Honduras News by In-Honduras.com

On Tuesday December 2, 2009, Honduran Congress, in a historic session open to national and international news media, are voting one by one, giving their name and their vote regarding the restitution of ex honduran president Manuel “Mel” Zelaya.

The mayority of congressmen are voting against the restitution of Mel Zelaya. Many have given their opinion and reasons as to why they voted the way they did. Their decisions were based on the recomendations of the Supreme Court, Attorney General and Human Rights Commisioner.

More updates to come when the session is adjourned.

The vote is currently 11 in favor and 91 against the restitution of mel Zelaya out of a total of 128.

Thomas A. Shannon Jr., Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, stated yesterday, that the agreement signed in Honduras by both parties representing Manuel Zelaya Rosales and Roberto Micheletti states that the decision made by Congress must be respected by both sides.

Shannon reiterated that the United States and the International community will also respect the decision made by the Honduran Congress, whether it be positive or negative regarding reinstating Manuel Zelaya Rosales as president of Honduras.

He made it clear that the they (US and international community) recognize the Honduran Congress will make a decision on when and if Zelaya should return to power. It is a political matter that has to be resolved politically and Congress is the appointed branch of government to make that decision. Both sides have committed themselves to respect the results of that decision and emphasized that there are two options, yes or no on Zelayas return, and not one as Zelaya followers have tried to force on the media.

The Honduran Congress is currently on recess and efforts are being made to meet and review the Guaymura accord.

Honduras’ 8 Point Accord, Zelaya in Hands of Congress

The accord ex president Zelaya’s and president Micheletti’s sides will sign tonight, contemplates Zelaya’s restitution will be considered by the Honduran Congress after consultation with the Honduran Supreme Court.

The agreement is comprised of 8 points which are:
1. Creation of a unity and reconciliation government.
2. No political amnesty for either side even though Micheletti offered it to Zelaya.
3. Recognition of the elections to be held on November 29, 2009.
4. Transfer of authority over the Honduran Armed Forces to the Electoral Supreme Tribunal.
5. Creation of a verification commission to uphold all points of this accord.
6. Creation of a Commission of Truth that will investigate the events before, during and after June 28th when Zelaya was removed from office.
7. Ask the international community to remove all sanctions against Honduras and send international observers to the November elections.
8. Regarding the possible restitution of Mr. Zelaya, let the Honduran National Congressn decide, after receiving the Supreme Court’s opinion, to return the executive branch to its status before June 28, 2009.

If both sides sign the agreement tonight, it will have to be followed thoroughly and the results accepted without hesitation by both parties.

A deal was reached between the sides representing President Roberto Micheletti and ex President Manuel Zelaya Rosales. After 4 months of the presidential succession in Honduras, which has been denounced around the world as a military coup in which Manuel Zelaya was removed from office and later expelled to Costa Rica, a deal has been reached.

Negotiations between both sides had come to a stale mate and were not moving forward after last week, the side representing Manuel Zelaya stepped off the negotiation table.

On Thursday, October 29, a high level commission send by the United States, integrated by assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, Thomas A. Shannon Jr., Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Craig Kelly and Dan Restrepo.

This commission met with both sides and coaxed them back to the negotiation table. By noon on Thursday Shannon announced a deal was ready and only needed to be signed by both sides and that time was running out if Honduras wanted to hold elections. By 10:30 pm an announcement was made that both sides had agreed to sign.

The agreement includes plans to conform a unity government with members from both sides of the issue, recognition of elections in Honduras, restoring aid that had been cut off since the presidential succession and sending to Congress a request by Zelaya to be re instated as President of Honduras.

Negotiators will meet again today to work out a time-frame in which all points of the accord have to be met.

Zelaya’s restitution lies now in the hands of the Honduran Congress. The agreement states that both sides will adhere to the result of that vote.

Iam Kelly, spokesman for the United States Department of State, said in the latest press briefing held on October23, that the United States is eager to find a solution to the ongoing conflict and try and reach a solution that restores the democratically elected president to power.

According to legal and political experts in Honduran law, such a move would violate the Constitution of this country and thus the return of Zelaya would be illegal.

The interventionism of the government of the United States led by Barack Obama in the Honduran matter is a clear sign of disparity in policy when it comes to foreign relations.

The countdown toward Sunday’s illegal vote regarding the citizens of Honduras opinion about drafting a new constitution is in its final phase.

Today thousands of people gathered on the streets of San Pedro Sula to peacefully march and show the world the people are united against the idea of drafting a new constitution meanwhile Manuel Zelaya Rosales remains president of Honduras for an undetermined amount of time.

As a means to pressure people into agreeing with Sundays vote, the sick and elderly who attend public hospitals in seek of emergency help, are forced to sign a document which says they are in favor of this vote. If they say they are against it, they are denied medical attention.

Another march is expected tomorrow in front of the OEA (American States Organization) asking them not to participate with observers in this illegal vote. The vote has been declared illegal by the Supreme Court, one of the three powers of government.

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