rivera encabeza una comisión del gobierno de facto de Roberto Micheletti presente en Washington para negociar con la OEA una "salida dialogada". Sin embargo, de manera oficial se ha conocido que la comitiva no será recibida ni por el Sistema Interamericano, ni por el gobierno estadounidense, tras desconocer su autoridad.

Medios Golpistas evidencian la confusión y desacuerdos internos entre las autoridades de facto: “Congreso no ha evaluado amnistiar a Zelaya”

Kaos América Latina. Agencias internacionales y algunos medios hondureños dieron a conocer hace minutos, las declaraciones del vicepresidente del Legislativo, Ramón Velásquez Nassar, quien manifestó que “el Congreso hondureño no ha considerado por ahora la posibilidad de amnistiar al depuesto presidente Manuel Zelaya”.

“Aquí en el Congreso no se ha iniciado una discusión sobre ese tema. Es más, no sabemos ni cuáles son las intenciones de decirlo, si es por una posición internacional”, afirmó el diputado de la Democracia Cristiana (DC).

Con estas declaraciones, Velázquez Nassarsale al paso de lo manifestado por elpresidente de la Corte, Jorge Alberto Rivera, que anunció hace unas horas la posibilidad de que el Congreso otorgue una amnistía, lo cual implicaría el retiro de los cargos políticos que pesan sobre Zelaya, entre ellos el de traición a la patria.

El diputado dijo que la salida de Zelaya del poder “es una cosa juzgada, una página dada vuelta y la frase repetida es ‘aquí nadie se rinde’”.

Zelaya: Mediación de Arias no es una negociación es ''la planificación de la salida de los golpistas''

TeleSUR. El presidente legítimo de Honduras, Manuel Zelaya, aseguró este martes desde Washington que el acuerdo alcanzado con la canciller estadounidense, Hillary Clinton y con el presidente de Costa Rica, Oscar Arias, no es una negociación, sino una "plataforma para la salida de las autoridades de facto y retorno del gobierno legítimo".

Durante una rueda prensa el presidente indicó que: "No estamos haciendo una negociación hay cosas que no son negociables (...) Mal haría su servidor de ir a negociar lo que a mi no me compete, no voy a traicionar mis principios".

Asimismo, agregó que la aceptación por parte de su gobierno de la interlocución del presidente de Costa Rica, Oscar Arias, es una decisión que goza de su respaldo y es aceptada por Estados Unidos y por las autoridades de facto hondureñas.

Zelaya afirmó que "el pueblo hondureño ha comparado lo que es un presidente demócrata y lo que es un régimen represivo, que está allanando viviendas y ha violentado todo el sistema de soberanía popular que es un atentado contra la constitucionalidad".

El mandatario dijo que la pazen Honduraspasa por el restablecimiento del gobierno legítimo, "los presidentes no somos jueces representamos al Estado y al pueblo".

Agregó que su postura no significa dejar solo al pueblo en su reclamo, sino más bien representa la búsqueda de una salida a la situación creada por los poderes públicos que el pasado domingo 28 de junio losecuestraron, sacaron por la fuerza de Honduras y lo obligaron a viajar a Costa Rica.

Se dirigió además a su pueblo, al que le dijo: "tienen que mantenerse en la lucha paraque pueda ser respeta su opinión, siempre luchando es que hemos alcanzado nuestros derechos civiles", dijo y refirió que la lucha por los procesos de participación en Honduras no "será fácil".

Más temprano, la canciller estadounidense Hillary Clinton anunció, luego de reunirse con Zelaya, que éste había aceptado la mediación de Arias para retomar el hilo constitucional.

Mencionó que se acordó habilitar un "mecanismo de diálogo entre las partes" discordantes de Honduras, que tenga como mediador a Árias.

En rueda de prensa desde el Departamento de Estado en Washington, la funcionaria explicó que la propuesta fue aceptada por el propio Zelaya y también por el presidente de facto hondureño, Roberto Micheletti, con quien se comunicaron por teléfono.

Destituido embajador de Honduras en EE.UU.

En otra parte de su encuentro con la prensa, Manuel Zelaya informó que destituyó al embajador de Honduras en Estados Unidos , Roberto Flores Bermúdez, por haberse plegado al golpe de Estado que lo derrocó hace casi dos semanas.

El embajadorserá sustituido por Enrique Reina y mientras se agilizan los procesos de aceptación porparte del gobierno estadounidense, la embajada quedará a cargo de Rodolfo Pastor.

"El embajador está siendo sustituido porque se plegó a un golpe de Estado que atropella los derechos de la sociedad", afirmó Zelaya.

Además, el Jefe de Estadocentroamericano informó que viajará esta noche a Costa Ricapara iniciar las conversaciones que le permitan retomar el hilo constitucional en la nación donde fue legítimamente electo.

Por su lado, el presidente costarricense, Oscar Arias, confirmó este martes que Zelaya y el gobernante de facto Roberto Micheletti llegarán a Costa Rica para iniciar el jueves en su casa un diálogo para restituir el orden constitucional.

The military are at it again in Honduras: Who is supporting them?

It is pretty depressing to see that a number of soldiers would have decided to arrest the elect president of Honduras Manuel Zelaya in the middle of the night and to expel him to Costa Rica. All this, it was said, in order to defend the constitution. It is a strange way to ‘defend’ the constitution by breaking it.

The military are clearly working against history by pretending a political return when nobody will recognise their illegal government. Their time in the 1960s, 70s and 80s is over and the return to democratic rule all over Latin America irreversible. Unless, that is, we let them return by giving the slightest bit of legitimacy to their actions.

This is exactly what seems to be happening from a number of sources. The first was Hilary Clinton, the US secretary of state, who ‘condemned’ the coup but pledged the US would not break diplomatic relations with the new government, thus giving a kind of green light to other such attempts throughout the continent.

