Ya Basta! Who's Killing LGBT People in Honduras?

The blog blabbeando has focused attention (mine at least) on the rise of hate crime murders of LGBT people in Honduras. Read here for more information, some of which is quite graphic. The US Embassy has also stepped up the awareness and the pressure by issuing a public statement.

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The Honduran Congress voted overwhelmingly against restoring Mel Zelaya to the presidency to serve out the final two months of his term. At the time Zelaya agreed to the US-brokered deal he apparently believed he had the votes in congress to do so.

The next battle, though of little consequence now, focuses on turnout during Sunday's election. Zelaya's camp says that over 60% of voters stayed away from the polls in protest, the coup government claims 60% voted. Still another group of independent observers report that 48% of the electorate voted, similar to turnout in 2005. NDI's preliminary assessment of the election can be found here.

Voices from the Honduran Election

"Even though they try to blame us for the violence, the violence is coming in one direction: from them, towards us." -Tomas Andino, democracy activist

"A peaceful march of over 500 people was just culminating at the Central Park of San Pedro Sula when a large armored tank with high pressure water cannons mounted on the top pulled up at the rear of the march--along with a large truck full of military troops. The 500 peaceful, unarmed protesters turned around to face the tank and troops--and in unison, they sat down in the middle of the street. The truck retreated 2 blocks. The soldiers got off the truck, and began to put on gas masks. Everything went silent--and suddenly the crowd was attacked with water cannons and gas. People are fleeing. There are wounded and detained." -Quixote Center

"The elections cannot be valid if they are hosted without President Zelaya being restored to power." -Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taina

"The Honduran people did not accept the electoral process as valid. They did not feel it belonged to them. Today we defeated (de facto leader) Micheletti at the voting ballots, we defeated the violence at the voting ballots." -Deposed Honduran President, Manuel Zelaya

"Tomorrow we will start the political dialogue to make the nation's plan concrete which will not leave anybody aside because we all are Hondurans." -Porfirio Lobo, President-elect of Honduras

Zelaya Still Couch Surfing at Brazilian Embassy

The Honduran Congress will vote on the deposed president's return on December 2. The US has signalled that they will accept the presidential elections scheduled for November 29 regardless of whether Zelaya is returned. This doesn't bode well for Zelaya's chances within the chambers of the obstinate legislative body. Here are some prospects for Honduras, the coup leaders, and Zelaya over the next several weeks.

In the end, it was the US

With just under a month before scheduled elections in Honduras, and three months remaining before Mel Zelaya's presidential term expired, the Obama administration begrudgingly took leadership of negotiations and hammered out an agreement to return democratic order to the shunned nation. The administration could no longer position itself as just another member of a coalition of concerned nations in the region and I think they served themselves well by allowing for more home-grown efforts, such as those of the OAS and President Arias of Costa Rica, the opportunity to succeed first.

In the end, it was not economic sanctions or revoked visas that allowed for a breakthrough but enagaement and a self-acceptance of Washington's unique ability to get people to pay attention to their demands. This should serve as a timely reminder of the necessity of US power in the region and an argument for sustained engagement in the region, a point that Eric Farnsworth makes over at Americas Quarterly.

The New York Times has this to report:

During a half-hour telephone call last week, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton took a leading role, making it clear to Mr. Micheletti that the United States was growing impatient with the stalemate and demanding that democracy be restored. Mr. Micheletti later joked with his aides that she stuck so close to her message it appeared she had a limited vocabulary. “I kept trying to explain our position to her,” he said, according to officials close to the talks, “but all she kept saying was, ‘Restitution, restitution, restitution.’ ”

Honduras is not out of the penalty box yet, leaders in Congress are saying they're not a rubber stamp and both camps continue to bicker to the detriment of the fragile agreement. Though one can be certain that the presidential candidates, whose legitimacy depends on a quick resolution, would sure like to be.

Zelaya to Reclaim the Presidency?

A deal appears to have been reached between Mel Zelaya and the coup government of Roberto Micheletti. Secretary of State Clinton called it "an historic agreement" and had this to say from Pakistan (of all places to be brokering a deal on Honduras!):

“I cannot think of another example of a country in Latin America that, having suffered a rupture of its democratic and constitutional order, overcame such a crisis through negotiation and dialogue.”

The Honduran Congress must essentially ratify this deal in order to return Zelaya to power ahead of the November 29 election. And if they don't? Well, we'll cross that bridge when we get there. In turn, I imagine the world is ready to accept the legitmacy of the pending election and drop the sanctions imposed since Zelaya was expelled from the country in June.

Ultima Hora!

Y ahora que? Zelaya in the Brazilian embassy

Manuel Zelaya has returned to Honduras 86 days after being toppled and flown out of the country. El Bigote travelled undetected to Tegucigalpa and has holed up in the Brazilian embassy with his wife.

Narco News has this excellent report from the ground. Check in later for video of Micheletti's call for a curfew and further reports.

Radio Globo, one of the only media outlets in the country to stand up to the coup government and remain on the air, has more.

Images from Sunday's Showdown in Tegus

What is it with South Carolina Pols this week?

First, Governor Sanford had to fess up to his affair with an Argentinian mistress now Senator Jim DeMint has made a strong statement about the coup in Honduras...he's in favor of it.

"The Honduran Congress, the Honduran Supreme Court, and the Honduran military have acted in accordance to the Honduran constitution and the rule of law. The United States should support the Honduran people and their legitimate leaders in their brave and heroic stand for freedom and the rule of law.”

These Honduran people might feel differently:

Did This Man Overplay His Hand?

Roberto Micheletti, who was elevated to the office of President following Sunday's coup in Honduras, is feeling the weight of the world come down on him. The removal of President Zelaya has brought universal condemnation from such quarters as Washington, D.C., Caracas, the OAS, and the UN not to mention from the citizens of Honduras who have fiercely clashed with security forces. Furthermore, it appears Zelaya will attempt to return to Tegucigalpa on Thursday accompanied by the heads of state of Argentina and Ecuador as well as by OAS Chief Insulza.

A showdown will take place. Who will blink?

BREAKING: Honduran President Ousted in Coup

Manuel Zelaya was flown out of the country to Costa Rica by the Honduran military in what has been reported as the first coup in Central America since the Cold War. Congress has sided with the military and appointed Roberto Micheletti acting president.

Here is a profile from the BBC on Zelaya. More to come.