We have to remember that the excuses used by the military in Honduras are very similar indeed to those used to justify the Venezuelan coup a few years ago and those used by the leaders of the ‘golpe civico prefectural’ here in Bolivia last September. Is there a link between them? Perhaps.

We have to hope that these declarations by the US secretary of state were a mistake provoked by the uncertainty of the first few hours after the coup. President Obama has condemned the new regime and will not recognise it so we would hope this is the last we hear from the US in tacit support of the coup.

Other sources of support are less surprising. The union of so called democratic organisations of America (UnoAmerica), a right wing network of organisations, formally recognised the new government referring to the coup as ‘a legitimate succession of power provoked by the president’s attempt to break the constitution and follow Venezuela’s path’.

What is more worrying is the position that seems to have been taken by CNN that has repeatedly referred to the coup as a ‘forced succession of power’. In what must be one of the worst blunders of all times on live TV, the news anchor joked about the deposed president’s pyjamas during an interview with the president of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Mr Insulza.

Neither the OAS, the Rio Group, nor ALBA have recognised the new dictatorship. They have all retired their ambassadors from the country. It is only to be expected that the European Union will make a clear and formal statement denouncing the return to one of the darkest moments of Latin America’s history.

The ‘golpe cívico prefectural’: An attempted coup with a difference

In what was a unique event in Bolivian political history, on 10th August more than 67% of the Bolivian population voted in support of the president’s administration, winning in 95 of the total 112 provinces of the country. At the same time, the prefects of the main opposition regions were also confirmed in their posts; Costas in Santa Cruz, Suárez in Beni, Fernández in Pando and Cossio in Tarija.

The size of the victory was enough for the president to call for a referendum on the draft constitution that was the result of over 18 months of work by a constitutional assembly and which the opposition prefects did so much to block and derail during the first two years of Morales’s administration.

What happened at this point was, with the benefit of hindsight, perhaps not unexpected but not for that less shocking. Following a well-coordinated move and orchestrated by the prefecturas of the dissident regions, violent and armed groups of thugs who call themselves movimiento cívico went on the rampage and took over all manner of NGO offices-seen as supporters of the country’s process of change-institutional buildings, including of companies that have been nationalised under the current government like the telecommunications one Entel, and buildings belonging to anyone suspected of having sympathies with the current government. In addition, a number of terrorist attacks took place against gas pipes exporting gas to Brazil, the houses of peasant leaders were firebombed, and individuals were chased from their homes.

The high point of this organised violence took place on 11 September in Pando when a paramilitary group blockaded the road outside the municipality of Porvenir, stopping a number of lorries carrying men, women and children, and shooting at them indiscriminately. The latest balance is 18 dead, with 25 disappeared and hundreds injured, dispossessed and exiled in La Paz.

This is the point at which the international community, led by UNASUR, called an emergency meeting hosted by current president Bachelet and expressed its full support to the democratic process in Bolivia. This timely intervention might well have taken some of the oxygen away from the oligarchy-funded and US supported armed insurrection, what MAS has referred to as the golpe civico prefectural, as the presidetn denounced on 23 September at the UN. We have to remember that 11 September was also the date when the US ambassador in Bolivia was declared persona non grata and given 72 hours to leave the country after being accused of supporting the armed insurrection. You might wonder what the US role has been in all this given that American Airlines continues to have an irregular service citing civil unrest (see my previous blog) and American authorities are telling their citizens to get out of the country.

However, the UNASUR intervention also led to a move in favour of dialogue with the political leaders of the opposition, a process of dialogue that international observers have monitored and participated in. This is why these prefects have seen their violent manipulation recompensed with an opportunity to dialogue with the government and to negotiate those aspects of the draft constitution they object to the most; the question of the level of resources from the export of gas and oil they will receive and the scale of powers and competencies they will hold in an autonomic future.

The deadline expired on Sunday 5th October. We waited with baited breath for the press conference that would announce that both parts had reached an agreement after 10 and 12 hour long daily sessions. The prefects emerged, flanking both president and vice-president, they waved to the cameras and photographers, and left. In the post-mortem that followed the failed process of negotiation, it was clear that nothing MAS could offer the opposition-and it offered a lot of autonomic competencies including legislative powers- would be enough to a group that exists only in so far as it opposes. If it ceases to oppose, it ceases to exist because it obeys to landowning families and agro-business interests who will never give up their lands for a process of land reform, no matter how illegitimate their ownership.

The key for the future might be in bringing the individual prefects round by feeding their political ambitions while expecting them to perform the political tightrope process of convincing some of their most radical bases that this is in their interest. For the time being, however, where does this leave us? Basically, it is now for Congress to call for a referendum on the draft constitution, something for which it needs two thirds of the votes in a single vote that brings both houses together. MAS does not have this level of representation so we can expect a lot of political manoeuvring there.

In the meantime, we are bracing ourselves for an occupation of La Paz by thousands of marchers representing the social movement for change. From different parts of the country, they are planning to converge on La Paz next week to demand that the draft constitution is put to the vote on a national referendum by, among other things, surrounding congress until this happens. We have already started the process of stockpiling food for the coming siege of La Paz.

On another note, recent municipal elections in Brasil have given Lula da Silva’s Workers’ Party, PT, a landslide win with a greater share of the vote than previously. Only three main cities are having to go to a second round; Belo Horizonte, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, where there is no clear winner. The result of these votes will inform the future battle for the presidency of the country which will determine whether the PT continues in power with Lula’s successor or whether the main opposition party, the social democratic party of former president Cardoso will take the baton.

See http://www.kaosenlared.net/noticia/cronologia-golpe-estado-anunciado-golpe-civico-prefectural-bolivia